A Farewell to Number 18

​Written by John Edward Betancourt

I have to admit that I've been spoiled as a Denver Broncos fan, because I've had the pleasure of watching two incredible quarterbacks take their respective teams to four separate Super Bowls and win three of them. But on the flip side of that I've also been witness to watching both of those talented athletes take the podium and say goodbye to football. 

It was hard to watch when John Elway did it, and it was just as difficult to watch all these years later when Peyton Manning said goodbye to the game yesterday morning. It's been a hell of a wild ride for the Sheriff in his eighteen years in the league, and I've enjoyed watching every single second of it. But while it was incredible to watch Peyton do things on the field that turned out to be the stuff of legend when he was with the Indianapolis Colts, what mattered to me most was watching him play for my hometown team because what he did here...defies logic and served as personal inspiration for me.

I say that because I am still in awe of what Peyton pulled off during his four short years here in Denver. After all, he was a quarterback abandoned by the team that drafted him. Sure there were suitors lining up at a shot to sign him, but it was only a handful. Much of the league was clearly skeptical about his chances to rebound from such a devastating injury, but when the dust settled and Denver had completed his contract, none of that mattered. Peyton took the field like a man possessed. There was a fury to his throws, an anguish that spoke to the team that shunned him and the other ones that thought he was done. This man was going to prove a point, he was still the best and he was still going to beat you.

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That mentality led to record setting seasons and joy on my end. I cannot recall ever seeing a quarterback play the game like Peyton did in his last four years and let's be honest, the only way this story was ever going to end in happy fashion was with a Super Bowl and I'm so glad that the team rallied around him in a year when his body finally said "enough" to get him that final ring. But I made mention of the fact that Peyton inspired me, and I wasn't kidding when I said that because what Peyton did here in Denver, goodness...it makes you feel as though you can achieve anything. 

It didn't matter if the odds were against him or if the score wasn't in the Broncos favor, Manning made miracles hapen. There was nothing that could wear Peyton Manning's mind down, no opponent that could rattle him. He had one goal on his mind, another championship and he would do everything within his power to get it. That kind of mental strength, that kind of resolve is rare and well...it gave me pause. 2014-2015 were tough years for me and watching the Broncos has always been a wonderful escape for me, So to see him take the field, in pain, with the odds against him at his advanced age, for an athlete, and still make plays happen instantly lifted my spirits.

It was a fine reminder that the only person that holds you back in life, is you, and that the old adage about achieving anything once you put your mind to it is complete and utter truth. But most importantly, Peyton reminded all of us to stop at nothing to achieve our goals. It doesn't matter what obstacles are in our way, it's our job to overcome them. I can't thank Peyton enough for everything he has done for this team, this city and the game of football and it will be incredibly strange to not see him take the field in orange and blue next year, or hear "OMAHA!" echo through Sports Authority Field. But all that matters is that we have the memories of four amazing and record setting years and the fact that the legendary number 18, Peyton Manning, retired a Super Bowl Champion, and retired a Denver Bronco. 

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