Football Loses Yet Another Great QB #18 to Retirement

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http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/files/2014/10/kyle-orton.jpg

"ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — After capping his fourth season as a Bronco with a victory in Super Bowl 50, Peyton Manning has informed the team of his decision to retire following his 18-year NFL career. In the four years since arriving in Denver as a free agent in 2012, Manning ushered the franchise into one of the most successful periods in Broncos history. He helped the Broncos achieve AFC West division titles, two Super Bowl appearances and one World Championship. Along the way, Manning set numerous NFL career and single-season records, including league marks for passing yards and passing touchdowns." Denver Broncos

As expected, the great Peyton Manning is retiring after winning Super Bowl 50. Peyton is one of the best quarterbacks ever on any scale, regardless of how anyone looks at it. The fine arguments are just about where specifically he ranks on the list. No matter what, Peyton finishes with one of the most amazing careers in sports. Though he he only won 2 Super Bowl championships, which is certainly nothing to shake a schtick at, he also won the love and admiration of fans all over the country. Peyton Manning also won 21 Papa John's restaurants, a mere 3 more than how many years he played.

Yes, 18 years for #18. Is it a coincidence that #18 played for 18 years? No. It was destined to be so. Why? Great things come under center when the QB's number is 18. Peyton's retirement reminds us all of the last great #18 to retire: Mr. Kyle Orton. Like Peyton Manning, Kyle Orton played part of his illustrious career in the city of Denver. But the similarities don't stop there. Kyle Orton played the quarterback position, like Peyton Manning. Much like Peyton Manning, Kyle Orton's first team acquired him through the NFL draft, a distinction most non-professional football players do not have. Kyle is rumored to be a future politician, something that TV announcers have also said of Peyton Manning when they're rambling on the air that I will go ahead and take to be true, taking into additional consideration Peyton has indeed donated money to politics, something only a huge number of other Americans have done.

Yes, Peyton Manning and Kyle Orton have a lot of things in common, when you put them side by side. Take a look at their career stats, which are side by side:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MannPe00.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OrtoKy00.htm

In case you were wondering, the first block of stats is Peyton Manning's, not Kyle Orton's.

Peyton and Kyle threw the football for a combined 89,977 yards and 640 touchdowns, only 71,940 yds and 539 TD's of which were Peyton's.

The splendor of QB #18 still doesn't dazzle you? If the numbers don't say it all, the eye tests will:

Highlight reels are too easy, though; there's simply too much "wow" in such a short amount of video. Look at these individual, incredible, career-moment plays:

#18 begets true greatness. Peyton Manning was one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Kyle Orton was one of the quarterbacks of all time. The game will forever be changed by #18.

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Interestingly enough, there's now only one quarterback in the NFL with the number 18: Saints backup Garrett Grayson.