Posted on 02/08/2016 8:15:24 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Anyone looking for a storybook ending to one of the most celebrated active NFL careers in the league had to think it was coming. Peyton Manning, buoyed by a dominant defense, had finally returned to the winner’s platform in a Super Bowl at 39 years of age, the oldest starting quarterback in all 50 Super Bowls. All that would be necessary would be two simple words: “I’m retiring.”
Sorry, storybook fans. Manning couldn’t quite say it — not even after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell all but announced it moments before Manning took the microphone on stage:
It certainly sounds as though Manning’s planning to wrap things up:
Although Manning had told New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick after the AFC title game that this might be his "last rodeo," Manning had stressed that he would do what he always does in the offseason. The next step for him will be a physical next month, something he always goes through in March. He'll see neurologists and determine whether to try to play again at the age of 40 and after multiple procedures on his neck.
On Saturday night, Manning was one of several players who spoke up in what a Broncos executive described as a "very emotional" team meeting, but he wouldn't say what was discussed there, either, citing advice from his former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy.
"'Don't make an emotional decision,’" he told CBS's Jim Nantz. "This has been emotional week, an emotional night."
So why no big reveal last night? Jerome Bettis made his announcement after the Pittsburgh Steelers won a Super Bowl in Bettis’ home town, giving both The Bus and Detroit their storybook ending. Perhaps Manning didn’t want to distract from his teammates’ accomplishment last night, or maybe he just wants this to be a more private decision. Given the way he played in the last couple of games after finally getting healthy again, though, he might want to give it another shot in 2016 — especially with this defense. They played a monster game against what had appeared to be an unstoppable force with Cam Newton and the Panther’s offense. It was an exciting defensive battle right down to the turnover with three minutes left in the game. What quarterback wouldn’t like to be the beneficiary of that kind of lights-out defense?
All that being said, Manning has nothing left to prove, and a life to lead outside of football. It’s time to make that transition before the injuries become too cumulative to enjoy retirement. What do you think? Take the poll:
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Update: I will keep the poll open until 5 pm or so, then post the results later tonight.
Find a team which needs a talented offensive coordinator (or even a head coach), sign him up to play and then announce that he is retiring to take the job the 2nd or 3rd game into the season after Favre’s record is broken.
I saw a 30/30 on Earl Campbell. The man is practically an invalid.
Funny thing though. I also saw an interview with one of the old Oakland Raiders of those great teams of the 1970s. IIRC who it was but it was one of their great defensive linemen. They asked about the things he went through, his injuries, etc. He said (IIRC), he recounted all the surgeries, knee, back, shoulder, hands, etc., must have been 15 or 20. He asked the rhetorical question of “was it worth it”? He said he didn’t really know but even knowing what he went through, he would do it all again.
“How many NFL players can say that their last act on the field was a completed pass for a 2-point conversion to emphatically slam the lid on a Superbowl victory?”
LOL! That was the ONLY ball he got into the endzone!
I noticed that too. Their hips/legs are shot
Many aging people who have done physical labor much of their lives have shot hips and legs...it can’t be helped...
Manning is done as a player. It was painfully obvious this year. He knows it, and has been dropping a lot of not-so-subtle hints in that regard. You have to hand it to him, he played this masterfully. He planned on this being his last game, he orchestrated the “I’m retiring” thing to help motivate his team, and maybe, just maybe place some subtle bias in the minds of the officials. Nobody wanted to be the guy who denied him his glorious well-managed exit from the playing stage, did they?
And he didn’t want to make the announcement last night because he didn’t want to take away the focus on the fact his team just won a Super Bowl.
No, he is doing this “the right way” all down the line. I expect the formal announcement will come soon, within the next week or so.
At least they don’t have curvature of the spin like so many elderly.
How many NFL players can say that their last act on the field was a completed pass for a 2-point conversion to emphatically slam the lid on a Superbowl victory?
Well, to be fair, he did thread the needle on that two-pointer...but he was painful to watch...
I thought those “flashback” on CBS were great. And the “Before They Were Pros” with the gold footballs was the best part of the Super Bowl.
Manning’s endorsements alone will set him and his grandkids up for life ( assuming he does not do an OJ ... ).
The Chargers sure could use a good OC.
If you’re a football fan, read Bill Polian’s book.
He talks about Manning’s NFL combine interview (scheduled for 15 minutes).
Manning shows up with a huge binder full of questions, discussion goes on for 3 hrs plus.
There is them and there is also Mike Tomlin, one of the most overrated head coaches in the game.
I remember the first time I went to Denver about twenty years ago, Elway owned half the car dealerships in town. Manning has talked about how Elway is a mentor to him and I don't think he meant football.
His QB rating from 1999-2014 was 100.3
His QB rating this season was 67.9
He's done.
They went 5-2 with Brock. Give him a full pre-season to practice as a starter and I think they’ve got something. He probably doesn’t have the stuff to be a great QB, but if they can keep that defense together they only need a QB that doesn’t suck.
I wonder if his refusal to announce was to do the 1 day contract with Indy. Just so long as it wasn’t him seriously considering doing another year.
I respect Manning, but honestly, Ryan Leaf could have won that game with that defense....
Just wait until you get old. You, like many of us, may find the simple task of walking has become more difficult, even when you did not play football.
How old is that? I’ll be 68 in May LOL
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