“He’s got control of that right glute,” declared Eli Manning with a smirk.
As the sun sets on Week 2 of the NFL season, the Manning brothers, Eli and Peyton, are busy preparing for their upcoming broadcast. Peyton’s phone buzzes with voice memos from Eli, discussing the intricacies of the game.
“The RPOs all look bad, Peyt,” Eli’s voice crackles through the phone.
They dissect the plays, wondering about the responsibilities of players on the field. Who is accountable for what during the Tush Push between Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley?
Peyton responds in kind, reminiscing about his own experiences with silent counts at home games. “It was a body blow,” he recalls from his days with the Colts.
“Play 51,” Peyton sighs as he watches Hurts throw an interception. “Just a total force. Check it down!”
Both Manning brothers approach their analysis as if they were still playing the game themselves. “If you don’t study, it’s gonna show,” Peyton emphasizes. He clings to his old spiral notebooks, remnants of his playing days.
Meanwhile, in Denver, Peyton’s SUV pulls into a nondescript garage. He ducks out of sight and settles in to prepare for the broadcast, surrounded by luxury cars and his trusty notebook.
“Bill, so formal!” Peyton greets the screen to his left.
Bill Belichick, the former Patriots coach and long-time Manning rival, appears on screen. Dressed in a sharp suit, Belichick cracks a joke about his reception from Eagles fans. “The site of unbrotherly love,” he chuckles. “I mentioned I was with the ‘ManningCast’ and got booed.”
As the brothers delve deeper into their preparations, dissecting plays and bantering with guests, it’s clear that even in retirement, their passion for the game burns as bright as ever. The Manning legacy lives on, not only in their performances on the field but also in their insightful commentary off it.
