Peyton now an unapologetic Giants fan

Peyton Manning is just like you and I.

Now that his playing career has ended, the legendary former quarterback spends a lot of time watching football. He's also found himself to be a passionate supporter of one particular team - brother Eli's New York Giants.

"I watch the Giants games with a lot of enthusiasm and passion and really feel invested in all those games," Manning said Wednesday while in New York for a March of Dimes luncheon, according to Neil Best of Newsday.

"I always have, but I used to have to stop watching Eli play if it was a day game and I had a night game because I was sweating so badly and I hadn't even started my game yet. So I had to ease off of that."

Manning no longer has that problem. After an 18-year playing career that culminated with two Super Bowl trophies, and resulted in numerous neck surgeries and other ailments, Peyton can spend Sundays on his couch, like the rest of us.

"It's fun having a brother play and you do feel invested in pulling for him and I really have enjoyed watching him play this year ... I really pull hard for him," he said.

It probably helps that both he and Eli have two Super Bowl titles, and that Peyton no longer feels he's competing with his little brother.

And while Manning said he's enjoying life as a spectator, he's in no rush to begin a career in broadcasting - though he's undoubtedly received plenty of interest from major networks.

"I haven't said yes to anything, I haven't said no to anything," he said. "I think this year the best advice I got, Tony Dungy has always been a good resource for me, and he said, 'Hey, don't sign up for anything right away. Take a year to kind of process some things and reflect.'

"And I've really enjoyed this year, being a football fan and doing some things that I haven't had a chance to do with my family ... We're just kind of taking a pause, if you will. So we'll see what happens in the next chapter, but I really have kind of enjoyed myself this fall."