Broncos QB Peyton Manning "said twice during his post Super Bowl 50 interviews that he plans to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight," but A-B InBev Senior Dir of U.S. Marketing Communications Lisa Weser tweeted that he "wasn't paid to mention the beer," according to Emily Shapiro of ABC NEWS. The tweet read, "Hi Internet. For the record, Budweiser did not pay Peyton Manning to mention Budweiser tonight. We were surprised and delighted that he did." Manning's comments "came on the field and on the podium, both moments after his Super Bowl victory" (ABCNEWS.com, 2/7). YAHOO SPORTS' Shalise Manza Young noted Manning's investment portfolio "includes part ownership" of two A-B distributors in his native Louisiana (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/8). Apex MG Analytics said that the two mentions were worth $3.2M "in equivalent advertising time for the brand." An A-B spokesperson said that the brand was "sending 50 cases of Budweiser -- 1,200 bottles -- to the team's afterparty." ESPN.com's Darren Rovell noted yesterday "was not the first time Manning has mentioned the brand." After beating the Chargers in the '14 playoffs, Manning was asked about his future, to which he responded, "What's weighing on my mind is how soon I can get a Bud Light in my mouth." Rovell noted active NFLers "are not allowed to endorse alcohol brands." Meanwhile, moments after the clock hit zero, Manning turned to Papa John's Founder John Schnatter "to give him a hug." Manning "not only is an endorser of the pizza chain but also -- with some partners -- owns 32 stores in Denver" (ESPN.com, 2/8). MASHABLE's Heidi Moore writes as far as capitalist crimes go, this "seemed like a cut-and-dried case of selling out." Manning "had the weapon -- a million cameras on him -- the means, and a motive in the form of a quiet endorsement deal with Bud." Moore: "Call it enlightened self-interest" (MASHABLE.com, 2/8).
IT'S MILLER TIME! CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora writes Broncos LB and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller now has a "platform for national endorsements and previously unforeseen marketing opportunities." He has the "personality and charisma to pull it off, to say nothing of his dominant skillset." La Canfora: "He is about to be that guy-with-the-cool-glasses-doing-all-of-those-commercials to those who don't know anything about football" (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/8).
