Manning’s pizza savvy deserves high praise

Dude, Peyton Manning has enjoyed a contact high ever since Colorado legalized marijuana for recreational use.

After signing with Denver in 2012, the Broncos quarterback bought 21 Papa John’s pizza franchises in Colorado — just two weeks before the state’s voters passed Amendment 64, making it legal for people there to get Rocky Mountain High. Not surprisingly, Manning’s pizza joints have been booming ever since.

“There’s some different laws out here in Colorado,” Manning said during an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. “Pizza business is pretty good out here, believe it or not, due to some recent law changes. So when you come to a different place, you’ve kind of got to learn everything that comes with it.”

Manning isn’t just blowing smoke. According to a TMZ report from last year, several of his restaurants saw sales increase from $3,000 to $4,000 a day to $5,000 to $6,000 a day.

Manning continues to blaze a trail in the pizza business, purchasing four new Papa John’s franchises in recent months in Colorado — where last year a medical marijuana dispensary named a strain of weed after him.

“Peyton Manning” pot was described as offering “The best of both worlds, an uplifting, happy, euphoric, thought-provoking Sativa” designed to treat MS, anxiety, nausea and headaches. The buzz is amazing during the regular season but a big letdown in the playoffs.

In reality, Manning’s representatives threatened legal action if the dispensary continued using his name for commercial purposes. Fortunately for the quarterback, all types of pot appear to increase people’s appetites for pizza. And nachos. And cheeseburgers, Doritos, doughnuts, cookies, cake and ice cream. Or so we’ve been told.

No truth to speculation that Papa John’s is changing its slogan in Colorado to “Better Pot. Better Pizza.”

Now if only Manning can convince the Seahawks defense to mellow out for Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch in Seattle. If the game is over early, Manning might want to look into buying some pizza parlors in Washington, which also has legalized marijuana.

■ MAYWEATHER WINGS IT — A waitress at the Hard Rock Hotel complained that boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and a party of about 150 people didn’t leave a tip Sunday on a $25,000 tab.

The bill, which was comped by the hotel, included five bottles of Patron ($2,375), three bottles of Grey Goose ($1,425), six bottles of Ciroc ($2,850), 20 bottles of Luc champagne ($11,500), a six-liter bottle of Luc ($6,500), 200 chicken wings ($600) and a fruit platter ($55).

We’re shocked by this story. How can 200 chicken wings cost $600?

■ GOT RINGS? — After catching Jorge Soler’s home run ball in the Chicago Cubs’ win over Cincinnati this week, a Cubs fan high-fived those around him at Wrigley Field until he froze after realizing he lost his wedding ring in the celebration.

Fortunately for the man, the grounds crew found the ring and returned it.

Cubs players surely would have helped in the search, but they have no clue what a ring looks like.

COMPILED BY TODD DEWEY/ LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL