Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning hasn't officially announced his retirement.
But Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson took time Monday to pay tribute on the website The Players Tribune to Manning, 39, who won his second Super Bowl title Sunday night. The Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Wilson's letter to Manning was titled, "If This is It."
"From all the wins, to the few tough losses. From the 71,000 yards, to all the touchdowns, to the few interceptions," Wilson wrote.
"From all the meetings, to all the hard practices, to all the film, to all the blood, sweat and tears.
"From all the Pro Bowls, to the handful of MVPs, to the two Lombardi trophies. From all the teammates, to all the opponents, to all the fans.
"From the blue and white, to the blue and orange ...
"Sheriff,
"If this is it, there's one moment I won't forget.
"10th grade. Louisiana. At your quarterback camp.
"You inspired the kid in the green shirt.
"You inspired me to work hard. To be disciplined. To be respectful. To take notes.
"You inspired me to love the process. To love the sweat. To love the tears.
"But most of all ...
"You inspired me to love the game.
"Thanks, Peyton.
"If this is it,
"Thanks."
Wilson finished his fouth season with the Seahawks last month. He led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title in February 2014 against Manning's Broncos.
'Honest' headlines
Headlines from the weekly 'Honest NFL Headlines' series at the satirical sports website sportspickle.com:
• "Broncos literally hand Peyton a Super Bowl trophy"
• "Treasure the remaining Eli years"
• "Newton walks from presser for longest gain of the night"
• "MVP Miller: 'No, I'm not going to Disney World. I'm 26 and single.' "
• "Bandwagon GSW fan Steph Curry will probably now like the Broncos"
He said it
From Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald:
• "In the [Super Bowl] pregame show, Seal sang "Crazy." It was about people who paid $6,000 for a ticket to a sporting event."
• "President Obama welcomed the NBA champion Golden State Warriors to the White House. Obama had a quiet moment of reflection after realizing he was 19 points behind Riley Curry in the approval polls."
• "How about that great open-field tackling Sunday. Not the Super Bowl. No, Girl Scouts tackling prospective cookie customers in supermarket parking lots."
Trophy talk
John Elway returned the favor Sunday night for Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen.
Elway, who quarterbacked the Broncos to Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998, helped build Denver's Super Bowl championship team that beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 on Sunday. He's now the team's general manager and 18 years after hearing Bowlen say, "This one's for John," shortly after Denver's first Super Bowl title, it was Elway's turn at the podium.
"This one's for Pat," Elway said on the CBS postgame telecast of Super Bowl 50.
Bowlen has owned the Broncos since 1984 and had attended the team's previous seven Super Bowls before this season. But after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Bowlen put his ownership stake in the Pat Bowlen Trust in 2014. His wife Annabel and his family represented him at Super Bowl 50.
SPORTS QUIZ
Who was Peyton Manning's first NFL head coach?
ANSWER
Jim Mora with the Indianapolis Colts in 1998.
Sports on 02/09/2016