Many kids have their heroes growing up. For some it's Batman or Superman. For me, it has been and will always be Peyton Manning. 

In an age of football where the classy men take a back seat to the flashy loud-mouths, Peyton has set himself apart from the very league that is in dire need of more players cut from his mold.

The reasons for Peyton Manning being my hero are endless.

I love his character, work ethic, morals, accomplishments, and leadership. I was a fan of Peyton Manning before he was the best quarterback in football.

It's hard to believe I was but a young fifth grader when I first began watching Peyton and his 3-13 Colts lose week after week in 1998. Heck, that was fine with me. As long as they had  No. 18 behind center, I always maintained that glimmer of hope.

It's a good thing too. The hope I placed in Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts paid off more then anyone could imagine after seeing him win the Super Bowl in 2006.

I could brag all day long about Peyton and his accomplishments in the NFL. Truth be told, those accomplishments which include 52 Colts Franchise Records and 28 League records can only be surpassed by the character that he exhibits off of the field.

Which brings me back to my original point. The NFL is in dire need of more players like Peyton.

Who are some of the most well known NFL stars today?

Tom Brady is a cheater, Terrell Owens has an attitude problem, and Chad Ocho-Cinco has one of the biggest egos ever to be created. Enough of that garbage already, these players along with many others could stand to take a page out of Peyton's book.

Peyton for years has preached the same values. Hard work, teamwork, dedication, education, desire, etc. These are some of the very values that I took to heart as a kid.

I couldn't have been prouder to wear that No. 18 jersey to school every day. No matter how many Patriots fans verbally harassed me. I felt like I was part of an exclusive club being a Colts fan. An exclusive club that is only now appreciated by so many.

It has been an honor and privilige to watch Peyton Manning play football for these past 10 and half years. He gives people like me a reason to watch on Sundays.

Peyton found a way to inject a high dose of "hope" into the city of Indianapolis. Thing is, Colts fans like myself are like drug-addicts who are continually given another quick fix of "hope".

So for that I say, thank you Peyton.