According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning will announce his retirement in Denver on Monday…
Chris Mortensen, like a boss, came out and dropped this bomb on us while you were sleeping on Sunday morning:
Filed to ESPN: Five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning will announce his retirement Monday in Denver per source familiar with the QB's decision
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 6, 2016
Peyton Manning is making the right decision. Woody Paige reported it far too early, and Manning had to answer questions about it for another week, but it’s likely he’s known about this for a while. The Super Bowl champion quarterback and future Hall of Famer will be eligible for his gold jacket in 2021, and that’s precisely when he’ll get it.
That is, if this report is true. It’s been filed to ESPN though, and it’s Chris Mortensen, so you know it’s as good as gold.
Not to say that Woody Paige’s isn’t…
The rest of the football world isn’t really awake yet today, but as I’m sitting here reading this and taking it in, it’s pretty surreal to even be talking about. I can still remember trying to find a way to get enough words to publish with my excitement over Manning signing with the Broncos back in March of 2012. It has been a glorious four years with two Super Bowl appearances, capped off with a victory, and as much as I had hated Manning in his time with the Colts, I will certainly remember him for the last image of him on a football field:
Holding a Lombardi while wearing Denver Broncos colors.
That’s a great image.
Talk all you want about Manning in cold weather, against Tom Brady, or against Father Time — he helped us win a Super Bowl, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.
More to come on this, but it appears as though Manning is set to make this official on Monday.