Was this Peyton's "last rodeo?"

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Broncos upset Panthers in Super Bowl L

Manning: To retire or not retire – that is the question

In a stunning upset, the underdog Denver Broncos, led from behind by their legendary quarterback Peyton Manning, defeated the Carolina Panthers and their all-everything quarterback, Cam Newton, 24-10 in Super Bowl L (that’s 50 for you non-Romans out there).

Manning was playing in his fourth Super Bowl and now has a record of 2-2. He is the oldest quarterback to start in a Super Bowl and is the first to win the game with two different teams (his first win was with the Indianapolis Colts).

Manning, who most observers agree, is one of the greatest players in football history, clearly is no longer the premier quarterback he once was. In this regard, and given his below average game performance, his age, his health and the fact that retiring now would mean he'd go out as a champion, Manning was asked by Tracy Wolfson of CBS immediately after the game ended if he was going to retire --- if this was, in his own words, “his last rodeo”.

“You know, I’ll take some time to reflect,” Manning said. “I’ve got a couple priorities first. I want to kiss my wife and kids. I want to hug my family. I’m going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight, Tracy. I promise you that. I’m going to take care of those things first. Then I’m going to say a little prayer and thank the man upstairs for this opportunity.”

(Budweiser immediately claimed that Manning was not paid for the Budweiser mention. It is not clear however, if Manning, ever the pitchman, was paid to kiss Papa John, the pizza man, while leaving the field for interviews. And, it is rumored, but not confirmed, that Manning was humming the "Nationwide is on your side" tune throughout the later interview with CBS's Jim Nance.)

On the topic of retiring, the Manning family response came from patriarch and former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, who said, “While we respect Peyton’s desire to hug and kiss us before he makes a decision on retiring, please be aware, if he expects us to help him make that decision he’s absolutely wrong, particularly after his performance in this game."

We did not reach out to the “man upstairs” for his take on what Manning should do. But, in a unabashed attempt to beat the Rubio campaign to the punch, Senator Ted Cruz’s campaign did. Campaign spokesman for Christian affairs, Billy Bob "Bubba" Powell, said that Senator Cruz was seeking guidance from “on high” and would pass that guidance on to Manning as soon as possible or whenever it would be most beneficial from a political standpoint.