Comics love getting dissed by Peyton Manning at the Rob Lowe Roast

There's nothing like being made fun of by your sports hero on national television.

Retired NFL quarterback Peyton Manning was something of a VIP at the Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe, which taped Aug. 28 and aired Monday night. While the athlete wasn't immune from being roasted himself — he heard many jokes about the size of his head — he was the only speaker to earn a standing ovation before taking the stage.

"We love Peyton Manning, we're lucky to have him here tonight. I'll never forget Peyton's career, even if he will," said roast master David Spade, by way of introduction. Then the floor was Manning's. And the sports fans onstage — particularly Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson, comedian Rob Riggle and guest of honor Lowe — ate up everything he said.

Especially when he made fun of them.

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First, Manning went after Riggle, who appears on the NFL Sunday pre-game show. "Rob, I have learned a lot from watching you, my friend. For example, I've learned that to be an NFL broadcaster, you don't have to be entertaining, or funny, or conventionally handsome, or know anything about sports."

Then he moved on to Davidson. "He asked to take a picture with me, and I didn't realize he was one of the comedians. I told him, Don't give up, kid. Whatever disease you have, you can do this."

The two really did take a photo together.

After slinging mild insults at the rest of the group, Manning explained why he was there to make fun of the star of Parks & Rec and The West Wing.

"Rob Lowe here tweeted out to the entire world that I was retiring from football. Not five months ago when I actually did retire, but five years ago. Sodapop Curtis tweeted that I was finished," Manning said. Want proof? Here's the tweet.

"Rob, I never tried to ruin your big moments. I didn’t tell people that The Grinder got cancelled, or when Lyon's Den got cancelled, or when Moonbeam City got cancelled, or when your DirecTV commercials got cancelled," Manning said. Touchdown!