An emotional Peyton Manning signed off from his 18-year NFL career with the words “God bless football” — and one final “Omaha”.

With weather forecasts firming up to suggest that Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVIII may be spared the sort of intense snowstorms which have struck the New York area twice this month, both the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks arrived to their team hotels in Jersey City on Sunday ahead of a week of scrutiny.

This time it won’t quite feel like walking on eggshells with Roy around.

CONCUSSION ruled Brett Favre out of his own swansong as his 20-year career in the NFL came to an end yesterday.