It's a yearly tradition. Peyton Manning addresses the Pro Bowl players from both the AFC and NFC teams the night before the first practices begin.
Manning admitted at his talk late Tuesday night to the attentive players from this year's Pro Bowlsquads that the "torch, or whatever it is that I do here on this night," will eventually be passed on to someone else, as the 36-year-old Denver Broncos quarterback gets closer to retirement.
He began with an impassioned plea for a return to a time when players cared about the NFL's all-star game and played at full speed.
He finished with a series of zingers that left all in attendance -- including NFL executive of football operations Ray Anderson, executive director of the NFLPA DeMaurice Smith, and this fly on the wall -- in stitches.
Manning acknowledged those in the crowd who were involved in Pro Bowl records or achievements over the years. He then turned to himself. "Peyton Manning holds the record with nine interceptions in the Pro Bowl. I want to thank PR for looking that up for me. I want to keep that record. So on Sunday, (NFC cornerbacks Charles) Tillman, (Tim) Jennings, (Patrick) Peterson, look out; I'm going to blow it every time."
» "A little announcement here -- pool volleyball, Wednesday, 3 p.m. AFC quarterbacks vs. NFC quarterbacks. Each team gets a 'need' player, and I'm in charge of picking this player for both teams. AFC, we get J.J. Watt. The NFC gets Leon Washington."
A limited number of season tickets are available 
