It's June 2011 in Indianapolis.

Peyton Manning is on the weight bench at his home doing something he doesn't exactly

love.

The bench press.

He's doing multiple reps with lightweight and it's putting a scowl on his face.

Something feels off.

This last month Peyton had neck surgery to repair a herniated disc.

This workout is part of his rehab, but it's not him.

This whole process has thrown him off his routine and taken him away from football.

There have been many aches and pains in his long career, plenty of heartbreaking losses

to end seasons as well, but this is the first time he's ever felt like he can't even

play the game he loves.

To someone as obsessed with the game as he is, that's terrifying.

As he exhales through another few reps on the bench, Peyton is replaying in his mind

the cult's last matchup against Tom Brady and the Pats in November, another loss.

He's now 4 and 8 against Brady.

The record motivates him, but more than anything, it pisses him off.

As he adds a little more weight to the bench, he hears his phone chime.

It's a text from Who Else, but Brady.

It's an innocent seeming message.

Hey man, just checking in, hope you're getting better each day.

These types of texts have been coming in regularly this off season from the Patriots'

...