New Titans GM once tried to make a bet with Peyton Manning for Florida/Tennessee game
New Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon will be in enemy territory in Nashville. That's because Carthon is a former Florida Gators running back. Carthon is also a former teammate of Tennessee Vols legend Peyton Manning. The new Titans general manager spent three seasons playing alongside Manning with the Indianapolis Colts (from 2004 to 2006). […]
New Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon will be in enemy territory in Nashville.
That's because Carthon is a former Florida Gators running back.
Carthon is also a former teammate of Tennessee Vols legend Peyton Manning.
The new Titans general manager spent three seasons playing alongside Manning with the Indianapolis Colts (from 2004 to 2006).
During their time together, Carthon tried to make a couple of bets with Manning on Florida/Tennessee games.
The bets, however, never happened. That's because Manning couldn't stand the thought of having to wear a Gators shirt during interviews.
Carthon told the story about the attempted bets with Manning in 2012 during an interview with Only Gators.
"I remember my second year, I asked him if he wanted to make a bet on the game. He said yeah and asked what I wanted to do. I said, ‘If Tennessee loses, then you have to wear a Florida shirt during your interviews.’ He’s like, ‘Hell no, I will never do that.’ We always found comedic ways to come up with a bet on the game. One year I remember it was a night game, probably in 2006 but I’m not sure. I remember walking down the hallway and it was past curfew. I knocked on his door, he opened it, and I just stood there in his doorway and sang the fight song. He closed the door in my face and I stood there until I was done signing the fight song.”
Refusing to take the bet was a good move by Peyton.
In 2005, No. 6 Florida beat No. 5 Tennessee by a final of 16-7.
The next season was the first time we saw Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Chris Leak started the game, but Tebow saw action in short-yardage situations.
And Tebow converted third-and-shorts against Tennessee all night long as the Gators beat the Vols 21-20.
At least Peyton can hold Tennessee's win this year against Florida over Carthon. Knowing Peyton, he'll probably call Carthon up this week and congratulate his former teammate on becoming the Titans' new general manager.
Maybe he'll rib him a bit about Tennessee's win against the Gators, too.
Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
