ManningCast Week 13: Eli wants Peyton to leave Mac Jones alone and more Patriots-Bills revelations

Tory Barron is a Bristol-based writer and editor for ESPN.com. After retiring from playing lacrosse at UConn, the DC native decided to try her hand at writing about people playing sports.

After a brief hiatus, Peyton and Eli Manning’s Monday Night Football telecast returned just in time for a snowy, windy AFC East battle between the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills.

While Bill Belichick’s decision to wear sleeves was the most thrilling part of the Patriots’ game plan (Mac Jones completed 2 of 3 passes for 19 yards) and the Bills continued a streak of home MNF losses dating back to 1994, the ManningCast was spicy enough for both teams.

The Manning brothers brought an eclectic lineup of guests with them in a return to the “booth” that revealed how tough a guy Jones is to get a hold of, how a Buffalo fan once threw Peyton’s sweatband at him and that onesies were acceptable walk-through attire during Aqib Talib’s New England tenure.

Here are the top moments from when David Letterman, Talib and Joe Buck joined the show:

Paging Mac Jones …

You would think being Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning comes with plenty of perks. Namely, you could talk to anyone in the NFL you want to.

It’s an assertion that’s likely true — unless the athlete in question is named Mac Jones. When Peyton reached out ahead of Monday’s matchup, the rookie QB politely directed him to Patriots PR.

Raise your hand if you had “Peyton Manning getting denied by Mac Jones” on your Week 13 bingo card.

When Peyton detailed another time he reached out to Jones, and said the rookie replied to his text two days later, Eli had to intervene.

Voice memos, highly underrated.

Bills Mafia stays true …

Unless your name is Stefon Diggs or Josh Allen, you can kindly keep your game-worn sweatband. Peyton shared a story about when the Colts played in Buffalo and he tossed his sweatband to a young fan in the stands. The fan rejected Peyton’s gesture and promptly threw the item back at the QB.

Bills fans have been through too much to sell out for a sweatband.

Letterman left out Eli …

When you’ve been in the entertainment business as long as David Letterman you’ve undoubtedly seen it all. That includes the dual personas of one Bill Belichick.

Eli asked what it was like having Belichick on his show, and Letterman pulled back the curtain on the guy who was “taking questions from the audience.”

Then, when Letterman inquired why he never got asked to be a guest on the ESPN+ show “Eli’s Places,” the youngest Manning brother got something off his chest he’d been harboring for quite some time.

“I didn’t want to throw another interception to a cab driver.” … Makes sense.

Talib tapped out …

Aqib Talib has no lack of self-awareness. Peyton asked the former Patriots standout about whether or not he thought of returning to play for Belichick as his “tight end stopper” before retiring.

Talib’s answer involved three names: Travis Kelce, Darren Waller and Rob Gronkowski.

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that Talib also revealed how the Patriots culture isn’t as strict as everyone would like to believe. The former cornerback explained that as long as players showed up on time and knew their stuff, they were good — and could rock onesies to walk-throughs.

He also said that NFL players love free swag because, “the more money you get, the less stuff you expect to pay for.” Which is a line we will be thinking about until further notice.

Come on, Buck …

If there’s one thing you can count on with New York Giants fans, it’s that you never have to wonder where you stand. No, as Joe Buck can attest, the Giants faithful will let you know exactly how they feel.

This is something the announcer learned firsthand after he decidedly “lacked enthusiasm” on the David Tyree helmet-catch call during Super Bowl XLII.

People don’t forget.

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