Watch CBS News

Obama Says Broncos Would Be 'Lucky' To Have Manning

DENVER (CBS4) - The Denver Broncos are waiting on a decision from Peyton Manning, and while there's no word so far on what team the former Colts star will choose, the anticipation surrounding his decision is getting national attention.

Even President Barack Obama weighed in during an interview with CBS4 on Monday at the White House.

"Do you think Manning is going to play for the Broncos?" CBS4's Karen Leigh asked the president during their interview in the Cabinet Room.

Obama replied: "Peyton Manning is one of the best of all time and anybody would be lucky to have him. I know the Broncos are going after him pretty hard."

President Barack Obama Talks About Peyton Manning
President Barack Obama talks about Peyton Manning during an interview with CBS4 at the White House on March 12, 2012. (credit: CBS)

"We'll see. If natural beauty has anything to do with it, then I'm sure Denver will do pretty well," said the president, who delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2008 at the stadium the Broncos play in, now called Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

"Manning Watch" is dominating headlines in Denver this week. The quarterback flew to Colorado on Friday and met with Broncos executives -- including John Elway -- for several hours. Then on Sunday he spent six hours meeting with the Arizona Cardinals.

Manning is expected to meet with Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin on Monday night and Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak on Tuesday. Both of those coaches will be going to meet Manning instead of him visiting those teams' headquarters.

John Elway and Peyton Manning
John Elway and Peyton Manning meet at the Broncos' Dove Valley headquarters on March 9, 2012. (credit: CBS)

Sources close to the negotiations tell CBS4 the Broncos are optimistic in the race to sign the free agent, who was released by Indianapolis in a roster restructuring move on March 7. Broncos team leaders were hoping for a decision from Manning on Tuesday, but that may not come now until the end of the week.

On Monday at the The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Colfax in Denver, parishioners were all abuzz about the potential signing of Manning and how that could affect Tim Tebow's future in Denver.

"Both of them are class act," one parishioner told CBS4. "I would love to have Manning but I don't want Tebow to go."

Watch Karen Leigh's complete interview with Obama, in which many other topics besides sports were discussed.

For the latest on the Manning Watch, check out Vic Lombardi's reports on CBS4 News Monday night and on Tuesday's CBS4 Morning News.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.