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Here's why Peyton Manning embarrassed everyone with his Budweiser marketing

Manning praised his family, Budweiser and God -- in that order.

Heidi Moore

on February 8, 2016

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

At this point in American history -- saturated with brands as we are, savvy about all the advertising tricks -- there is no product placement that can surprise us as a nation.

Except, maybe, when Peyton Manning takes a bow for leading his team to a Super Bowl win -- at 39 years old, ancient in football years, on the verge of retirement -- and mentions that he's going to drink a lot of Budweiser.

Casual.

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Specifically, Manning said he would "kiss his wife, hug his family and drink a lot of Budweiser."

How obvious, right? Surely Manning had sold out his moment of glory -- the culmination of a long, distinguished football career -- for some deal with the very thirsty beer brand, a reliable Super Bowl advertiser?

Let's just say that the collective eye-roll could be seen from outer space.

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Budweiser, after some initial shock, made no effort to hide its glee.

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Nor was it the first time Manning had plugged Bud after a victory. In 2014, he told the press that his only concern was how fast he could get a Bud Light into his mouth.

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, right?

Wrong.

Everyone had it all figured out. Until. This tweet.

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After that, it was very clear that the wags got it wrong. Manning wasn't being paid to plug Bud.

So what was it? Call it enlightened self-interest.

See, Peyton Manning is a capitalist. He owns shares in Anheuser-Busch distributorships in his home state of Louisiana, reported Beer Business Daily today.

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So there you have it. It makes sense. Even famous quarterbacks have to eat. Careers end, children have to be fed, families supported.

So is Bud directly paying Manning to endorse its beer?

Let's not say no. Let's just say "not yet."

Still. Will Peyton Manning profit if you drink more Bud? Yes. And he's not pretending otherwise.

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Topics Advertising

Heidi Moore

Heidi Moore is a Business Editor at Mashable. She directs a team of reporters and editors in creating richly reported, smart and entertaining stories about media, startups, advertising, careers and Social Good that show that business is really a reflection of life and what we value in it.Heidi was previously a finance and economics editor at the Guardian, New York bureau chief and Wall Street correspondent at Marketplace Radio, and a financial reporter at the Wall Street JournalShe loves yoga, rooftops and taking photographs of everything.