Peyton 'Letterman guy' Manning writes farewell letter to Late Show host

Peyton Manning appeared on the final episode of The Late Show with David Letterman Wednesday night, then wrote a letter to Dave that was published on SI.com, thanking Dave for his five appearances in Letterman's late night history.

This particular excerpt was pertinent, relating an experience he had shortly after joining the Denver Broncos. Without further ado, a boy from a small town in Indiana, Peeeeeeeeeyton Maaanning -

It's funny, but my favorite memory of Dave—and what I think says so much about him as a person—didn't come from one of my appearances on the show. (I was on four times as a guest, and then again on Wednesday's finale.) It came soon after I signed with the Broncos—actually, on the day before the draft in 2012, when the Colts were sitting there with the first pick.

That day, I was working out at the Broncos' facility, trying to get used to my new world and learn Denver's offense. I got word that Dave was trying to reach me, and so I get on the phone with him. He explains that they're going to have Andrew Luck on the show, and what they want to do is present him with his new Colts jersey, like they'd be the ones telling him he was a Colt.

He said to me, "I don't want to do it if it makes you uncomfortable at all."

I said, "Dave, it doesn't matter what I think. You do what you feel is best for the show."

Really, I didn't care. Whatever Dave wanted to do was fine, but he said, "That's it! We're not doing it. Forget it. It's done."

That meant so much to me. I didn't give him an answer. It wasn't my place to say anything. But the fact that he made that call, I can tell you this: If that were any other show, they sure wouldn't have called to ask what I thought.