NFL Rumors: Carolina Panthers 'Don't Care' about Peyton Manning Legacy; Michael Oher, Mike Tolbert Claim Super Bowl 'Turn'

By Mitch de Leon
NFL: NFC Championship-Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers team members pose for a photo during the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium.  Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Panthers are the hands down Super Bowl 50 betting favorites. Given the remarkable season of the Cam Newton team, the NFL community appears to be convinced that they will take home the grand prize this year. However, a number of fans still hope that the Denver Broncos pull off a victory this season. Moreover, the overwhelming support for potential retiree Peyton Manning makes the Brock Osweiler squad a "sentimental favorite."

Manning started retirement rumors when he was seen talking to New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady during the AFC Championship game. The Denver Broncos quarterback reportedly told the opposing team that the Super Bowl 50 might be his "last rodeo." His statement unsurprisingly evoked speculations that he will be hanging his football jersey after the face off against the Michael Oher squad.

While the idea of Manning's retirement makes a lot of fans nostalgic, it looks like the Carolina Panthers stars are having none of the sentiment. Mike Tolbert, in an interview with the Charlotte Observer, shared that the Denver Broncos quarterback's plans are immaterial to them. That is, the Carolina Panthers are still going to give their all to beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

"We don't really care if this is his last game," said Tolbert of Manning. The Carolina Panthers fullback added, "He's played what - 18, 19 years? He's had enough, you know what I'm saying? It's our turn."

Tre Boston echoed Tolbert's sentiments. However, the safety opted to illustrate his point using a pizza analogy. He shared, "So if a man has the last piece of pizza in the world, are you going to take that last piece? One of y'all got to live! One of us has to win, and I'm not trying to lose. It's you and that one man. You gonna live or not? I'm trying to win. I don't care who you are."

Meanwhile, one of the biggest assets of the Carolina Panthers is Oher. Practically left for dead by the Tennessee Titans, the Carolina Panthers made a surprising decision of signing the offensive tackle. Sources disclosed that Newton himself recruited Oher, with the quarterback insisting that he needed the tackle to protect his "blind side."

"I didn't say 'I want you to be here,' (but) I need you. That's a difference. Want and need is two big different words," said Newton via a separate Charlotte Observer report. He added, "That's what I used in that text, along with other words and explicits before the 'need.' And I think he got the feeling from it."

For his part, Oher shared that Newton's messages touched him. Moreover, the insistence of the Carolina Panthers quarterback to sign him renewed the tackle's confidence.>

Oher stated, "He said, 'To think that nobody wanted you last year around this time.' I was like, 'You're right, man. They left me for dead and stuff like that. But I knew I was going to be all right once I got the call from you.' He said, 'I told you I didn't want you. I need you.' That made me feel at home, made me know that they wanted me."

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