Bathed in Blue

Well, my high school colors were orange and green; my college colors were orange and blue; the local professional football team is also orange and blue.  Yesterday they played a team whose colors are blue and white - and the big cry around Denver was "United in Orange!"  There were yard signs, there was a dress in orange day, there were pep rallys and huge football parties.  Then the Denver Broncos were bathed in blue - by the current quarterback's previous team.  At the end of the first quarter I was certain that the Broncos team wasn't "clicking" - on good days, the men work together and mesh like clockwork.  Not yesterday. I watched to the bitter end, however, and was pretty upset by the announcers who were asking, before the end of the second quarter, if this was Peyton Manning's last professional game - was it the end of an era?
  Peyton Manning is 38 years old.  He's been playing football since he was 5.  He's suffered many injuries, had multiple surgeries, and he keeps getting up and going back out on the field.  The man is not a quitter.  Was yesterday his last game?  Maybe.  But you can be assured that Manning will think things through and make his decisions calmly and carefully.  Will Andrew Gase, the offensive  coordinator who came from Indianapolis with Manning, take the job of head coach at any of the four places he interviewed with last week?  Will defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio stay with the Broncos, or will he be a head coach again for another team? A lot of players have contracts ending at the end of the season - will they be back?  Some fans are saying that the head coach, John Fox, should not be rehired...  There are so many things that must be considered before anyone makes any snap decisions.  Coaches, colleagues, salaries (and salary caps) are all things that any professional athlete must contemplate.  Should you retire at the end of a winning season, and leave the business with a good frame of mind?  Should you continue to strive to reach the pinnacle you achieved earlier in your career, or should you "quietly slip into the night" and not have to face further losses, and/or extremely derogatory comments?
   Personally, I'll be happy with whatever decision Peyton Manning makes.  If he decides to continue playing through next season, or several more seasons, I'll cheer for him.  If he decides to retire and continue to make his name known in other ventures, I'll support him.  At least he has the choice to make.  Unlike many other professional athletes, who are cut from teams and cannot seem to return, Peyton Manning will be able to make the decision himself.
   Since I live in Boulder, and I support my local teams, I will continue to be a Broncos fan, and I will continue to support John Fox and Peyton Manning.  Go, Broncos!