Gone is the pace, Peyton Manning sprinting to the line and directing traffic to the point that opposing fans feared the worst.
Distant are the memories of deep-pass accuracy, but arm strength and aesthetically pleasing spirals never were his strong suit.
And while the Rain Man-esque football computer in his head is still plugged in, it seems to have a slower Internet connection than a few years ago, likely the product of too many hits as well as the disconnect between what he can do now and what he always has been able to do before.
Still, Peyton Manning won.
He stood tall and used all the weapons at his disposal – a trait for which he never has received enough credit through the years. He leaned on his defense and realized that a punt against a Pittsburgh Steelers team that had a soon-to-be high school coach at running back and a rookie with all of one career catch starting at wideout was not a bad play.