When it comes time to retire, even for Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning has been benched!

Let me tell you sumpin!

        One of the great careers of all time, Peyton Manning's is stumbling to a close. When these things happen it is never pretty to watch. The arm is one of the first things to go. No longer does it produce that pin point accuracy. Floating the ball over the top, or zinging it just out of the reach of the defensive back where only the receiver can catch it. Peyton was the best there ever was.


        Peyton Manning was born into a football family. One that played at the highest level - the NFL. The son of a quarterback, the younger brother of a college receiver, the older brother of another NFL QB. He has played at the the highest level for so long now, it hard to remember a season without him. 18 of them to be exact.
       The brash youngster at Newman High school in New Orleans was recruited by Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe, the current head Coach at Duke, and then, Head Coach Phillip Fulmer to play his college football for the Big Orange, at the University of Tennessee. Passing for over 11,000 yds. and 89 touchdowns. After a brilliant career in college where he set a total of 42 school, conference, and national records, he was promoted to the ranks on the NFL
        Drafted by the Colts in 1998 as the number 1 draft choice in all of football. There he continued his voracious appetite for work. Culminating in the career that resulted in winning the league MVP for 5 times - 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2013.
        At the age of 39 the end is now in sight. it debatable at my local watering hole as to whether he should even pursue another year. But Lord knows he is not in it for the money. He has had a career of being beaten every Sunday and it has taken it's toll. On the same day he overtook Brett Favre to become the NFL's all time career passing leader, he was benched due to a poor performance. 5 completions in 20 attempts for 35 yards - no touchdowns and 4 interceptions. After the game it was known that he played with a tear of the plantar fascia ligament in his left foot. And you can be assured a plethora of aches, and pains of playing a lifetime

of football. At age 39 the end is in sight for one of the greatest of all time, and it sad to watch.