Broncos QB Peyton Manning became the “newest franchisee for Papa John's pizza, signing a deal to own 21 stores in the Denver area Friday, the same day the pizza maker also announced it had signed a multi-year contract to continue as the official pizza of the NFL and the Super Bowl,” according to Eddie Pells of the AP. Terms were not disclosed. Manning connected with Papa John's “for a promotion at the 2011 Super Bowl and has since been featured in commercials with founder and CEO John Schnatter.” The most recent ad shows Manning “goading Schnatter into offering a total of 2 million free pizzas to fans who win weekly drawings, doubling the number of freebies the CEO gave away last year.” During Sunday's Saints-Broncos game, Manning will “star in a new commercial stating that, as a new franchisee, he, too, now gets to give away free pizzas.” He also “gives fans information about how to join him in becoming a franchise owner.” Papa John's signed with the NFL in ‘10 and “has been expanding the partnership since then” (AP, 10/26).
