'He is so corny': Peyton Manning makes Taylor Swift joke to take a swipe at Jets, splits internet in two
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been the talk of the season, and the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards that took place at the Bridgestone Arena on November 8 was no exception.
Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan hosted the CMA Awards this year, and the duo could not help themselves from slipping in a couple of jokes about the world's most trending topic during their opening monologue.
The country singer said that he and the 47-year-old Pro Football Hall-of-Fame quarterback were only hosting the show because “Travis and Taylor weren’t available.”
The CMA hosts' swipe at the New York Jets
Manning later set Bryan up for a brutal joke, asking the singer, also 47, what the difference between Swift and the Jets was.
Pat came Bryan's reply, "Taylor can sell out a stadium,” much to the amusement of the crowd.
"You nailed it,” replied Manning with a smirk, adding, “I had you do that punchline Luke so that I wouldn’t get in trouble."
The New York Jets respond to joke
Taking note of Manning's comments, the Jets took to X soon afterward and fired back at the former Colts and Broncos quarterback.
“What are we talking about Peyton,” the Jets tweeted, along with a picture of an apparently packed MetLife Stadium during an unspecified game.
According to the New York Post, the Jets presently rank third in the NFL in terms of average home attendance. The MetLife stadium gets packed to 97.7 percent of its capacity, with 80,631 people coming in to fill the venue.
Netizens react to Peyton Manning's jab at the New York Jets
Mannings' joke has left the internet divided, as the following tweets demonstrate.
"Peyton became overrated as a funny man when playing and retirement illuminated that," was the opinion of one user.
Peyton became overrated as a funny man when playing and retirement illuminated that
— Jeremy Berman (@_SportsTruther) November 9, 2023
On the other hand, a second tweeted, "Peyton is the GOAT"
"He is so corny. 😂" posted a third.
"I actually see many empty seats here," replied a user to the Jets' post.
"He’s still mad jets beat him in the playoffs lmao," said another.
"One time sellouts don’t count 🤣" tweeted a sixth.