The most important quality a quarterback can have is good decision making. In that department, you can make the case that there has been no one better than Peyton Manning over the course of his career.
As the Denver Broncos quarterback now mulls his NFL future, other sports legends are offering some helpful advice. Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant weighed in while on a visit to Denver Wednesday.
Following L.A.'s 117-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Bryant, 37, told media that he can relate to what Manning, 39, is going through as he struggles with whether or not to hang it up after 18 NFL seasons. Bryant had already announced his plans to retire after 20 NBA seasons back in November.
"I was very fortunate to be able to have that epiphany and feel very comfortable and at peace at it," Bryant said. "If I was kind of teeter-tottering, I never would have announced it. I would still keep playing, because that means I'm not ready to let go yet."
It was previously reported that Manning would announce his decision sometime this week. However, Manning's agent said Wednesday that the two-time Super Bowl winner had yet to make up his mind.
"You can't make these decisions on outside influences or successes or failures," Bryant continued. "It's a very personal decision, very emotional decision, so you have to make that from within. You can't cheat the game.
"I've followed Peyton's process from Day One and how he prepares, and hopefully I can find something I can learn from. I couldn't be any happier for him with how he performed this season, winning the Super Bowl when everyone said he was done."
The problem with that is that everyone may have been right.
Though Manning gutted through this past year with sheer determination and heart, his performance was not representative of a five-time NFL MVP. In 10 regular season games, Manning completed 59.8 percent of his passes (his lowest rate since 1998) while throwing for 2,249 yards with nine touchdowns against 17 interceptions. In three post-season games he completed 55.4 percent of his passes and threw for 539 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Manning will turn 40 later this month and has struggled with nagging injuries over the past two seasons. As great of a decision maker as he has been on the field, it's now time to make the right call off of it.
It's time for Peyton Manning to hang it up.
