re: Peyton is selfish for crying and wanting to continue football

Elite athletes don't do it for the money or the fame. The ones who care more about money than team success never reach the pinnacle. (See Carmelo Anthony)

The best of the best have a drive to compete on the highest level all the time. And when their bodies inevitably begin to fail them it's soul-crushing. It's hard for them to just "walk away while on top".