TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 24: Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos looks on during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 24, 2015 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Peyton Manning fires back at critics following controversial golf round with Donald Trump

Why not, he said.

Peyton Manning is retired and has some time on his hands. Recently, he spent some of that time playing golf with President Donald Trump.

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As you may expect in this polarized climate, Manning's decision to take the outing with Trump was not met with universal approval and, in a recent visit with Jimmy Kimmel of ABC, the legendary quarterback was asked about his choice. In short, he has no regrets.

(Via Jon Heath of Broncos Wire)

"I heard Arnold Palmer say one time, 'If the President of the United States ever asks you to play golf, you do it. It's a no-brainer. It was a fantastic experience."

"I've had a chance to play with President Bush before — if President Obama or President Clinton asked me, I'd be there in a heartbeat. It was just the experience of playing with the office that was pretty cool to me. And I think it would have been almost un-American to have said no."

The sentiment about it being "almost un-American" probably won't sit well with everyone but it is easy to see what Manning is trying to say. Regardless of political affiliation, there is something to be said for the office of the presidency and, in Manning's mind, he couldn't say no.