It's been two days since Peyton Manning was benched due to injury, or horrible play, or whatever. It's been one day since I found out how serious his injury is and how long he could be sidelined. The thought that he doesn't step back on the field has entered my mind, more than once, and my eyes fill with tears.

My dear friend,  and fellow Peyton lover, said it best when she said, " The only thing that sucks more than getting old is watching Peyton get old". So much truth in that. For over 20 years, he has been my quarterback. From Tennessee to Indy to Denver, I have followed his career on and off the field, and been amazed at his football intelligence, his ability to will his team to wins, his commercials, his SNL appearance, his charity and love for kids in all of the communities in which he has lived, and above all else his humility. The leadership and willingness to work harder than others, to do the right thing, to be a constant student. 

I cannot imagine looking forward to a football season that doesn't include Peyton Manning. There has never been a debate for me about the best quarterback in football. For 18 years, he had epitomized what a professional athlete should represent. Without scandal, without controversy, he has led in the most brilliant of ways on and off the field. He has continued to learn the game as it changes, as he changes. Outside of the game, he has touched the hearts and lives of so many people. Handwritten notes to longtime fans, signed jerseys and pictures, money to charities that we probably don't even know about, the Chattanooga heroes fund, the phone calls to the survivors of the Aurora theater shooting, visits back to UT, and his high school, Isidore Newman,  Peyton Manning Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, the Peyback foundation, and countless handshakes and autographs and photo opportunities. He is enmeshed in the communities he has lived and gives back. Always. 

I know football is about championships. He's lost two of those. He hasn't performed well in big games. The analysts and sports nuts will always bring that up. He's the best "regular season quarterback". He has records. He holds a lot of those. As a fan, arguably one of his biggest fans, I have been privileged to watch many of the touchdowns, passing yards, completions and game winning drives in person. I witnessed the best AFC championship comeback against New England live. I remember sitting in my living room watching the 21 point comeback on Monday night against Tampa Bay in the fourth quarter. 

I don't know what's next for Peyton Manning. Whether he steps back on the field this season or not, he will always be my quarterback. He will always be the best quarterback in football to me. He may not have as many rings as other QBs. He does have my respect. As a player, as a person, as a leader. On and off the field. Whatever is next, he will do it the best he can, because that's who he has always been. 

Hoping for the very best for Peyton Williams Manning.