Peyton Manning officially announced his retirement from football today. In some ways, it seems as though Peyton is going out on top. He just won the Super Bowl, he might have more endorsements than any other football player alive, and he owns a bunch of Papa Johns franchises. You could argue that it's a good time to be Peyton Manning.
In other ways, it seems like Peyton's getting out just as the mythology of Peyton Manning is beginning to crumble. Allegations of sexual misconduct that date back to his days at the University of Tennessee have reemerged of late and have put a decided crack in what was an otherwise spotless public image. But on this day of Peyton's retirement, we're not going to focus on his football heroics, or his off the field scandal (though you should do yourself a favor and read about it). No, instead we are going to focus on the most important thing that Peyton ever contributed to the sport of football. The Manning Face.
Bill Simmons once described The Manning Face like this:
It turns out that Bill was slightly wrong. The Manning Face does not require losing. No, Peyton's hangdog, overwhelmed face can equally fit happy occasions. Like going to the Super Bowl.
Or getting drafted.
Then again it's most notable appearances tend to occur when things aren't going well. Like when he's hurt.
Or when he's being released by the Colts.
Or really just after any disappointing moment in a game.
When I reminisce about Peyton Manning, this is how I'll remember him. Always just a little bit sad, as though he did something in his youth that he really regrets.