Archie Manning on Peyton's post-retirement options: He's not 'saying absolutely no to anything' - Los Angeles Times
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Archie Manning on Peyton’s post-retirement options: He’s not ‘saying absolutely no to anything’

Denver quarterback Peyton Manning and his father, Archie Manning, walk off the field after the Broncos defeated New England in the AFC Championship game Jan. 24.

Denver quarterback Peyton Manning and his father, Archie Manning, walk off the field after the Broncos defeated New England in the AFC Championship game Jan. 24.

(Doug Pensinger / Getty Images)
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So where does Peyton Manning go from here?

This much is clear: The NFL’s only five-time most valuable player, who held his retirement news conference Monday, will have plenty of opportunities after football.

“He’s got a bunch of commitments, corporate speeches,” his father, Archie, told The Times. “He’s good at that, and he’ll fulfill those while he considers some other things that will be in front of him. I know the TV folks will talk to him. Peyton’s pretty good at figuring stuff out. He won’t jump at anything. He’ll lay everything on the table.”

Manning, who earned $12 million off the field last year as a product pitchman, has long been reticent to discuss his after-football plans, reasoning that might become a distraction that could cause him to lose focus.

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But as a player, he took an unusual interest in the minute aspects of how a franchise is run. He wanted to know, for instance, who each non-player was on the sideline during a game and why that person needed to be there. He was always interested in where the team’s scouts were traveling, and why. John Madden, the hall-of-fame coach and a longtime family friend, has long speculated Manning took that keen interest because he has been preparing himself to be a team owner.

Manning’s father chuckled at that suggestion.

“That’s very ambitious,” Archie said. “I don’t know about an owner, but I do think administration is a consideration, along with TV and I guess coaching, although I don’t know if he’d go that route. I don’t think Peyton’s saying absolutely no to anything. I think he feels like he’s fortunate to have opportunities and options. He’s pretty good at digging into stuff like that and seeing what fits.”

During the on-field celebration when Denver beat Carolina in the Super Bowl, Olivia Manning told two reporters that she hoped her son would retire.

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“Physically, I just don’t think it’s worth going on,” she said. “He won a Super Bowl — it’s the best way to go out.”

But Archie, who played quarterback in the NFL for 16 seasons, was careful not to dispense too much advice when he and Peyton sat down recently to discuss his plans.

“Most people felt he should retire, but I told Peyton to do what he wanted to do,” he said. “If he could get healthy and play some more, then he should do it. I think Peyton did it the right way. He took his time.”

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Archie called the 2015 season “the most trying one” for Peyton, other than missing the entire 2011 season in Indianapolis because of a neck injury that required four surgeries.

“I think he was all set to commit to this new offense,” Archie said, referring to the run-heavy scheme of first-year Broncos Coach Gary Kubiak. “ I think Peyton really felt like this new offense would be good and might even allow him to play maybe three or four more years because it wouldn’t all be on his shoulders.

“But I think in transitioning to it, two bad things happened. One, they couldn’t run, which made it hard. And two, he was hurt, which made it hard. But the end result was they won a Super Bowl. You just smile and walk away.”

The elder Manning said his son is “at peace” with his decision.

“It’s time,” Archie said. “That’s the way it was with me. It was time… I always hate it with former teammates of mine, good friends, who got cut and were just bitter for so long. They just couldn’t get over it.

“I think that’s the great thing about Peyton stepping away. He’s not mad at anybody. He’s got two fantastic relationships with two great organizations. Great memories. Lifelong teammates and friendships with coaches and so forth. He’s really blessed to have played that many years, to have so many friendships.”

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