Renck: Red, White and Cover 2. Flag football will debut as an Olympic sport in 2028 in Los Angeles. NFL owners signed off on professional players participating last week. Just thinking about the potential roster brings goosebumps: Tyreek Hill? Justin Jefferson? Ja’Marr Chase? Travis Hunter? Lamar Jackson? Joe Burrow? They will be the Meme Team, their highlights smashing opponents going viral after every game. But somebody must provide guardrails, a few plays and some direction. The group requires a coach. Given that it will feature pro players, how about a Broncos connection? Who makes more sense as the man with the whistle: Peyton Manning or Sean Payton?
Keeler: Can we trust a guy who’s 0-2 against Eli to bring home the gold? Heck, yeah, we can. The mighty U.S. and A., as my old pal Borat used to call it, doesn’t need a master tactician to bring home the ’28 gold. Or a master motivator. It doesn’t need a crusty son of a gun glowering at the international press corps. It doesn’t need Sean Payton accidentally causing an international incident. The Stars & Stripes will have enough talent — and speed — to field a dozen flag football teams that could lap the world. If I’m Team USA, I want more of an ambassador. Someone who can help sell the soccer-loving world that a.) this game is worth bringing back to your homeland; and b.) flag football — our football — has serious potential for growth on the world stage. Name me a better ambassador for football, anywhere, than PFM.
Renck: The easy answer is Payton. He boasts a Super Bowl ring and 17 years leading teams. But while the Olympics will feature NFL players, these will not be NFL games. Manning has more experience with flag football. He has coached the Pro Bowl event multiple times. He has also served as his son Marshall’s youth flag and tackle football coach and is well-versed in the nuances of 7-on-7 summer leagues from his post at the Manning Passing Academy. He would be available and treat it like a Super Bowl with his attention to detail.
Keeler: Exactly! Plus, Manning actually sounds as if he wants the job. “I’d like to be a coach on that team,” PFM told his old pal Pat McAfee last year when the subject was broached. Stars don’t just want to play with other stars. They want to coach with them, too. If you thought Deion Sanders was turning Boulder into Canton West with the likes of Warren Sapp and Marshall Faulk, can you imagine the guys who’d want to work with Manning and Team USA? Picture it. Defensive coordinator: Ray Lewis. Offensive coordinator: Drew Brees.
Renck: Brees has been mentioned for the same reasons as Manning. A former all-time great quarterback will demand respect. Brees would be good. Manning would be better. And besides, Payton will be busy leading the Broncos in training camp as they defend an AFC West title. Manning knows current players. He understands the gravity of the Olympics after his media assignments in Paris. Team USA will be the biggest favorite since the 1992 Dream Team in hoops. Manning will make sure every wrinkle is ironed and take nothing for granted. Let him plant his flag as coach if he so desires.
Keeler: Payton needs to focus more on the Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders, Bills, Ravens and Bengals and less on Team Luxembourg. Eyes on the prize. And speaking of eyes, if you want people to actually watch an event that, on paper, should be as one-sided as that ’92 men’s basketball field, you better darn well entertain them. What would be more entertaining than Peyton and Eli, mic’d up, coaching the same squad and giving each other grief on an international stage? Fire up the popcorn, USOC. There’s a new Sheriff in town.
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