This past week was pretty big for the NFL.  Peyton Manning signed with the Denver Broncos to start the next chapter in his pro career.  Coming off major neck surgery plus real questions about his health, Peyton Manning’s workout needs to be that much sharper for him to get back to the level that he used to be at.

I was able to find some interesting video on Peyton Manning getting videotaped during a workout he was doing at D1 in Tennessee.  D1 is a sports enhancement facility and this one in Tennessee looked particularly nice.

What I’m going to do now is go through the exercises that Peyton did during his workout and explain why he was doing that particular drill:

  • Triceps Pressdowns – From a functional standpoint, it really does nothing.  This movement helps get his triceps stronger and maybe allows him to have some more zip on the ball.  If I were putting this exercise in his routine, it would be one of the last exercises who would do during his workout.  There are more important ones to hit than this one.
  • Step Hurdles – There were about 10 of these placed in a row with about a foot space inbetween.  Peyton held a football at shoulder height and stood laterally to the hurdles.  He then moved between the hurdles forward then backward.  This helped his foot quickness in a position that he would mimic if he were in the pocket.  Sometimes it is just subtle movements one way or the other that can buy him more time in the pocket.  This drills helps that quickness.
  • Agility Ladder – Peyton did a forward two at a time, a forward shuffle, and a forward in/out (bring both feet in the hole then out of the hole).  These were simple drills that helps with his overall foot quickness and agility.
  • Reactive Tennis Ball Shuffle – This is a good drill where a partner rolls a tennis ball one side or the other to Peyton.  The partner is about seven feet away.  Peyton needs to shuffle over, get his body in good position, and toss the ball to the partner.  Go for 15 seconds as the partner keeps throwing it for Peyton to recover.  Good one for hand/eye coordination and lateral quickness.
  • Dumbbell Bench Press – A general exercise to strengthen the upper body.  If he wanted this to be more effective, I would have him do it on a stability ball to strengthen the core.
  • Resistance Cord – I liked this drill for quarterbacks.  Peyton has a resistance cord attached to his waist.  His partner stands in front holding the cord.  Peyton does a 5 step drop then moves around the pocket, all the while the partner is pulling on the cord providing resistance from the front.  The partner then stands behind and will do the same thing in that direction.  Remove the resistance and Peyton is able to get that 5 step drop quicker and move around quicker in the pocket.
  • Medicine Ball Throws – All of these help the core.  He will do standing rotational throws, which kind of mimic the throwing motion.  Basically, he rotates the torso to his left or right, then fires the ball to his partner rotating the core.  He also does seated overhead tosses to his partner.
  • Reverse Hypers – I like this exercise to strengthen the lower back.  I use it a lot with my speed clients, but it provides so many more different benefits.  His main benefit is strengthening that core even more by targeting the lower back.

Peyton Manning has an incredible work ethic and no doubt he is going to have to use it this off-season.  He is on a mission to prove to the NFL that he still has some good years left in him.  And wouldn’t it be incredible if he were to gain one more Super Bowl ring with this Denver Broncos team that finished 8-8 last year.  Now that would be a feat.  Let’s hope his workout routine gets him to that level once again.