Despite the $500,000,000 Family, Peyton Manning Failed To “Buy” off Mercy From Hardest Hitting Opponent

The Manning family will undoubtedly go down as a Hall of Famer family if there was an honor for that category from the Pro Football Federation. Father Archie led the way for his two sons, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, and the duo didn’t disappoint, winning 2 Super Bowl championships each. Peyton Manning was meant to be the star from the moment he stepped onto the gridiron. However, it wasn’t just footballing acumen that made Peyton stand out from the rest. Occasionally, he would try to bribe his way to greatness.

The Denver Broncos legend recently sat down for an interview with legendary Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis. Manning opened up about the various strategies he employed to get an easier time in the pocket against Notorious Ray. One of them was flaunting his wealth. Sadly, it didn’t work on Lewis.

Peyton Manning tried to take the road less traveled against Ray Lewis

Usually, when quarterbacks lined up behind the center against the Baltimore Ravens, there was always one thing on every passer’s mind. 2x Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis. One of the most dominant pass-rushing forces to have graced the NFL, even the legendary Peyton Manning, trembled at the mention of his name. The former Indianapolis Colts QB1 knew that his pocket management skills won’t be enough to stop Ray Ray. The only other weapon at Peyton’s disposal? His huge net worth.

Over two generations of NFL quarterbacks, the Manning family has amassed more than $500 million in combined net worth. Father Archie is worth around $10 million, while Eli and Peyton stand at $200 million and $300 million, respectively. Even the non-quarterback brother, Cooper Manning, has a $15 million net worth from trading in energy commodities. So why not put the money to good use?

Back when Peyton and Ray Lewis met for the Pro Bowl games, Manning took it upon himself to make sure he left a good impression on the Brickwall.

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“We were teammates in the Pro Bowl together. Supposed to be this relaxing week in Hawaii. Go over there and celebrate with your families. I was over there working. I was buying your dinner. Your drinks. I tried to buy you golf clubs when I found out you don’t play golf. So that was a great investment. Kinda thought he won’t hit me as hard, come next October. But I thought he hit me harder next year,” Peyton said. And his fears were justified, given how brutal Ray Lewis was in tackling and trash-talking.

Peyton once described why Ray Lewis struck fear in him

During an episode of the MNF ‘Manningcast’ with Ray Lewis’ Miami Hurricanes teammate Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Peyton Manning described the horrors of facing the Purple Army led by their fierce pass rusher. “Every time Ray Lewis hit me, he’d drive me down into the ground and then use me to help himself get up and he’d whisper in my ear, ‘I’ll be back in a couple of minutes, you punk’,” Manning recalled.

No wonder the 5x NFL MVP tried to bribe his way out. Sadly, Lewis wasn’t a big fan of the green course and only added to Manning’s miseries.

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