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          Peyton Manning: NFL lost a legend in Ken Stabler

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          OTL discussion: Ken Stabler's CTE diagnosis (6:59)

          Ken Stabler died of colon cancer last summer at age 69 and now comes word that, like so many other former NFL players, Stabler was also suffering from the degenerative brain disease CTE. He's the first Super Bowl winning quarterback to be diagnosed. (6:59)

          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 3, 2016, 03:10 PM ET
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              Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
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          SAN FRANCISCO -- Peyton Manning knew Ken Stabler through his father Archie, the two decidedly old school quarterbacks contemporaries in a different age of football.

          So yeah, news of the late Stabler being diagnosed with CTE nearly seven months after his death from cancer shook Manning on Wednesday.

          "The NFL quarterback fraternity lost a great one, lost a legend, when we lost The Snake," Manning said at the Denver Broncos media availability on Wednesday. "I reached out to his family and told them they were in my thoughts and prayers. That is my reaction to that. I haven’t had time to process the other information.

          "What a prince of a guy. What a great leader. I have heard John Madden talk about him a number of times. He truly was one of a kind."

          The elder Manning and Stabler, who is a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist as a seniors candidate, were teammates for one game with the New Orleans Saints in 1982 before Manning essentially succeeded Stabler with the Houston Oilers.

          Stabler spent the first 10 years of his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders and was the NFL's MVP in 1974.

          Manning and Stabler were also Deep South brethren, Stabler playing at Alabama from 1965 through 1967 and Manning at Mississippi from 1968-70.