This was after Manning threw two interceptions, including a crushing 69-yard pick-six, after he missed reads and overthrew open receivers, after he’d been pushed out of his comfort zone by a brilliant, brutish Seahawks defense. “An excellent defense,” he said.
This was after he trudged off the field, the scoreboard above reading “Seattle 43, Denver 8,” one of the worst and certainly most painful losses of his long career. “It’s not an easy pill to swallow,” he said.
This was after Manning dressed quickly in a silent, emotionless, beaten-down Broncos locker room, after his dad Archie and brother Cooper waited outside. “That’s football. It’s why I hate football,” Archie said with gallows humor.
This was after Peyton received a compassionate pat on the back from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, after he huddled with his wife Ashley and a couple friends, after he received a couple of supportive words from John Elway.
This was after he walked slowly, hands in the pockets of his blue suit, headed down toward the interview area, escorted by police. After a reporter from a Mexican TV station tripped over his luggage – pulled by a Broncos employee tailing the quarterback – and wiped out on the floor in a failed, ill-advised interview chase.
This was after he arrived to find a throng of cameras and microphones 15 deep around podium No. 2, after he gave praise to the Seahawks, took blame himself – and even handled, without losing his cool, a question about whether he’d been “embarrassed” out there.