by Mark Kiszla
His reputation was dragged through the mud, when the New York Daily News instigated a nationwide debate with its deep and splashy dive into a 20-year-old story. While in college, Manning was alleged to have sexually harassed a female athletic trainer by exposing his buttocks and genitals as she examined him for a foot injury. “I did not do what has been alleged. And I’m not interested in re-litigating something that happened when I was 19 years old,” Manning said.
Although one year remained on Manning’s contract with Denver, at the tidy sum of $19 million, the team did not want him back in 2016, so he seriously explored if there was a possibility to join the Rams, newly relocated to Los Angeles, or another franchise in desperate need of help at quarterback. But the harsh reality was there were no good options for continuing his football career. The game was telling Manning it was time to go home.
On March 7, 2016, exactly one month after winning the Super Bowl, Manning entered Broncos headquarters, walking hand-in-hand with 4-year-old son Marshall, then faced a big room crammed with friends, family and a live television audience to announce he was retiring from football. It was one of the most eloquent valedictions ever heard from an athlete.
“I’ve learned a lot through my mistakes, stumbles and losses in football. I’ve also learned this game is a mighty platform that has given me a voice that can echo well beyond the game,” Manning said. “Football has taught me not to be led by obstructions but instead be led by dreams.”
Fired by Indianapolis in 2012, Manning followed a dream to Denver, and four years later, walked away from his Last Rodeo as a champion.
Out of necessity born from heartache, a legendary Colt grew into something more. As a Bronco, Manning broke records: most touchdown passes in a season, most passing yards in a career. But most of all, at the end of four seasons in Denver, with his body wearing out, Manning won with something more powerful than the beautiful mind that let us know the perfect play was on the way when he shouted the magic word: “Omaha!”
In the end, Manning had the heart to accept his physical limitations while still dreaming big, kept the faith he could lead with more than his passing arm and loved every little aspect of football until his final snap at Super Bowl 50. Heart proved to be enough.
So here is a heart-felt thank-you to Manning for the privilege of watching the greatest second act any quarterback has ever written in the NFL. Thanks for the 17,112 yards passing, the 140 touchdowns and the four AFC West division titles that he won in Denver. Thanks for the humility in victory and the grace in defeat. Thanks for everything. But more than anything, thanks for reminding us a quarterback who relentlessly pursues perfection might be a little crazy obsessive, but nothing can uplift a team or a town like crazy optimism.
“Well, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the football race and after 18 years it is time,” Manning told fans on the day he retired from the game. “God bless you and God bless football.”
What’s next? He could run an NFL franchise. Or run for governor of Tennessee. No dream is too big for Manning to tackle.
During Manning’s retirement speech, I chuckled at a moment when everybody else in the room was reverently quiet with rapt attention. Please forgive me, but I could not help but smile. There was Manning, being true to his reputation as a brainaic to the very end. Proving one more time he is no dumb jock, Manning managed to apply the wisdom of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German poet, scientist and philosopher born in 1749, to playing quarterback in the NFL.
Manning told the crowd that had come to say goodbye to America’s quarterback: “There’s an old saying that goes, ‘Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be and he will become what he should be.’”
Hey, we all want to be somebody. But how many of us are willing to sign up for the hard-earned growth required to become somebody?
Hanging around Manning, you learn some stuff. During his four years in Denver, the most important stuff I learned was: No Plan B? A bold mantra, but in practice, it seldom works for long as an effective way to deal with life. Even a football star can get blind-sided by change too fast to see coming and too big to stop.
Manning is done playing football. While retirement is also a convenient excuse to quit growing, he refuses to play by those rules.
Manning is not perfect. Never will be. Never can be. And here’s the beauty: Walking away from the NFL as a champion might look, feel and taste like going out on top. But Manning has the audacity to hope for more. Looking for a way to define tomorrow as a chance to get better, this old quarterback is just getting warmed up.
Game on.
Sources
My sincere thanks to the following magazines, newspapers, and websites that proved to be valuable resources during my research for this book.
Chapter 1
The specifics of neck-fusion surgery as it relates to the health of an NFL quarterback were detailed by Seth Wickersham of ESPN the Magazine on October 7, 2011.
The anecdote of Peyton Manning getting lost on a trip to the barber shop shortly after moving to Colorado can be found in a feature by Los Angeles Times sportswriter Sam Farmer, published November 21, 2012.
Chapter 2
Patrik Jonsson reported and wrote “Top 5 Tim Tebow Eye Black Biblical Verses,” a list that appeared in the Christian Science Monitor on February 3, 2010.
Chapter 3
Mike Klis, “Peyton Manning–Led Denver Broncos the Toast of NFL,” Denver Post, March 27, 2012.
Tam O’Neill, “Albert Bierstadt, Great Art, True Love!” posted February 14, 2013, on tamoneillfinearts.com.
The anecdote of Peyton Manning assigning backup quarterback Brock Osweiler movies to watch was prompted by a Dave Krieger question during The Dave Logan Show, which aired April 17, 2013.
Chapter 4
Peter King, Sports Illustrated senior staff writer, asked University of Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley what he learned from Peyton Manning in the “Monday Morning QB” column, posted February 25, 2013, on SI.com.
Chapter 5
The critique of Peyton Manning and the accusation that ESPN was hiding the truth about a washed-up quarterback appeared in a
Foxsports.com column by Jason Whitlock, posted September 19, 2012.
The details of Peyton Manning’s use of a glove on his throwing hand during games were reported by Mike Klis in the January 8, 2013, edition of the Denver Post.
Chapter 6
Dr. Pat Robertson made his comments about the Broncos treating Tim Tebow “shabbily” during a broadcast of The 700 Club on the Christian Broadcasting Network, March 22, 2012.
Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today learned NFL front-office executive John Elway believed Tim Tebow fans and Broncos fans did not always root for the same outcome in “John Elway: Peyton Manning Was a Risk Worth Taking,” published November 14, 2012.
Chapter 7
Sally Ruth Bourrie and Patrick Sullivan, “Elway’s Empire,” Colorado Business Magazine, September 1, 1994, detailed off-field success in the automobile business by the Broncos’ star player.
Woody Paige, Denver Post columnist, sat down with the quarterback to write “Ol’ No. 7, Denver’s Legendary Quarterback, John Elway, Reflects on Reaching 50,” published June 27, 2010.
The anecdote of young John Elway’s smashing debut as a peewee football player has appeared in numerous publications, including In the Huddle with . . . John Elway, written by Matt Christopher, Hachette Book Group, copyright 1999.
Chapter 8
Dan Patrick, employed by ESPN at the time, conducted the lengthy interview in which Peyton Manning described his first game as quarterback at the University of Tennessee. A condensed version of the interview appeared in the September 3, 2001, edition of ESPN the Magazine, while more expansive outtakes of the conversation were posted at ESPN.com on December 6 of the same year.
Eddie Pells, national writer for the Associated Press, interviewed Archie Manning for the details of a cross-countr
y hunting trip by his son after the Broncos season. The story was published January 19, 2013.
Chapter 9
Peter King, “Peyton Manning’s Long Game,” in the April 2, 2012, edition of Sports Illustrated, was the source of the anecdote regarding the anniversary well wishes sent Mr. and Mrs. Manning during the Broncos’ recruitment of the veteran quarterback.
Gary Dulac reported on John Fox’s NFL roots in a story published December 23, 2010: “Panthers’ Fox learned from Steelers’ Noll” in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Mike Klis, “Denver Broncos Coach John Fox Has Different Way Motivating Players,” noted the coach’s fondness for military literature in a feature published November 11, 2012, by the Denver Post.
Chapter 10
David Climer wrote a profile of Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee, “Just One of the Guys,” Sporting News, August 18, 1997.
Cover story “Colorado Is No. 1” described quarterback John Hessler’s relationship with coach Rick Neuheisel, by Terry Frei, Sporting News, August 18, 1997.
Chapter 12
Mark Alesia reported live from New York, as an eyewitness to Peyton Manning’s shot as guest host of Saturday Night Live in stories written for the Indianapolis Star and published March 27, 2007.
Ryan McGee recounted the anecdote of Peyton Manning schooling rookie tight end Dallas Clark in “Help Me Help You,” published August 25, 2012, by ESPN the Magazine.
Gray Caldwell, “Prater-Beadles Not Quite Montana-Rice,” September 30, 2012, denverbroncos.com.
Andy Fenelon, “Peyton Manning Roasts Players in Pro Bowl Address,” January 23, 2013, NFL.com.
Chapter 13
Arnie Stapleton, “Read Option Is Back in NFL and Better Than Ever,” Associated Press, December 4, 2012.
Mike Klis interviewed NFL historian Gil Brandt for “NFL’s Read-Option Offense Has Become Super Bowl Relevant,” published February 3, 2013, in the Denver Post.
Dan Graziano, “Tomlin Not a Believer in Read Option,” posted March 20, 2013, on ESPN.com.
Chapter 14
Colin Shattuck, “This Whole Manning Thing Doesn’t Feel Right,” posted August 15, 2012, by southstandsdenver.com.
Stefan Fatsis, “Peyton Manning Is a Genius. He’s Also a Pain in the Ass,” February 4, 2010, Slate magazine.
Chapter 15
Ryan Parker reported on Michael Hancock’s playoff wager with the city of Baltimore, “Injured Denver Mayor Puts Off Ray Lewis Dance to Pay Off Broncos Bet,” in the Denver Post, January 15, 2013.
Mike Burrows, a copy editor at the Denver Post, compiled the weird similarities in two playoff defeats, which were detailed in “Amazing Comparisons between Broncos Stunning Losses to Jacksonville & Baltimore,” a blog posted by Mike Klis on January 13, 2013.
Chapter 17
Jeff Zrebiec and Aaron Wilson reported the introduction of Elvis Dumervil as a Baltimore Ravens player in “Dumervil on Joining Ravens: ‘It Was Time to Change the Scenery,’” published March 26, 2013, in the Baltimore Sun.
New England quarterback Tom Brady’s quote of appreciation for Wes Welker appeared in “5 Memories from Wes Welker’s Patriots Tenure,” compiled by the Boston Globe staff and published March 13, 2013.
Christopher L. Gasper described the falling-out between New England and its star receiver in “Patriots to Blame for Loss of Wes Welker,” Boston Globe, March 14, 2013.
Michael Silver reported the disappointment of New England’s quarterback about the departure of Welker in “Tom Brady Should Feel Burned by Patriots Passing on Wes Welker for Danny Amendola,” Yahoo! Sports, March 13, 2013.
Chapter 18
Mike Klis, “Peyton Manning Talks Broncos Upset, Looks toward New York Super Bowl,” posted January 13, 2013, on denverpost.com.
Chapter 19
Mike Klis reported documentation of multiple positive tests for marijuana in “Broncos Von Miller Suspended by NFL Due to Drug Policy,” published July 23, 2013, in the Denver Post.
Caitlin Swieca interviewed a Denver sandwich shop owner in “Colorado Marijuana Proponents Dismiss Von Miller Uproar,” published July 28, 2013, in the Denver Post.
Chapter 20
The video of Peyton Manning’s acceptance speech as Sports Illustrated magazine’s 2013 Sportsman of the Year was posted December 16, 2013, by denverbroncos.com.
Chapter 21
“John Fox would do ‘everything’ differently if Broncos return to Super Bowl,” published March 25, 2014, revealed the mistake of changing hotels on the eve of the NFL championship game during an interview with Denver Post reporter Mike Klis.
Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post examined what the Super Bowl loss meant to a decorated quarterback’s legacy in “Peyton Manning Fails to Improve the Only Record That Matters,” published February 3, 2014.
College of Charleston professor Laurie Lattimore-Volkmann wrote “Open Letter to Peyton Manning” as a blog originally posted February 4, 2014; it was reprinted by media outlets in Colorado.
Cornerback Champ Bailey’s comments shortly after his release from the Broncos were made to Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today in “Done in Denver, Champ Bailey Has No Plans to Retire,” posted March 6, 2014.
Chapter 22
Dialogue by actor Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife appeared in “Barney’s First Car,” which was Episode 27 of the third season on The Andy Griffith Show, written by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum.
John Elway expressed his concern for Gary Kubiak’s health during interview with NFL Network correspondent Andrea Kremer that aired on NFL Game Day, telecast February 7, 2016.
Denver Post sportswriter Troy Renck reported the interaction between Wade Phillips and Malik Jackson about rap music lyrics in “Wade Phillips, with Texan Touch, Revamped Broncos as Defensive Coordinator,” posted February 2, 2016.
Chapter 23
Denver Post sportswriter Nick Groke reported the critique of Denver’s veteran quarterback by Kansas City safety Ron Parker in “He’s Getting Old, Chiefs Say, After Bouncing Peyton Manning on 4 INTs,” posted November 15, 2015, at denverpost.com.
The locker-room speech to the Broncos after a 34–27 loss at Pittsburgh was described by Troy Renck of the Denver Post in “Joe Ellis Saw John Elway’s Vision Come to Life in Gary Kubiak’s Message,” posted March 25, 2016.
Chapter 24
NFL insider Ian Rapoport broke the news of Peyton Manning’s discomfort with being a backup quarterback during an NFL Network telecast on December 20, 2015.
A possible link between Peyton Manning and human growth hormone was the subject of speculation in Al Jazeera documentary The Dark Side: Secrets of the Sports Dopers, released December 26, 2015.
Sports Illustrated senior staff writer Peter King reported the nerve damage in Peyton Manning’s throwing hand during an interview for “Fallout, Fall Guys and Fingertips: A Week in the NFL,” his Monday Morning Quarterback blog that appeared August 24, 2015, at SI.com.
The “last rodeo” conversation between Peyton Manning and New England coach Bill Belichick was recorded by an NFL Films camera and broadcast January 25, 2016, by NFL Total Access on the NFL Network.
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton referring to himself as Superman was reported by Steve Reed of the Associated Press in “Panthers’ Cam Newton to Host Nickelodeon TV Show,” posted September 23, 2015.
The irritation of the Denver players with the media attention given Cam Newton was reported by Troy Renck in “Von Miller, Defense Carry Broncos to Super Bowl 50 Victory,” posted February 7, 2016, at denverpost.com.
The wish of Olivia Manning for her son to quit playing football was reported by Los Angeles Times sportswriter Sam Farmer in “Peyton Manning Caps His Career with Second Super Bowl Title, and His Mom Says It’s Time to Retire,” posted February 7, 2016.
The allegations against Peyton Manning while a student at the University of Tennessee were documented in a column by Shaun King of the New York Daily News in “Peyton Manning’s Squeaky-Clean Image Was B
uilt on Lies, as Detailed in Explosive Court Documents Showing Ugly Smear Campaign against His Alleged Sex Assault Victim,” posted February 13, 2016.
Scoreboards for the
Denver Broncos
The 2012 Season
Score: Broncos 31, Pittsburgh 19
Date: Sunday, September 9, 2012
Location: Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Denver Post headline: MANNING UP
The Manning stat line: 19-26, 253 yards, 2 TDs, 0 interceptions
Highlight: Cornerback Tracy Porter’s interception return seals victory
Score: Atlanta 27, Broncos 21
Date: Monday, September 17, 2012
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta
Denver Post headline: GOING SOUTH
The Manning stat line: 24-37, 241 yards, 1 TD, 3 interceptions
Highlight: Broncos unable to clean up mess of early turnovers
Score: Houston 31, Broncos 25
Date: Sunday, September 23, 2012
Location: Sports Authority Field at Mile High
