Helton attending Super Bowl to support pal Manning

Colorado Rockies legend Todd Helton may be more nervous than his good pal Peyton Manning will be on Sunday when he suits up for Super Bowl 50.

"Heck yeah, I'm nervous. I'm nervous right now," Helton told The Denver Post's Patrick Saunders. "I'm a fan, so I cheer. I get nervous. I was a Broncos fan even before Peyton got there. The thing is, I don't think I'm going to have too many more friends who are starting quarterbacks in a Super Bowl."

The pair met while playing football at the University of Tennessee in 1994, and they've had a special friendship ever since. Helton wouldn't tip his hand when asked if Manning plans to retire following the clash with the Carolina Panthers, but he's attending the game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara to support his pal either way.

"Personally, I think he's the greatest quarterback of all time," Helton added. "I still think he's very capable of a big game, and he's on a great team. Peyton is a relentless worker, as relentless as I've seen. Football is what he knows. It's what he does. It's who he is."

Manning was no stranger to Coors Field during Helton's playing days, taking in many Rockies games to cheer on his friend. The future Hall of Fame quarterback even used the team's facilities while rehabbing from neck surgery during the 2011 NFL lockout.

Helton is the Rockies' all-time leader in games played (2,247), runs (1,401), hits (2,519), home runs (369), and RBIs (1,406), among other statistical categories.