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Peyton Manning is coaching his son's flag football team and he has a genius strategy

INDIANAPOLIS – Peyton Manning's strategic football prowess has been the envy of countless NFL players, coaches and broadcasters. His game genius, the awe of every Xs and Os analyst that graced airwaves during his playing years.

Now, Manning's flag football coaching brilliance is shining. It's a new football IQ high for the recently inducted hall of famer – and certainly will be the envy of every youth football coach.

Manning is coaching his 10-year-old son Marshall's flag football team this season and he's come up with a foolproof plan to make sure parents don't complain about playing time (as if a parent would really complain to Manning).

The league features five-on-five flag football so ... Manning limited his team to five players.

"That way I don’t have to deal with any complaining parents," a chuckling Manning told IndyStar this week. "Because all five of these kids play the entire game. They get their money and time's worth for signing up for this league."

Former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning walks on the sidelines with his son Marshall Manning (right) and former GM Bill Polian (middle) before a game.
Former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning walks on the sidelines with his son Marshall Manning (right) and former GM Bill Polian (middle) before a game.

Manning said he had heard horror stories of youth sports parents getting raucous with the coach.

None of that will happen on his field. "It turned out to be a pretty good philosophy," he said. But still, he's effusing that typical Manning modesty.

"I'm not sure I'm a very good coach," he said. "I enjoy doing it."

Peyton Manning MegaCast allows time for family

Manning wanted to be able to coach Marshall. He loves their time together, he said. He wanted to be around in the fall for all things football and beyond with his family, including wife, Ashley, and daughter, Mosley.

"I do know I love my fall weekends and being home," he said, "going to our kids' sporting events, going to University of Tennessee games. Going to Colts or Broncos ... Marshall and I like to go to NFL games."

Being a full-time coach or broadcaster wouldn't allow that.

"I've been talking to some of the various TV broadcasting networks and I just couldn't get past having to be gone for the weekends, having to broadcast a game," Manning said.

His latest venture allows the best of both worlds. He and younger brother Eli will debut on ESPN2 Monday to talk NFL from their couches at home – Peyton from Denver and Eli from New York.

The Monday Night Football MegaCast will air on ESPN2 for 10 games in each of the next three seasons and include current and former NFL players and celebrities.

Manning told IndyStar to expect the likes of Charles Barkley, Russell Wilson and Ray Lewis soon. And to not expect the typical NFL broadcast.

"We will not be negative critics," he said. "More like fans because we know how hard the game is."

Manning and Eli haven't watched a Monday Night Football game together since 1993 when Manning was a senior in high school and Eli was in eighth grade -- and they sat side by side on the couch as casual observers, Manning said.

That's how Manning envisions what their show will emulate. Fans will be able to ask the Manning brothers questions via social media. It will be a chat, a give and take, funny and lighthearted.

"We are watching the game together and it's kind of like we’re watching a game on the couch, at a bar and viewers are sitting down with us," he said. "It’s a more causal approach."

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: dbenbow@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Peyton Manning MegaCast: Announcing job pairs him up with Eli Manning