NEW YORK: Peyton Manning (pictured), who could become the first starting quarterback to win Super Bowls with two different teams, isn’t ready to write the final word on his gridiron legacy just yet.
The 37-year-old Denver Broncos star, who rewrote the National Football League record book this season, will try to claim his second crown on Sunday when his club takes on the Seattle Seahawks. “I’ve been asked about my legacy since I was 25,” Manning said.
“I’m not sure you can have a legacy when you are 25 or even 37. I thought you had to be 70 to have a legacy. I’m not 100 percent sure what the word even means.
“I’m down the homestretch of my career, but I’m still in it. It’s not over yet. It’s still playing out. This has been the second chapter of my career and it is an exciting chapter. I’m certainly excited to be back in the Super Bowl.”
Manning led the Indianapolis Colts to victory over Chicago in the 2007 Super Bowl but lost in 2010 against New Orleans when a late-game interception return for a touchdown doomed his repeat dream.
“It’s equally disappointing not to win as it is gratifying to win it,” Manning said. The Colts released Manning after he had four neck operations and the star passer joined the Broncos, helping keep the spark in his game with new challenges.
“If you ever stop learning, that’s when you’re in trouble,” Manning said. “I’ve learned a lot these past two years that has helped me stay stimulated and stay excited about the game of football.”
This season, Manning threw for an NFL one-season passing record 5,477 yards and a record 55 passing touchdowns for a Denver attack that scored an NFL record 606 points.
Manning is the only player in Sunday’s game to have ever won a Super Bowl and among only a handful — all on the Broncos — who have even played in the championship spectacle.
Manning’s younger brother Eli, who is quarterback for the New York Giants, has won two Super Bowl titles. He says Peyton is just hitting his stride.
“Peyton has already cemented his legacy,” Eli Manning said. “At 37, having the greatest year of his career is pretty impressive. “He has played at an extrenmely high level for a long period of time. It has been pretty incredible to watch. I don’t think he’s done. I hope he’s not done.”
Retirement is not on the elder Manning’s mind.“I feel a little bit better than I thought I would coming off that surgery a couple of years ago,” Manning said. AFP
