He jogs to the podium Wednesday, cleats in hand, sun beating down on his face. He looks stronger from rigorous offseason workouts and leaner through an improved diet that still allows room for an occasional chicken parm. His wit is drier than ever.
Watch him during interviews. Witness him at practice. It raises the question: When exactly did Peyton Manning become Benjamin Button?
Like Brad Pitt's movie character, Manning appears to be aging backwards before the Broncos' eyes. The last time he played, in the playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts, a compromised Manning couldn't throw deep, lacked confidence and failed to pick up a critical first down with 20 yards of open field in front of him.