SAN JOSE –- Peyton Manning sat before a microphone for a full hour, surrounded by press. He did not, at any time, announce his retirement.
The Denver Broncos quarterback has played 18 NFL seasons and, as he told Bill Belichick after the AFC title game, the Super Bowl might be his last rodeo. While there’s nothing official on that front, Manning is certainly talking like a man seriously considering a ride into the sunset.
He talked extensively about soaking in the Super Bowl experience heading into Sunday’s NFL championship game at Levi’s Stadium.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE “I’m sure Sunday,” Manning said, “will be an emotional moment.”
Manning is certainly coming down the home stretch of a Hall of Fame career, looking to add another championship ring to one he earned with Indianapolis. A victory won’t define his career. It will accent it. Manning’s already considered among the league’s best quarterbacks. That much is certain.
“This is not a make-or-break game for Peyton,” Broncos general manager John Elway said. “His legacy is already set. He’s already going to go down as one of the greatest players to ever play the game so if anything, this will do is just add to that legacy.”
This season has not been easy. Outside a rough rookie year and a season missed with a neck injury, 2015 has been the toughest of his career. He spent most of it being criticized, hearing he was too old and broken down to produce at a great rate. He was washed up, with some fans ready to trade him in for a younger model.
NFL
Manning heard it all but remains supremely confident. He is, however, a realist.
“I can’t make some of the same throws I’m used to, and that was an adjustment,” Manning said. “But I can still move the chains. Like Toby Keith says, maybe I’m not as good as I once was, but I can be good once as I ever was. That makes sense to me.”
Manning only has to be good one more time, and do just enough to let the NFL’s best defense carry the day.
That task doesn’t sound so tough. He carried past teams. He doesn’t have to do that here, which is a good thing. His body fought against him this season, forcing him out of six games and to second string for another.
Manning got healthy as Brock Osweiller’s momentum stalled, giving him another shot at a postseason run. It was not guaranteed.
“Despite not knowing how it was going to work out, I was at peace,” Manning said. “I was able to focus solely on the task at hand, and I kept that mentality each and every week. Not getting too far ahead of myself really helped me out. Thinking about (the future) would’ve had a negative impact on what I was doing. It’s served me well to this point, and it’ll help for one more week.”
Manning is trying to take some gravity out of proceedings, and certainly wasn’t ready to publicly call it a career despite a report saying he will at season’s end.
His legacy is strong, even with a production shortage. He hopes to be remembered in a less orthodox way.
“I certainly get asked about it a lot,” Manning said. “A couple things come to mind when I do think about that. I would like to be known as a good teammate. I’ve worked hard to have good relationships with teammates and coaches. That’s important to me. Also, playing all this time has reaffirmed the fact that I love the game of football.”