For the last 22 years, I have had the pleasure of watching Peyton Manning play football. For the first four of those 22 years, I had the thrill and learning experience of watching Manning practice every day.

Manning was always gracious with his time. While at Tennessee, Manning met with the media every Tuesday during the season. He did individual one on one interviews with local television every week. He always had 5-10 minutes with Mike Keith or I for SportsTalk and other weekly programs we produced. When Manning finished his career at Tennessee, he did an hour with SportsTalk in studio.

Manning never passed on his obligation with the media. In the process, he managed directing his narrative better than anyone I've ever seen.

Sunday, I chuckled when I read the story where Manning texted each individual Bronco to let them know he was retiring because of course he did. He wanted his teammates to know first. And no surprise, no one leaked Manning's news until Manning made sure it was delivered by a family friend, the ailing Chris Mortensen.

Controlling his story is what Manning has done as brilliantly as any audible he's ever called at the line of scrimmage.

I know first hand.

In 1997, it was time for Manning to declare his intentions in regards his senior year at Tennessee. No one close to Manning was talking. As a reporter, it was exhausting to get nowhere on a story that you HAD TO HAVE.

The night before Manning announced, I was out of options and chose to stalk Manning. I knew his class schedule. I knew where he parked on campus. At 5:30, when his speech class ended, I was camped out in my Mazda truck next to Manning's black Oldsmobile Bravada in the parking lot behind Circle Park. As Manning went to unlock his door, I popped out, probably scaring the heck out of the Vol quarterback. A startled Manning wasn't happy to see me, but he wasn't rude. He gave me nothing, leaving me to say on the radio in the last hour of SportsTalk that I would be shocked if he stayed.

Of the handful of people who actually knew what he was doing, no one talked---an amazing feat when you talk about the magnitude of the story.

Years later, it felt like deja vu. Manning was trying to decide if it would be the Broncos or the Titans. Having already thrown for the Broncos at Duke, it was time for Manning to throw for the Titans.

And I had figured out his path. Rumors were abound he would throw in Knoxville. Knowing he wouldn't fly into Knoxville, I found a private plane that flew from Durham, North Carolina to Chattanooga the night before he was scheduled to throw. Knowing Manning had a home in Chattanooga, it made sense. In tracking that plane, I had a call from the NFL Network that they need a reporter to help them with the Manning story.

So that Saturday, with rain in the area, I went to campus to find Manning. He was going to throw in the complex, I was sure of it. I camped out in Stokely Athletic Center, positioned where I could see the back entrance to the Haslam practice field. I waited and waited and waited some more. No Manning.

I started calling people trying to see about other places he might throw. Convinced he would not be throwing in the rain, I couldn't find suitable indoor locations where Manning might be going. I later learned Manning threw in the rain at The Webb School. I also learned that Manning became aware of someone looking for him on campus and changed his plans, alerting the Titans brass to meet him in West Knoxville instead of on campus.

Bummed, I went home. My wife and I took our son to get a new bicycle and eat lunch in Fountain City. We dined at Firehouse Subs while, unbeknownst to anyone, Manning and the Titans enjoyed a meal across the street at Litton's.

And just like two decades earlier, no one gave away Manning's location or decision.

Today, Manning walks away from the game, likely still wanting to compete, but unable to do so at his level. So he rides off in the sunset leaving memories behind that Tennessee fans will be talking about for years.

For me the lasting memory is this, for all the control Manning had at the line of scrimmage, it was nothing compared to the control Manning had of his personal narrative. Manning controlled his story, not only with great performances, but also with unprecedented loyalty from those close to him.

I know from experience: I never beat him in chasing his story.