NFL

Eli Manning’s pitch to Peyton: Come coach for Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Peyton Manning’s post-playing plans? Little brother Eli has a suggestion.

“I offered if he wants to be a quality control [coach] for the Giants and maybe earn a little respect and see if he can know anything and help out a quarterback in the quarterback room a little bit I could probably make a call him or two and find him a spot,’’ Eli said Friday.

Yes indeed, everyone is having a hard time figuring out what life after 18 years as an NFL player will look like for Peyton Manning. He is gearing up for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, hoping to find a way to get his Broncos past the Panthers. After that, it could be off into retirement.

“I can’t imagine a season when he’s not there, just knowing my big brother’s not playing in a game,’’ said Eli, who is in town early as a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. “It was awkward the year [2011] he was injured and missed the season but he was still around football, you knew he was gonna come back.

“He’ll have a decision to make after the season, he’ll probably decide on how his body feels, how his foot’s feeling, how the mind, everything, if he wants to go at it again. I think his focus right now is totally on figuring out this Carolina defense, getting their offense ready, making calls, making checks, different cities he can call out at the line of scrimmage and going out there to try to win a football game.’’

Amid all the uncertainty, Eli is fairly certain about this: If Peyton plays in 2016, it will be for the Broncos, as he cannot envision a change of teams, again, this late in the game.

“I can’t speak for him but no, I think that would be tough,’’ Eli said.

If this is the final roundup for Peyton, he is going out after a turbulent season — a season that could culminate in his second Super Bowl victory or his third Super Bowl loss.

“To see everything happen to him this year, new coach, brand new offensive system, I know how hard that is, having gone through that two years ago,’’ Eli said. “And making the adjustments there, buying into the system, dealing with the injury, dealing with being a backup for the first time, getting an opportunity to come in in the San Diego game.

“I was watching and fired up for him to get back in the game. He didn’t know if he was going to play again this year. To get in that game, score some touchdowns, win the game, take ‘em into the playoffs and now the Super Bowl, it’s been a pretty special for him.’’