Cam Newton was extremely respectful in defeat to Peyton Manning in Super Bowl 50, and he showed his respect once again to the legendary passer on Monday after Manning officially retired.
Taking to his famous Instagram account, the Carolina Panthers quarterback humbly expressed gratitude for having faced Manning and the Denver Broncos and gave him a tribute fit for a king.
“I am grateful to have shared the field in your LAST game but most importantly I am grateful to have mimicked a style you created to bring out the best in MË! And that style is/was mastering the art of: PREPARAT1ØN. You have changed this game in ways you will never no and I admire the man you are on and off the field. You set the bar H1GH….extremelyHiGH and knowing your family, I know that’s just the norm. I came into this league gagging and still gagging my talents to this day off of the things that YOÜ have done and accomplished; because you are and you will FOREVER be the STANDARD! So long SHER1FF! #omahaOMAHA #1STpickGÄNG #iWmW -1OVE”
Manning has been widely lauded by his peers the past couple of days, ever since news broke, via ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, than he would officially be retiring on Monday. He’s heard from Tom Brady to Michael Strahan and everyone in between, but you’d have to rate Newton’s tribute right up there with the best of them.
Noting Manning’s preparation and calling him “the STANDARD” of how quarterbacks will be forever measured, Newton paid him the respect he would like to one day be paid by others after a long, prosperous career such as the one Manning just wrapped up.