Johnny Unitas didn’t finish his career with the Colts, nor Joe Montana with the 49ers nor Joe Namath with the Jets. Brett Favre didn’t even start with the Packers, although it’s difficult to imagine him even now in any colors than green and gold.

So this sad turn of events in Indianapolis over the severing of ties between the Colts and Peyton Manning shouldn’t seem like such a big deal.

This stuff happens all the time.

You might even say the good people of Indianapolis were lucky to have Manning in the first place after taking possession of the Baltimore franchise in the middle of the night back in the 1980s. Seems the Colts likely have set some kind of record in dumping iconic quarterbacks.

In 1973, when the team was still in Baltimore, Unitas was traded for future considerations to San Diego.

Of course, by then Unitas’ arm was nearly worn out, and he was 40.

Manning is 36, but still had it when neck surgery kept him out all of 2011.

That’s the rub. If his health’s fine, his next team gets the deal the teams that took Unitas (Chargers), Montana (Chiefs), Namath (Rams) or Favre (too many to mention) didn’t get, although Montana had two rather good seasons with Kansas City.

It won’t be the same, but unless you live in Indiana, these next 2 to 3 years could be fun watching the rest of a Hall of Fame career play out no matter what colors Manning wears.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.