Peyton Uses Comedy To Lighten Mood on Day One at Dove Valley

Jul 24, 2014; Dove Valley, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) warms up during training camp activities at the Broncos training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday was a pretty emotional day around the Denver Broncos’ training facility. The news of iconic owner Pat Bowlen stepping away from the team to battle Alzheimer’s Disease brought tears to the eyes of many, John Elway and myself included. Things indeed won’t be the same without Mr. Bowlen around, and from the way it is being handled it doesn’t sound like he is doing very well at all.

Today the team took to the field for the first time, a welcome distraction from the brevity of yesterday’s situation. Peyton Manning was unusually jovial (even for him) during his post-practice interview, ending the session with two zingers.

First, he questioned why some of the media were granted “all access” privileges while others were restricted to the “quarantine” area that was roped off for them. He intimated one such reporter, Jay Glazer, got “all access” benefits due to his extra tight shirt. He questioned whether it had to be a boys’ small or boys’ medium that got Glazer into the golf cart with coach John Fox.

He ended the session with a back and forth with an unidentified reporter who asked why Manning had been using a blue football during the ball security drills. Manning insisted the footballs would be a different color during the regular season but because it was training camp they were blue. There was a little back and forth banter with the reporter until finally Manning got what he was looking for-  the reporter said “BLUE BALLS?”. With that, Manning dropped the mic and ended the media session.

Laughter is often the best medicine and the fact that the Broncos’ leader is this loose on the first day of camp despite what is happening with the organization’s leader off the field has to be a great sign.

Credit to @BroncosTV and the Denver Broncos mobile app for the live feed of the beginning of camp as well as the live streaming press conference video. I’d highly recommend downloading it if you haven’t already.