Report: Peyton Manning tells the Broncos he’s ready for 2015
Broncos QB Peyton Manning reportedly met with team management to tell them he’s ready
It looks like we haven’t seen the last of Peyton Manning,
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that Manning met with Broncos higher-ups Friday to let them know that he’s physically and mentally ready to return to the football field next year.
After the harsh ending to his 2014 campaign, many thought this might have been it for Manning; Manning himself has been reported to be mulling retirement, but this report is a significant sign that he might be back.
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To be clear, this is not an assurance of Manning’s return; he could still retire. But you don’t meet with your employer to let them know you’re ready for some football only to turn around and retire. Broncos fans should remain cautiously optimistic about Manning’s return.
Manning will be 39 during the 2015 NFL season, which will be his 18th if he does decide to return. He will be playing for a Broncos team that has undergone significant changes this offseason, firing head coach John Fox and losing both offensive coordinator Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Jack del Rio in the aftermath. In their places come new head coach Gary Kubiak, offensive coordinator Rick Dennison and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. The changes could have factored into Manning’s decision, especially the loss of Gase, with whom he had a reportedly strong relationship. And while it remains strange that the Broncos would undergo wholesale changes after having so much success over the past three years, it appears Manning will follow the advice of REO Speedwagon and roll with the changes.
The ESPN report asserts that Manning is well healed from the quad injury that hampered him over the last month or so of the 2014 campaign.
Although Manning could not have been blamed for walking away from football at age 39, there’s no question that he still has plenty left in the tank. Plus, the Broncos under John Elway have not exactly been shy about signing top-tier free agents, so he could be returning to an even better team than the one that finished 12-4 this year. However, Broncos fans will still have to wait for an official announcement before they can stop shivering every time Brock Osweiler’s name is mentioned.
In any case, it’s always good news when a legend from a given sport keeps playing that sport, so if Manning really is coming back, we should all be in for a treat. Provided it doesn’t turn out like Derek Jeter’s final season, that is.
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