Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are friends first and rivals second.
That’s why the New England Patriots quarterback has offered his support to Manning while the Denver Broncos quarterback is embroiled in his own scandal. Manning is alleged to have taken HGH shipped to his wife in 2011, although the quarterback has denied Al Jazeera’s report.
“I sent him a text,” Brady told Jim Gray on Westwood One Sports. “He always has my support. I’m sure everything is going to work out fine for him.”
Brady, of course, knows a thing or two about controversy. He was suspended four games for the New England Patriots’ Deflategate scandal before the ban was lifted by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman. Manning called Brady a friend after the Wells Report was released in May, though he wouldn’t offer his thoughts on Deflategate.
Brady has made it clear he backs his longtime adversary.
“I think most importantly, you hate to see any of your friends go through anything like that,” Brady said. “I can certainly sympathize with him as a friend, as someone that I’ve known for 16 years and have so much respect and admiration for what he’s accomplished in the NFL. He’s one of the greatest players to ever play the game, and I feel terrible for him going through it. But as I said earlier today, I fully support him.
“He’s a great friend more than anything else. We’ll be lifelong friends. I think I’ve seen him go through a lot of things over the years, and what he’s battled back from, and he’s just had an incredible career.”
The Patriots and Broncos played in Week 12 this season, though Manning was inactive with a foot injury. Brady is 11-5 in his career against Manning. There’s a very slight chance they could face one another in the playoffs this season, though Brock Osweiler currently is the Broncos’ starting quarterback.
Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images
