For a Manning who isn’t in the Super Bowl, this one sure is making headlines.
It happened again on Tuesday, when Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning – the NFL’s only four-time MVP and older brother to New York Giants counterpart Eli Manning – denied whispers that he was pondering retirement.
There has been rampant speculation about Manning’s recovery from neck surgery, the potential risks of a return, whether the Colts will pay Manning a $US28 million ($A26.5 million) roster bonus in early March to prevent him from becoming a free agent or whether the soon-to-be 36-year-old might retire.
“I have no plans on doing that,” he said.
It’s the strongest indication that, despite having his third neck operation in September, he hopes to play in the NFL when the new season kicks off later this year – something the league is happy about.
“My plan hasn’t changed,” he said. “I’m on track with what the doctors have told me to do … (and) I’m rehabbing hard.”
The NFL would prefer to keep the focus on this week’s juiciest story lines — Eli Manning trying to outdo his older brother by winning a second Super Bowl; Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick chasing their fourth titles and maybe exacting a little revenge for their loss to New York four years ago.
But as everyone knows, this is Peyton’s place, his town, and fans hang on every detail of his recovery.
“It’s not the way it should be,” he said in a taped interview with ESPN.
The Colts ended their most tumultuous month in more than a decade with another flurry of hiring and firing among their coaching staff.
The whirlwind of changes began January 2, the day after the Colts clinched the No.1 overall draft pick with a league-worst 2-14 record.
Irsay has since fired vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian, and dismissed coach Jim Caldwell and most of his staff — a series of changes that prompted Peyton Manning to voice his complaints two days after the conference championship games.
Two days later, Irsay called Manning a “politician,” fuelling a public spat that drew national attention. The two tried to put out that fire before the team’s scheduled arrivals, but the fallout has continued into this week.
“I would think he’s very uncomfortable, especially with the Giants here and Eli,” former Colts coach Tony Dungy said.
“When you get to a Super Bowl, even though it’s the second (recent) one for the Giants, you want the focus to be on that achievement. He would much rather have the focus on Eli and what they’ve done to get here, and unfortunately, that’s not going to happen.”
