Peyton Manning

NFL free agent quarterback Peyton Manning will play for the Denver Broncos next season, he announced today, instructing his agent to finalize a deal with the team.

That news left the Titans, 49ers and Tim Tebow as disappointed bystanders.

Manning’s move from Indianapolis to Denver could make the Broncos the team to beat in the AFC West, assuming Manning returns to full health in 2012.

Denver is willing to take the risk, despite Manning missing the entire 2011 season, in which Tebow emerged as a breakout star of sorts for the Broncos.

Manning’s deal is huge for a 36-year-old - it's expected to be worth $90 million over five seasons, according to a report by Mike Klis of The Denver Post.

His signing likely means the end of the road in Denver for Tebow, who led the team to the playoffs and was assumed to be the Broncos’ No. 1 QB in '12.

Manning’s arrival obviously changes all that. Denver now appears set to try to trade Tebow (if anyone has interest in the bad, yet exciting quarterback).

Team President and Broncos great John Elway backed Tebow late last year and into the start of this offseason, but still sought a veteran QB to push him.

Instead, the veteran QB they signed is possibly the best to ever play the position, so it will likely push the popular Tebow right out of the Mile High City.

It's a tough situation, but as problems go, having to deal Tebow is a good one to have. Today, “Manning Watch” is over. “Tebow Watch” has just begun.

Peyton Manning and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay held a joint press conference this morning in which they confirmed his days in Indy are over.

Manning played 14 years in Indy, earning 11 playoff appearances, 11 Pro Bowl selections, eight division titles, four MVP awards and one Super Bowl.

"I sure have loved playing football for the Indianapolis Colts," he said. "I've been a Colt my entire adult life ... but we know nothing lasts forever."

"Our circumstances make it best for us to take this next step."

Manning choked back his emotions. "I love it here, I love the fans," he said. "I'll leave the Colts with nothing but good thoughts and gratitude."

"I've been blessed to play here," Manning added, thanking the city, fans, team and media. "Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart."

Owner Jim Irsay lauded Manning's career with the team while announcing its conclusion amid a "long difficult process." They will retire his #18 promptly.

Irsay says the Colts' salary cap issues and decision to rebuild necessitated his release, but Manning was "completely unselfish" in accepting the outcome.

"There will be no other Peyton Manning," said Irsay while getting emotional. "We've been so blessed to have him. He's always part of the horseshoe."

Manning said he was "confident" about resuming his NFL career, though it's unclear where that might take place when the NFL returns in September.

Parks and Recreation star Rob Lowe turned the football world upside down late yesterday with a series of tweets regarding Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

Lowe stated, matter-of-factly, his shock that Peyton Manning is retiring.

Quickly questioned about it, he then said his "people are saying" the injured, aging NFL legend is hanging up the cleats, but did not exactly change course.

Ludicrous on the surface, the fact that Lowe is friends Colts owner Jim Irsay gave the situation a little more credibility. A little. Barely more than none.

Manning’s father and agent quickly denied the rumor, and Irsay has fired a shot at Lowe via Twitter. In response to Lowe's "scoop," the owner wrote:

“My sources tell me Rob will star in an epic remake of Deep Throat with aging porn stars and 4 finger circus clowns!”

It's unclear if Irsay was taking a swipe at Lowe’s infamous sex tape, or just trying to come up with a BS Twitter report of his own that’s odder than Lowe’s to make a point.

Either way, this whole thing is hilariously weird.

Lowe later told Rich Eisen of NFL Network that the info came from a “pretty darn good source.” Lowe said the source wasn’t Irsay, however, or anyone close to him.

The fact that Manning didn’t retire doesn’t mean he won’t, but it's doubtful Rob Lowe broke the sports scoop of the year, though stranger things have happened.

We can't think of one, but we assume they have.

Peyton Manning and his beautiful wife, Ashley Manning, just became the proud new parents of twins - a boy and a girl - according to reports!

The 35-year-old quarterback welcomed son Marshall Williams Manning and daughter Mosley Thompson Manning on March 31 in Indianapolis.

The pair kept the pregnancy under wraps, as both are extremely private, but a source confirms: “It is true, and it is very happy news for them.”

The newborn twins are the Mannings' first children.

Peyton's younger brother, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, and his wife Abby welcomed a daughter, Ava Frances Manning, just 10 days earlier.

The elder Manning, a surefire Hall-of-Famer, has dominated the NFL gridiron for more than a decade. He's been married to Ashley for over 10 years, too.

Congratulations to the happy family, and we eagerly await Marshall's first start at Tennessee in the fall of 2029, with his NFL debut set for around 2033.