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          NFL Nation

          Peyton Manning's plea to James Harrison

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterJul 27, 2012, 10:00 AM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          Peyton Manning remains one of the smartest quarterbacks in the NFL. If you don't believe me, check out the video when he's asked by ESPN's Tom Jackson about his confidence level in taking a hit to his surgically repaired neck.

          "I have no concern over that," Manning said. "I'm not begging James Harrison to blindside me by any means but I feel I'm going to be able to handle that."

          Manning and the Broncos face Harrison and the Steelers in a season-opening prime-time game Sept. 9. If Harrison didn't get Manning's gist, the $96 million quarterback mentioned Harrison a second time in the interview.

          "So James, I love you and don't take this as a challenge now," Manning said, presumably only half-joking. "Go easy on me if you can."

          I don't blame Manning. Harrison has just as many knockouts as Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Google Colt McCoy-James Harrison hit from last season). Perhaps Manning should tweet Harrison just to make sure he got the message.