Why Is Peyton Manning Wearing a Helmet, Watching an iPad, and Sticking His Foot in a Cold Tub in This Photo?

We finally know the answer.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Last weekend, the photo that you see above aired during CBS' broadcast of the Titans/Chiefs game. It features Peyton Manning wearing a helmet, watching an iPad, and sticking his foot into a cold tub. And it is…bizarre. Who does this?!

Unfortunately, the CBS broadcasters couldn't explain WTF was going on in the photo when the network aired it. But DenverBroncos.com just did some digging and was able to shed some light on why Manning was multitasking so diligently in the photo. 

According to Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, the photo was actually shot earlier this season when Manning injured his ankle. It seems Manning was held out of practice on a Wednesday and instructed to go and stick his foot into an ice-cold tub of water in order to help it heal. But Manning wasn't content with simply going and taking the day off. So he threw his helmet on during practice, which enabled him to listen to the calls that Gase was making out on the practice field, and he also brought an iPad to the cold tub to watch game film as he listened in on the practice. Basically, he was showing and proving why he's going to go down as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL, even if it made him look completely ridiculous in the process. And in addition to listening to the calls, Manning also got tight end Julius Thomas in on the action—Thomas was also soaking in a cold tub during the practice—by relaying what he heard in his helmet to him.

"He heard the calls, he'd repeat them to Julius and they were kind of—it was a way for them to take two hours and stay in the game plan," Gase said yesterday.

We've obviously heard about Manning's legendary preparations for game day. But this goes above and beyond what we ever expected. Good luck beating the Broncos this year, NFL!

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[via Denver Broncos]

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