I take no pleasure in watching Peyton Manning's skills diminish, nor would any true fan of this or any other sport. He is/was one of the greatest ever to play the game. I hope he retires rather than have his diminished abilities become a season-long embarrassment.
If Manning was playing with a more significant injury than was reported, then that is all the more reason to admire him.
If the Broncos failed to report the extent of Manning's injuries, then they should be disciplined and/or fined appropriately. That is a separate issue.
Peyton Manning and Tom Brady defined greatness in the NFL for 15 years. Brady, a year younger and perhaps with a more disciplined training and off-season regime, looks like he still has the potential to play at a high level for an indeterminable period of time.
If the media want to make excuses for Peyton Manning, that's fine. I stopped listening to or caring about what the mediots say a long time ago.