Tom Brady wants Peyton Manning to return in 2015

New England Patriots quarterback hopes his long-time rival, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, will hold off on retirement and return in 2015.

In what’s widely considered the best head-to-head rivalry of our day, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wants Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning to return for another season.

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The Patriots quarterback had plenty of praise for the Broncos counterpart.

“What a great player that he’s been for this league,” Brady replied when asked about Manning, according to New York Daily News. “He’s a great competitor. I’ve been fortunate to play against him a bunch of times. I certainly hope he comes back, because the league will miss him if he doesn’t. But those decisions are up to him. I’m sure it’s up to whether he’s mentally and physically, if that’s what he wants to do. But I certainly hope he’s back.”

Manning, who’s 38-years-old and the oldest starting QB in the league, is taking the off season to ponder whether he’ll hang up his hat. He has yet to announce his future plans.

While the Brady-Peyton showdown always draws much-warranted hype, historically it’s been one-sided.

In the 16 games the two future Hall of Famers have played each other, Brady has an 11-5 record.

The end of Peyton’s prime?

After Denver lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round of the playoffs, many argued the elder Peyton had officially passed his prime.

Manning finished the game completing 26 of his 46 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown, but he could not connect on the vertical passes. He did look uncharacteristically sluggish, and failed to get into a rhythm with his receivers.

The naysayers sound familiar though.

In 2011, Manning missed the entire season after undergoing two surgeries to alleviate neck pain. Many doubted his comeback. But Peyton, being Peyton, would go on to rewrite a handful of personal, franchise and league records, including most games with over 300 yards passing. The veteran QB continued his stat-shattering streak and threw his 509th career TD the following year, surpassing Brett Favre to become the NFL’s all-time leader in the category. He was named winner of the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 2013.

There’s no doubt that Peyton has arrived at the upper digits of his football career. But we’ll have to wait and see if there will be another Brady-Peyton showdown.

It’s healthy competition at its best.

[H/T: NFL.com, NBC Sports]

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