The Green Bay Packers, like many franchises during training camp, will sometimes have guests come and visit the team. This week the green and gold welcomed in a very special guest, in Hall of Famer, Peyton Manning.
During his visit, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur asked Manning to address the team during practice on Monday. The former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos star delivered what LaFleur called an inspiring message to the team.
“It was great,” LaFleur said. “He addressed our team [about] the lessons he learned, especially as a young player, how to respond to adversity, the great teams he was on, his approach to the game. I thought it was super beneficial. You’re talking about one of the all-time greats.”
LaFleur was especially grateful to have Manning at camp with him. He shared a story of when he was on the Houston Texans’ coaching staff and had to watch Manning carve up his team during a shocking comeback.
“I’ve had the experience as a coach going against him,” LaFleur said. “The lessons I’ve learned as a coach when you go against him you never forget. I told the team this: In 2008, I was with the Houston Texans, and we’re playing Indy, we’re up 17 late in the fourth quarter and we watch this guy bring his team back and beat us in a two-minute drive. They scored 21 points, basically, in about a five-minute span. it was a great lesson early in my coaching career that you’ve got to play until that clock says zero. I’ll never forget sitting in that press box when we’re up 27-10, thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to beat the Indianapolis Colts’ only to see it evaporate quickly. It was a tough lesson to learn but it was one of those things we all have to go through.”
Given how youthful the Packers’ roster is, the message that Manning delivered should hit home with the team. He knows as well as anyone how tough being a young player in the NFL is, as he threw a league-high 28 interceptions during his rookie season in 1998.
That is advice that Jordan Love should heed, as he will be taking over as the team’s starter for the first time in his career. Love has also been receiving encouragement from his mentor, Aaron Rodgers, about how to carry himself in his first chance under center.
Speaking of Love, there were some rumors that Manning was actually at Packers’ camp to speak to him about the Netflix documentary, Quarterback. The first season of the series, which includes Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota, has been a hit.
Love could be someone that Manning and his Omaha Productions are interested in having on a future season of the show, as there will be at least one more. Following around the Packers’ quarterback in his first season as the starter would certainly make for an interesting angle for the documentary to showcase.
