"There's a love for your home city because you want them to get the win," Saturday said. "But my friendship with Peyton makes it tough."
The truth is, Irsay understands exactly what Manning meant to this city and franchise, erasing the image of being a league-wide afterthought by making the Colts a perennial Super Bowl contender.
Pro Bowl receiver Reggie Wayne, one of Manning's favorite targets in Indy, isn't conflicted at all. Neither are his teammates, who repeatedly said Wednesday they wouldn't treat Sunday's game as anything out of the ordinary.
"A lot of people still root for him, so I think there will be a big pro-Manning presence,Cheap Adidas Shoes Wholesale," said Gary Knight, a 43-year-old season-ticket holder since 1984. "But I'd be surprised if there were any boos."
"I'm just ready to play ball and get it over with," Wayne said Wednesday. "It's like the Ringling Brothers, man."
Saturday finds himself in good company this weekend as Indy prepares to welcome back the man who turned a basketball town into a football power.
It's a common refrain in Indy even though some interpreted this week's comments from team owner Jim Irsay as a "cheap shot."
A year ago, Saturday came back with the Packers ? less than a week after the Colts announced coach Chuck Pagano would be out indefinitely after being diagnosed with leukemia.
Now it will be Manning's turn to be honored. Saturday,Bengals Shirts On Sale, who will be on the opposing sideline, will be cheering for the Colts, the team that employs him, and at the same time his close buddy Manning.
Choosing sides for Sunday night's showdown between Manning's Broncos and his former team, the Colts, is a real struggle.
"I think you know there's just so much love and affection for him, and when our players come back, we do a tribute on the big screen and stuff, so it's just going to be one of the most exciting and anticipated games in the history of the league and the history of our franchise," Irsay told The Associated Press before training camp. "It's one of those dramatic, just sort of conflicted, anticipated games and I think that's what it's about in sports."
"I think you'll definitely see a ton of 18s in the crowd, and there will be a lot of Denver 18s and Indianapolis 18s and he deserves that. He's earned it," Saturday said. "But I think Indianapolis Colts fans definitely want the Colts to win, no matter what."
Manning understands, too, which is why he explained during his final news conference in Indy, in March 2012, that the decision to part ways with the Colts wasn't his or Irsay's. It was simply a perfect storm ? Manning was due a $28 million bonus after missing the entire 2011 season with an almost unprecedented injury for a quarterback and Indy had the No. 1 pick and a chance to rebuild with the best quarterback prospect since Manning in 1998.
"I watched it, and it meant a lot to me," Saturday said. "What I remember most was that (Packers coach) Mike McCarthy came up to me the Monday after the game and said, 'That's one of the best, if not the best, tributes I've ever seen for a player and how much class the city of Indianapolis has.' He said, 'Even though we lost, hold onto that moment.'"
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? Jeff Saturday is torn.
Despite the brewing storm over Irsay's comments, which he first made months ago, even the Colts owner doesn't want to hear boos for what he has called the most beloved player in franchise history. A pregame tribute is planned.