After three long weeks without Peyton and Eli Manning's Monday Night Football telecast, Week 7's installment more than made up for the hiatus.
Thanks to Marshawn Lynch -- who joined the broadcast in the first quarter with a sideways camera while eating a snack and promptly shared he had taken three shots of Hennessy -- the ManningCast will never be the same. While "Beast Mode" quickly cemented his place as the GOAT of guests, the lineup for the next three quarters wasn't too shabby either.
From Tom Brady cracking jokes about Rob Gronkowski to Sue Bird's thoughts on retirement and Drew Brees being burnt out on seeing Eli everywhere -- here is what we learned from the latest edition of the ManningCast:
Peyton lost a bet to Eli ...
Peyton Manning is a man of his word. On Monday, Peyton emerged on the telecast rocking his younger brother's college jersey. The fashion statement -- which was undoubtedly alarming to Tennessee fans who were out of the loop -- was a result of a bet between the brothers requiring whomever's alma mater lost when the Vols faced Ole Miss to wear the other's jersey.
"I thought throwing 6 INT was tough against the Chargers, but having to wear an @OleMissFB jersey on national TV ... This is truly one of the greatest nights of my life."
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 26, 2021
Peyton pays off his Ole Miss-Tennessee bet with @EliManning 😂 pic.twitter.com/bT5W0ynqaH
"I didn't want your big head stretching out the neck too much."
— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2021
Peyton lost the Ole Miss-Tennessee bet and paid the price 😅 @EliManning pic.twitter.com/L9HdhLsYU4
Being forced to wear your rivals' jersey and getting chirped at about the size of your head? We wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Beast Mode is a national treasure ...
Marshawn Lynch is not the hero we deserve, but he's the one we need. In true Beast Mode fashion, his time on the ManningCast was ... memorable.
Upon joining the call, Lynch promptly informed the Manning brothers he had amended his normal pregame ritual of taking a shot and a half of Hennessy to account for "big bro" and "little bro" with a three-shot minimum.
Whether it be dissecting the Beast Quake or explaining why he would be a good fit in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' pass-heavy offense, the whole segment was as Marshawn as it gets.
"I had a three-shot minimum today." @MoneyLynch took Henny shots for himself, Eli and Peyton 😅 pic.twitter.com/FCU2vnCeon
— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2021
"Look man, put the ball in my hands."
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 26, 2021
Beast Mode hopped on and Peyton had to make a Super Bowl goal-line joke 💀 pic.twitter.com/rT2i8Huz9d
"How did it feel to actually cause an earthquake?"
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 26, 2021
Peyton wanted his own Beast Quake 😂 pic.twitter.com/AmGylkKygH
"It would probably work out for me. I wouldn't probably wanna run too much."
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 26, 2021
Marshawn would consider a comeback if the Bucs called 😂 pic.twitter.com/0eEg6oP5Pr
Marshawn gets the people going ...
Did we mention Lynch's appearance was one for the books?
Damien Woody, Chris Long and Julian Edelman were just a few members of the sports world who turned to Twitter fingers to revel in the Beast Mode of it all.
Marshawn is a national treasure bruh 😂
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) October 26, 2021
And tbh Eli and Marshawn need to do more content
— chris long (@JOEL9ONE) October 26, 2021
Marshawn Lynch is electric
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) October 26, 2021
... Yeah, what they said.
Tom Brady is gifting a fan bitcoin ...
In case you haven't been keeping up with the saga of Brady's 600th touchdown ball, the 44-year-old gave Peyton and Eli the scoop.
He also gave a lesson in the art of negotiation -- explaining that the fan to whom wide receiver Mike Evans accidentally gifted the ball shouldn't have handed it over until securing his demands.
Tom Brady said the Bucs fan lost all his leverage once he gave up the 600th TD ball.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 26, 2021
But Brady is giving him a bitcoin 🤑 pic.twitter.com/upGBpmcMDS
That haul of gifts and a bitcoin? The fan made out OK.
Brady also used his time on the show to crack jokes at Peyton and Gronkowski's expense.
"That jersey on Peyton is looking a little tighter than I remember."
— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2021
Tom Brady with the jokes tonight 😂 pic.twitter.com/VrIVJrGoz7
"Just run away from the guys in the other color jerseys. How hard is that?"
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 26, 2021
Brady cracking Gronk jokes 😂 pic.twitter.com/bycN8nhKBI
But Eli got the last laugh.
Brady: "I enjoyed much more the ones I played against Peyton than Eli."
— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2021
Eli: "I enjoyed all of our games, Tom."
Cold 🥶 pic.twitter.com/CHL7L5Ns4V
The Manning bros can't help from chirping each other ...
And what would a ManningCast be without Eli laying into Peyton about his pit stains?
"Did you dump the bucket of Gatorade on Peyton?"
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 26, 2021
-@EliManning coming at Peyton's sweat stains 😅 @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/k7UFKHSAao
We'll give Peyton the benefit of the doubt and go with Gatorade bath on this one.
That's coach Bird to you ...
Sue Bird, legendary point guard ... and coach? The Manning bros showed a clip from a Seattle Storm game in which Bird was not only quarterbacking the offense on the court, but calling the plays on the sideline.
"Who's the coach right there? Sounds like you're the coach."
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 26, 2021
Sue Bird is a general on and off the court 📝 pic.twitter.com/Txmi0hj1zV
They also took a minute to admire Bird's impressive résumé, which includes two more WNBA titles than the Super Bowl rings that Peyton and Eli have to their names.
Two fans appreciating @S10Bird's accomplishments on #MNF 😂 pic.twitter.com/UeqVBImC5h
— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2021
When Peyton broached the subject of retirement, the 41-year-old explained, "Luckily free agency doesn't start for a while so I have some time to think." Adding that after experiencing the Seattle Kraken's opening game at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday night, returning for the Storm's first season in the new arena is "tempting."
Drew Brees' kids stayed up to see Peyton and Eli ...
Drew Brees is a future Hall of Famer, but that doesn't mean his kids weren't still hyped about the prospect of saying "hi" to Peyton and Eli Manning.
Drew Brees' kids showed up in the background to say hi to Peyton and Eli :smile: pic.twitter.com/H0owrDwGYU
— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2021
Brees being photobombed by his kids was the wholesome content we needed.
What the New Orleans Saints' legend doesn't need? More celebrations of Eli Manning. Brees was quick to troll Eli for all of the jersey retirements and celebratory ceremonies he has been honored with lately.
"Since when do they paint end zones with your name in them? I'm just trying to watch the LSU game."
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 26, 2021
Drew Brees is seeing Eli Manning everywhere :joy: pic.twitter.com/a6YWqQs4PC
The Manning bros are back in Week 8. Until then, we'll be contemplating what it's going to take to get Lynch back on the ManningCast every week.