COLUMN: Character, not mistakes, define Manning's career
At 1 p.m. Monday, Peyton Manning spoke to the media at the Denver Broncos' facility.
He wasn’t there to discuss his human growth hormone allegation in 2011. He wasn’t there to spend time talking about his sexual assault accusation at Tennessee.
He was there to say goodbye to the game he “revered” and the game he loved: Football.
Manning became well-respected and one of the greatest quarterbacks of this era. From the time he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 until Monday afternoon, he was the epitome of NFL stardom.
In his time with the Colts, he was coached by three individuals: Jim Mora, Tony Dungy and current Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Caldwell. Taking snaps from center Jeff Saturday, handing the ball off to Joseph Addai and throwing the deep ball to Reggie Wayne, Manning electrified the City of Indianapolis for 14 seasons.
In Monday’s press conference, Manning alluded to the idea that Indianapolis was a race car and basketball town. Manning had the people of Indianapolis cheering about football, and, with a Super Bowl XLI trophy and subsequent Super Bowl MVP award, put the Colts on the map.
He is the Colts’ all-time leader in wins, passing completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns. When a neck injury ended his 2011 season, the impending arrival of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck ended his time with the Colts.
Manning signed with the Broncos. With owner Pat Bolden and Hall of Fame quarterback and general manager John Elway at the helm, the Broncos were committed to winning. Manning was the quarterback that would guide them to the pinnacle.
In two seasons, Manning would reach the Super Bowl, but was annihilated by the Seattle Seahawks. After failing to reach Super Bowl XLIX, he made it a goal to win it all in Super Bowl 50.
In “The Sheriff’s” last rodeo, he struggled with play and injury. He was replaced by Brock Osweiler more than halfway through the season and battled a foot injury.
Manning, being the team player he was, got healthy and was not a distraction. He returned to guide Denver to a Super Bowl 50 championship on Feb. 7, his final game in the NFL.
Many wondered if Manning would return. His love for the game was still present, as evident in Monday’s press conference.
However, an allegation that Manning sexually assaulted a trainer at Tennessee when he was 19 was as big of a highlight as his Super Bowl win. An HGH allegation also haunts Manning.
So, Manning decided to walk away. The two incidents will forever haunt Manning’s legacy, regardless whether or not they are true. What is more important, however, is how Manning performed on and off the field.
He is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He is a 14-time Pro Bowler. The Associated Press named him the MVP of the NFL five times in his 18 seasons. He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2012.
He is the NFL all-time leader in passing touchdowns, passing yards and wins.
More important than that, however, is how he conducted himself as a person and in the community.
The Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent in Indianapolis is named after Manning. He was generous to the community and did many philanthropic works.
He was respected by players in this league, as evident by the tweets and messages he received after it was announced he would retire.
Manning was a family man. The son of Archie Manning, he played for his brother Cooper, whose career was cut short due to spinal sclerosis. He has a good relationship with his brother, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, and has beaten him three times.
Now, Manning focuses his attention to his wife Ashley and twins Marshal and Mosley.
And so begins life in the NFL without Manning.
On Sundays, fans will not hear “Omaha” yelled on the TV. Who knows if Manning will continue with Papa John’s Pizza commercials? Fans will never see a Manning-Tom Brady matchup again, in which Brady won 11-6.
It is important to understand that a few mistakes should not completely damage the reputation of a future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and class act.
In reference to retirement speech on Monday, he fought the good fight. He won the race.
Now, the Sheriff can ride off into the sunset.
