At a time when a former reality star is shaking things up in the presidential race, a former star of the ultimate reality show won’t be pursuing a similar career path.
“Negative, negative on that,” retired quarterback Peyton Manning said at Friday’s press conference in Indianapolis regarding the possibility of becoming a politician.
Beyond that, Manning has ruled nothing out. Or in.
“I haven’t,” Manning said regarding the making of plans for the future. “I really haven’t. I’ve tried to kind of enjoy these conversations going down memory lane if you will. I haven’t made any more decisions or had any conversations about what’s next. I think I’ll be able to keep a fairly normal and somewhat busy offseason. Kind of normal commitments that I do anyway. Obviously I have kind of things committed to up until August and that’s when usually that you go to Terre Haute [Indiana] or Anderson [Indiana] or go to Dove Valley [Colorado] for training camp so that’s where it stops. I think the one thing that I want to do is kind of take my time. I think the biggest mistake would be to rush into something and go, ‘Wow, what am I doing? I’m not ready for this’ or what not.
“I haven’t had a fall off in about 25 years. Something about that has some appeal to it. . . . To maybe go to a couple of Giants games and see my brother play, which I don’t get to do. Or to go see a couple more Tennessee Vols play, just different things like that. I don’t know, maybe I could be doing something and busy every single weekend in the fall as well. Something about that kind of sounds OK as well.”
It’s a given that, whatever he chooses, Peyton Manning will be successful. His ability to think and communicate coupled with an unparalleled work ethic ensures that whatever he does next, he’ll do it well.
Coaching has been suggested, even though Tony Dungy thinks Manning won’t choose that path. Becoming a General Manager, team president, or part owner also makes plenty of sense. Ditto for broadcasting, in one form or another.
Whatever Peyton Manning does, chances are he won’t be doing nothing. He simply doesn’t seem to be wired to be a spectator.