Peyton Manning: Saying goodbye to a legend

Peyton Manning will officially retire from the NFL on Monday, meaning we all have to say goodbye to an NFL legend. Bring your tissues…

What can be said about Peyton Manning that hasn’t already been said? It’s going to be a sad goodbye to a legend who spent some of the best years of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos, but the majority of his Hall of Fame resume was built with the Indianapolis Colts.

From pulling pranks on fans at training camp, to dancing to Rocky Top with Wes Welker, to delivering the single greatest season ever by a quarterback as well as helping this team win the third Lombardi in franchise history?

There’s nothing to do but give you one last Mile High salute as you walk off into the sunset.

The business of the NFL will continue without Peyton Manning for the first time since I was eight years old. Manning watched the Broncos win the Super Bowl the year he came into the NFL, and he was part of them winning another as he leaves it a champion.

I can’t sit here and try to list all of Peyton Manning’s accomplishments to try and make this moment more emotional for you. We all grew up as football fans watching Peyton, and for a good bit of time, we hated his guts. It seemed like every time the Colts came to Denver, or we had to go to Indianapolis, it wound up as a loss for us. I think I remember one snowy night game in Denver where the Broncos managed to beat Peyton, but other than that, I don’t remember beating him.

Maybe you can. I’m not going to look it up because it sounds good the way it is.

(Couldn’t help myself, Manning’s Colts have lost to the Broncos twice…)

At any rate. We’ll be all eyes and ears as Manning takes the podium at 11 AM MT in Denver. Sound off with some of your favorite Peyton Manning moments in orange and blue!