Peyton Manning says Tom Brady texted an apology for email flap

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning said an email exchange between New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and a friend that appeared to question how much longer Manning could play was "no harm, no foul."

In an email, released in documents that were filed as part of the NFL Players Association's lawsuit on behalf of Brady against the NFL, Brady wrote:

"I've got another 7 or 8 years. He has 2. That's the final chapter."

"Game on."

Manning addressed the emails for the first time on Wednesday, after Broncos practice.

"Everybody has been speculating on that for a long time, so I guess he's joining the list of trying to predict,'' Manning said. "Hey, Tom sent me an apology text that was unnecessary. The fact his emails got revealed, that doesn't make a lot of sense to me.''

In another email, a friend of Brady's wrote: "Manning needs things to be perfect to succeed, weather, his system, etc.'' Brady's response to the email was that "we are some hard working grinders beav. That's what our team is all about. Our best is still ahead of us.''

Manning took it all in stride, saying he thought the exchanges were fairly tame.

"No harm, no foul, I didn't think a lot of it,'' Manning said. "Somebody said I was roasted, I've been roasted before and that is not roasted. I haven't been on a Comedy Central roast, but I've been to a couple private dinners and banquets where I didn't know it was going to turn into a roast of me, but it did. I can promise you that email was amateur night compared to some of the things that were said about me.''

At 39, Manning is the oldest player on the Broncos' roster and is entering his 18th NFL season. Brady is 38.