The Broncos play in Cleveland this weekend, which means reporters have asked Peyton Manning about his long-standing relationship with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.
Which means people are talking -- and writing -- about Manning eventually signing up to work for Haslam in a prominent front-office role with the Browns. A piece by ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi Thursday quoted Manning discussing the Haslams and their bonds forged through the University of Tennessee. Haslam’s father, Jim, played at Tennessee, and the Haslams are longtime and influential university boosters.
“When we do talk, which is not very often, especially in season, it’s usually about Tennessee football and kind of how we’re doing,” Manning said. “I’ve enjoyed having that relationship with him because we have a lot of common about our love for the University of Tennessee.”
Manning has declined to talk about how long he plans to keep playing and has said even less about his post-football plans. Any rumors about Manning involving the Browns, the Tennessee Titans or any other team are formed simply from a connecting of dots and relationships. Grossi wrote that “if Manning does decide to try his hand as a football team executive, it is generally assumed that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam would be first in line to take it.”
The Broncos are currently 5-0 and trying to win a Super Bowl, so this is all about assumptions -- and such guesses are not new.
Asked if he sees Manning in a prominent front-office role after his playing days, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said Manning “can do whatever he wants to do. His football knowledge and his drive to compete and lead people is as good as I’ve ever been around. It’s a joy for me to be around. Only he can answer that question if it’s something he wants to do some day, but I think anything he chooses to put his mind to he’s going to be very successful, much like John has done.”
Besides his relationship with Haslam, the presumed appeal of Manning potentially taking over the Browns is the chance to have the same kind of power -- and, eventually, the same kind of success -- he’s seen John Elway have in his role in Denver.
Haslam is on his third administration running the team since he took over three years ago, the second he hired. Because the Browns won in Baltimore last week, no one’s really talking about general manager Ray Farmer and coach Mike Pettine losing their jobs this week. What happens a week, a month, three months or even three years from now, no one knows.
The Manning-Haslam rumor is just a rumor. It’s not going away until Manning retires and officially decides what he’s going to do next.
