Forget what anyone else says, because the rivalry between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady-Bill Belichick has been the best in sports over the past 15-plus years, with Manning’s teams facing off against the New England Patriots at least once in every season since 2001.
After Manning’s Broncos got the best of the Pats in the AFC title game this past weekend, everyone wondered what the future Hall of Famer said to Belichick in their postgame embrace, as the Pats head coach was keeping it hush hush.
Thanks to NFL Total Access, though, Manning may have given the coach a possible hint at his future plans, by muttering the words, “This might be my last rodeo. So it sure has been a pleasure.”
@NFLTotalAccess @MileHighReport @dmac1043 @TheBroncosWire @VicLombardi Video evidence pic.twitter.com/jBcOVtxIOJ
— ARD (@ARDFootball) January 26, 2016
In yesterday’s MMQB on SI.com, Manning gave some details of the message that was captured on camera, having this to say:
“I really feel that when everybody tries to analyze me versus Tom and me versus Belichick, I think it’s more about enjoying the games and the rivalry,” Manning said. “And today I hope everybody enjoyed that game. I know I enjoyed being there. That’s what I told Tom and Bill—that I’ve enjoyed this game and I’ve enjoyed all of them. I’ve enjoyed the rivalry and all the games we’ve been in. It’s been such an honor to play against both of them. This is my seventeenth time playing against the Patriots with Tom at quarterback. It’s my 24th against Belichick as head coach or defensive coordinator. I can’t shake either one of them. They are always there. They’re always standing between me and where our team wants to go. What a rivalry. It’s been such a big part of my career. So I wanted to take the time to pass that along to them, with how much respect I have for both of them.”
There has been a lot of speculation as to what the five-time league MVP might do following the Super Bowl, with mixed opinions on whether or not Manning will return or retire, so could these 13 words be a sign of what he might be thinking? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.