SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Todd Helton became the answer to a trivia question last fall when Peyton Manning’s surgically-repaired neck prevented him from starting for the Indianapolis Colts.

Until the Colts’ opener, when Kerry Collins filled in, Todd Helton had been the last quarterback to start in front of Manning. That was nearly two decades ago at the University of Tennessee.The Colts released Manning on Wednesday in an emotional press conference, and the Broncos, according to our NFL folks at The Post, are expected to guage Manning’s interest by talking with his agent.

So of course, I asked Helton today if he would be recruiting his good friend, whom he worked out briefly with this winter on the Duke campus.

“If it came down to the Broncos and another team, I would probably talk to him,” Helton said.

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Todd Helton played football with Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE