Archie Manning: Peyton not destined for broadcast booth

All the talk about Indianapolis Colts’ Peyton Manning and his future contract with the team got me thinking about his long-term future. Very long-term. Like beyond football.

So I reached for a notebook where I scribbled down some notes from a conversation I had with Peyton’s dad, Archie Manning, in Dallas earlier this month.

Archie Manning and his two sons, Peyton and Eli, were in Dallas a couple days before the Super Bowl for a big Reebok promotion.

Peyton and Eli slipped out the side door without talking to the press—or anyone else, but the ever affable Archie hung around to chat with whoever had a question.

After I asked Archie about his thoughts about Indianapolis’ 2012 Super Bowl, I asked him what he thought Peyton would do after his playing days were over.

The Colts’ quarterback rarely addresses his future beyond football. Archie said his son doesn’t even discuss it much with him.

“He just never has wanted to talk much about it,” Archie Manning said.

Lots of folks have speculated that Peyton Manning will quickly trade his position on the gridiron for one in the broadcast booth, or perhaps as a studio analyst.

Archie isn’t so sure about that.

“I’m not sure Peyton wants to do broadcasting,” Archie Manning said. “I know a lot of people have speculated about that, but I’m not sure his heart is into that.”

I’m sure myriad broadcast executives will try to convince Peyton otherwise when he hangs up his cleats for the last time.

There’s another intriguing possibility. Even though several reporters at this year’s Super Bowl who cover the Colts regularly said Peyton has expressed little desire to coach, Archie isn’t so sure that door has been closed.

“I think Peyton would be a very good coach,” Archie said.

And while Archie thinks Peyton would be well suited for a number of coaching positions, he isn’t convinced Peyton wants to stay so heavily involved in the game for 20-plus more years.

One thing Peyton won’t be doing after he retires from football is relax.

“He’s not the type to sit still and do nothing,” Archie said. “You won’t find him laying on the beach, I can tell you that.”

Colts fans will be relieved that Peyton’s next move, whatever it is, isn’t imminent. Archie thinks Peyton has four or five more years left playing the game before he needs to ponder his next move.