His buddy Todd Helton is back home in Tennessee, but Peyton Manning remains a Rockies fan.

The former Broncos quarterback showed up in the Rockies’ clubhouse Monday evening during a rain delay at Coors Field before a Cubs-Rockies game that was eventually postponed.

“I talked to Peyton, he popped into my office and that was great,” said manager Bud Black, who met Manning for the first time. “I took him down to the (indoor batting cages).”

Manning was offered a chance to take a few swings in the cage, but he declined. He did make himself at home in the clubhouse, talking with Nolan Arenado, Carlos Gonzalez, Trevor Story and others.

“Hey, he’s a Rockies fan!” Black said, breaking into a big grin. . “He asked about the team and we talked about the team’s mindset. He’s a really nice guy. He lives here, but he travels a lot. He says he loves Denver. Hopefully we see him out here more often.”

Manning and Helton, the retired Rockies first baseman, were teammates on the University of Tennessee football team. Helton — the only Rockies player to have his number retired and considered by many to be the best player in franchise history — is now the director of player development for the the University of Tennessee baseball team. Helton and his family now live full time in Knoxville, Tenn., though he still owns his ranch near Greeley.