It’s time for Peyton Manning to retire

Let’s get two things straight before we set foot into why Sunday night should be Peyton Manning’s last game in the National Football League.

First, Manning didn’t choke last night.

Second, he is one of the best quarterbacks we will ever see play, and he should retire when he is good and ready.

Nerves didn’t get the better of Manning during Denver’s 24-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. It was the ninth time Manning has lost his first playoff game but not for a second did it look like the moment consumed him.

No, it appeared that he was overcome by the one thing he couldn’t audible out of. Age.

It’s possible that Manning was injured. Over the past six weeks his red zone production has plummeted, and the most prevalent culprit was deemed to be an injured Julius Thomas. It wasn’t Thomas. It was 18 weeks of football grinding down a 38-year-old with a severe neck injury under his belt.

Manning has never been a quarterback to blow defenses away with his arm speed. He’s always been the cerebral leader under center, the offensive coordinator wearing a helmet, able to adjust and read defenses, and play to his strengths.

After the Broncos’ went up 7-0 on an expertly orchestrated drive by Manning, it appeared that we were about to see a vintage performance. One we’ve come to expect more times than not the past 15 years.

But the Colts did a funny thing after that drive. They dared Manning.

Indianapolis took away his short game, daring a tired arm to beat them long. Manning took the dare, and lost.

There is no question that a younger Manning would have punished the Colts. And it’s not like an older Manning didn’t see what was happening. But he didn’t have the arm or the physical ability to do anything about it.

Now Manning has seven months to heal. He’ll feel right again in August. He’ll look great in September and October. But come November, when the Broncos hit their eighth or ninth game, he’ll slow down again. he’ll slow down because that’s what happens when you’re 39 and you get hit for a living.

We saw Manning wrestle with that realization on the podium following the game. He said he doesn’t know if he’ll return.

It’s surely not because he doesn’t want to. Manning will die with the desire to play football. His desire is what has made him so great for so long. His awareness has also made him great. His performance, or lack thereof, isn’t lost on him. He better than anyone knows his limitations and what he needs to make Denver successful.

Peyton Manning, like everyone else, can’t turn back the clock. Now he has to decide what to do with the time remaining.