Colts QB Peyton Manning: The Only Person Who Takes the Pro Bowl Seriously

I turned on NFL Network this afternoon and saw that they were showing the AFC's Pro Bowl practice, which consisted of Chargers coach Norv Turner giving instructions to a bunch of guys who looked bored and disinterested.

With one exception: Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who was making direct eye contact with Turner, listening attentively, and then running exactly the play that Turner asked.

It's fascinating to watch the Pro Bowl -- the game that everyone from fans to media to the players themselves derides as utterly meaningless -- and see that Manning is the one guy out there who actually seems to care. That may be why Manning is the all-time Pro Bowl record holder for career passing attempts, single-game passing attempts, career completions, single-game completions, career passing yards, single-game passing yards, career yards per pass and career passing touchdowns.

And while some would scoff at a player who acts like the Pro Bowl is serious business, I think it's great. There may not be a harder-working player in NFL history than Peyton Manning, and that work ethic doesn't take any days off. Even in Hawaii.