Peyton Manning mentioned he had spoken to Kurt Warner about taking two different teams to the Super Bowl.
So, we talked about how he is now one of three quarterbacks to do so and then I asked him if he knew who the third QB was.
"Morton, right? Craig Morton," he said without hesitation.
Of course he knew the answer. Manning is a dedicated student of the history of the game. And if he can beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, he will not only get that elusive second ring, but he will be the first starting quarterback to win Super Bowls for two different teams.
Joe Montana couldn't do it. Johnny Unitas couldn't do it. Joe Namath couldn't do it. They couldn't even get their second team to the Super Bowl.
Warner won his first Super Bowl with the Rams, lost his second with the Rams and then lost with the Cardinals. Morton lost with the Cowboys, and then when he was with Denver, he lost to the Cowboys.
Manning was 1-1 in Super Bowls with the Colts and now if he wins this game, it's another significant entry in his Hall of Fame resume
Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News
Peyton Manning is a student of history so he knows what's at stake against the Seahawks Sunday.
John Elway never had the chance to win Super Bowls for multiple teams because he played his entire 16-year career for the Broncos. I asked what he thought the impact of Manning winning for two different franchises would mean to his career.
"Well, just add to his legacy, just add to his greatness," said Elway, the Broncos' executive VP of football operations. "For me, he's already in the top five in the discussions. He's just continuing to elevate himself as far as how many votes he's getting for the all-time best."
Manning would always rather talk about the team than himself, but you can sense that not only is the second ring important to him, but doing it for another organization would be something for him to cherish.
"I know that was special for Kurt to take the Rams and the Cardinals to the Super Bowl," Manning said. "To be here is special. It's fun to be a part of this team and this organization. I can't tell you how thankful I am to the Denver Broncos for making me feel comfortable, welcoming me to their team. Pat Bowlen to John Elway to John Fox."
After spending the first 14 years of his career with the Colts, even a player of Manning's experience and accomplishments had some anxiety about switching teams. In his first year with the Broncos in 2012, they were 13-3, the No. 1 seed, but lost to the Ravens in double overtime in the divisional round. The Broncos were 13-3 again this season, once again the No 1 seed, but this time beat the Chargers and Patriots to get to the Super Bowl.
"It was a major transition for me," Manning said. "I was so ingrained in one culture and one team that I wasn't sure how I would adapt playing for someone else. The Broncos sure have helped me. To be here in just two years, it is special and certainly to win, to give Pat Bowlen his third Super Bowl trophy, that would be very special."
SHAUN BEST/Reuters
Peyton Manning holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Colts defeated the Bears to win Super Bowl XLI.
Warner came extremely close to beating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII but lost, 27-23, on Ben Roethlisberger's 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left. Warner is likely to get into the Hall of Fame, but a second Super Bowl victory would have virtually guaranteed it.
Manning doesn't have to worry about the Hall of Fame, he's a first-ballot guy for sure, but Warner believes being the first quarterback to win the Super Bowl with two teams would be very meaningful for Manning.
"I think it's huge, just because it's so unique," Warner said. "Very seldom do you see a player that can go from one place to another and have the same kind of success. There are so many factors that go into finding the right place and the right system and being able to perform, especially with all he's been through. Anytime you can add something that no one has done before to your resume, I think that goes a long way in establishing who you are and where your place is in history."
Of course, Warner said, Manning's place in history is secure. This would just add to it.
Manning has already joined an exclusive club of three. It's not common that a great quarterback plays for more than one team without extenuating circumstances, such as the Colts cutting Manning rather than pay him a $28 million option bonus after he had undergone four neck procedures over a couple of years and then missed the 2011 season.
"All I can say is I've worked hard for every team I've ever played for," Manning said. "I've given them everything that I've had. I can honestly say that."
And if he's raising the trophy around 10 p.m., that will be another record he's set this season: Two trophies, two teams.
PLAY ON
As early as the 2015 season, it looks like the NFL will expand the playoffs to seven teams per conference, increasing the playoff pool from 12 teams to 14. Only the No. 1 seed in each conference will get a first-round bye. There will be an extra wild-card game in each conference. "There's a lot of benefits to doing that," Roger Goodell said. "We think we can make the league more competitive. We think we can make the matchups more competitive towards the end of the season."
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