Getty ImagesBroncos quarterback Peyton Manning planned to meet with G.M. John Elway before making a decision about whether to play in 2015. Per Mike Klis of the Denver Post, the meeting happened Thursday.
Klis reports that team president Joe Ellis took owner Pat Bowlen’s plane to New Orleans to retrieve Manning, who made the trip to Denver to see Elway.
Manning exited Denver on Thursday evening, but he still has not decided whether to play in 2015.
If Manning opts to return, he’ll take a physical between February 23 and March 5. If he passes, his $19 million base salary for 2015 becomes fully guaranteed on March 9.
The Broncos have done nothing to suggest that they don’t want Manning, but if they have any concerns about his abilities, the safer option would be to keep the $19 million and groom Brock Osweiler to be the starter. Drafted one round higher than Russell Wilson in 2012, it’s possible Osweiler could become a very good quarterback. Stuck behind Peyton, it’s impossible to know what Osweiler can do.
Either way, it’s becoming more and more clear that Peyton doesn’t have many years left. At some point, the Broncos need to embrace the future. Otherwise they’ll learn, like the Packers did a decade ago, that an annual game of will-he-or-won’t-he gets old, fast.
Joe Flacco Jr!!!
He’ll play another year just to pad his stats.
Best regular season qb ever….worst postseason qb ever!!!!
BIG Manning fan but I think Brady put the who’s better competition/debate to bed with another Super Bowl victory.
Marino>Brady>Manning
So long horse head …… Happy trails
LOL. It is allllll over in Denver. What a time to be alive! LOL
I wonder what the chances are that Manning ends up being traded to Chicago, reunited with Fox and Gase. Just a thought
Those two are only one half of pieces (of their ilk) on the chessboard.
One more year or half a year of his game continues to decline at the same pace it did last year. Why not allow Brock that much more time to learn from quite possibly the second best QB in the history of the game, second only to Tom Brady I’m sorry but it’s not even a logical debate anymore. Why rush Brock into it if they truly feel he is the future. Did it hurt Aaron Rodgers sitting behind Brett those extra years, no. Did it hurt Tom Brady sitting behind Bledsoe, no. Why rush it, give the kid the best possible opportunity to succeed.
He’ll be back in Denver for 1 more year.
If Peyton does hang them up it will be a sad day for football fans everywhere.
Speaking as a Ravens fan I knew the torment that 18 brought my team every time he stepped on the field but there wasn’t a player I respected more than him at the QB position.
A class act all around and one who made this game better simply by playing it.
If Peyton Manning comes back I’m pretty sure it’s only going to be for one more year. I hope he decides to.
Peyton, I told you the other day, and I’ll tell you again, Brady is still in the league. Now, go back to New Orleans and send me a large extra cheese and pepperoni. Thank you.
Have fun playing for the titans forehead!
what do you want to bet that John El
way makes a trade for Adrian Peterson
and they bring Peyton Manning back for one more year
One more year for 19 mil? No brainer.
Go out in style, Peyton.
Ride Peyton till he his done. I wish Osweiler the best, but he could also turn into a Ponder or Gabbert.
Elway should show Peyton Tom Brady’s cap hit for next season and say, “You’ve got to get under that or we’re looking elsewhere.” Manning is one of the greatest of all-time, but always being so highly paid has hamstrung the teams that he’s played for. If he’s physically able and really wants another ring, he should cut his 2015 salary in half.
Elway was a great QB. If he didn’t have Dan Reeves holding him back all those years he would have had even higher all time numbers
Please come to Buffalo for the snowfall.
Please,please,please go back to the Broncos to pad your personal stats & get those regular season records you so desperately crave only to fall completely flat on the off season…. What a TEAM player you are!!!
No drama in this story. We all know he’s coming back. And he’ll probably look awesome … until January of 2016.
Payton didn’t fare very well in the playoffs. Sure he was injured but at his age injuries are very common.
I believe that Payton will give it one more try and even though Payton has more pizza than he knows what to do with
$19 million is hard to pass up.
The Broncos’ organization will take a chance with Payton because he will still be better than most NFL quarterbacks.
Super Bowl or bust.
P. Manning is the consummate football player and unsung tough guy. The only way he should ever leave the game is toes up. All the best.
Manning is a legend.
He should retire now imo. Go out on top.
Only 66% completion rate, 5000 yards & 40 TDs. The man is washed up. [Eye roll.]
2014 DEN 16 395 597 66.2 4727 295.4 7.9 7 39 15 24 -24 -1.5 -1.0 0 0 2
I would love for Manning to take a lower salary. Get him some OL help, but I really think that this team was burned out from the less than charismatic John Fox.
Not saying Kubiak is the answer, but 99% sure John Fox wasn’t after the defenses horrendous showing against Indy.
So where are all the drama queen, look at me, attention seeking comments for Peyton like there is for Lynch?
I like Manning more then my new qb. I cant remember his name…I know his first name is Tom.
Manning is going to drag this out till the last minute so he can still be relevant and keep his name in the news, his ego won’t let him do anything else. He knows he’s done he just can’t let go of the spotlight.
Hanging on too long always seems like a sad ending to a great career.
Please don’t retire. The Chiefs want a couple more cracks at Captian Forehead.
I think of Peyton as a great quarterback regardless of his post season play. This article points out a certain other quarterback with one Super Bowl victory and people are still infatuated with him. Regardless of how many times they may have “choked” we can’t deny of how many times we hoped to get a chance to see them play on Sunday.
we all know he is coming back
Not that I am a big fan of either Manning or BF, but I do not think that you will have any problems with Manning. Once he makes his decision I believe that will be it. He is not AS MUCH of a glory hound as BF, plus he does have a really serious neck problem to consider. BF was by in large pretty healthy in his yes I will not I will not years. Except the last year of course. As one reporter wrote BF needed the last year to realize himself that he was done.
I still don’t understand how you turn over the entire coaching staff and then consider bringing back the 39 year-old quarterback.
I think they’ve already decided to move on, they just would prefer it to be Manning’s decision from a PR perspective.
Manning should retire with dignity and not play for the sake of $$$ or dream of Super bowl. Next season will be a learning curve for the whole team. Time for Peyton to take the first exit off that highway to no where. Broncos blew their wad to get him, time to save the $$$ and put him out to pasture.
gotta put em down i would reckon
The old dog will want his $.
Look how he screwed Irsay when he knew he couldn’t play.
That was stolen $ as far as I’m concerned.
Please please please come back next season! They will be 9-7 or 8-8 with Manning. No playoffs and no good draft pick.
Brock is a great NAME for a QB….
Please, oh please come back. There is nothing better than watching the perennial Manning choke, and watching donko fans cry…..
Manning has been done since about week 10 of last season. That, along with his playoff stage fright, should be enough to send him on his way to retirement.
To make things worse for his playoff record, let’s not forget that his best playoff wins were against the Broncos in 2003 and 2004 and that Kansas City team that was so reminiscent of the early 80s Chargers that scored with the best, but allowed points with the worst.
Just retire and quit embarrassing yourself on the field and off it pimping bad pizza on people who have never tried pizza in New Jersey.
“Drafted one round higher than Russell Wilson in 2012, it’s possible Osweiler could become a very good quarterback.”
lol
His season ended a month ago, and Free Agency isnt for another month. I am pretty sure it’s a little early for the Favre compariaons, especially since he hasnt done anything like that in the past.
The right thing for the Bronco’s is… retirement for Peyton.
His stonefeet and slow read response are inescapable.
Brady is a horrid runner… but his passing skills save him
Peyton has just struggled to make things happen.
It’s obvious that something happened to Payton mid-season. He was great the first half of the season — had a QBR of 100+ I read. Then he imploded. That last game it looked like he was playing hurt or ???
Denver is in meltdown mode. Can’t believe they let the entire coaching staff go (fired or quit). My guess is they will start over — get rid of the expensive experienced players, bring in the young cheap rookies.
All the Broncos have to do is fail Manning in his physical exam and he’s out. Don’t know if any other team will take him. I hope he doesn’t pull a Brett Favre and retire and un-retire and … He has nothing to prove, one of the greatest QBs of all time.
The thing though is that unlike Favre, Manning is obsessed with practise. So he will not keep the Broncos hanging, pretty sure he will make the decision before free agency as he wouldn’t want to lose guys like DT.
Will elway joke about the hapless green bay defense during the easy super bowl victory?
He’ll play just so he can break whatver record is within his grasp.
Come on back, Peyton. You need to try for a magical 10th career 1 and out in the playoffs. It just further cements you as the greatest ever.
What was the room temperature?
As a Titans fan I’m not the biggest Manning fan because he burnt us for over a decade but I have respect for the guy. Regardless of what people say he’s one of the greatest of all time however if he thinks he can come back and try to win one more before he’s done , he will be in for a rude awakening. I’m not sure his playoff legacy could get any more tarnished then it already has however another 1st round exit would ice it. He should walk now because it’s the best for both parties. Manning can sit back and spend time with his family, commentate, or get into coaching, the man has all the options. The Broncos have went all in the last 3 years and although they got close that window has closed, too many free agents and not enough money not to mention the diminishing right arm of Peyton Manning. The broncos best shot this year I believe is let manning walk and free up some cap space, and bulld for the near future. Manning won’t take a pay so the team will lose to many pieces and even if he did take a cut I just don’t see him carrying them in the playoffs, Age is really catching up. looking back in twenty years I’ll get to tell my kid stories about Manning and although the playoff blunders will always come up his off the field preparation, his hall of fame stats , MVP, pro bowls , and being the smartest QB to possibly ever play the game will undoubtedly over shadow is blunders. He’s top 5 in my book with Elway,Brady,Montana,and Marino in no particular order.
Oh come on now. Comparing Manning to Favre is ridiculous. Manning is quiet about it. Brett cried every fifteen minutes and waffled more than IHOP at 2 AM Friday night.
What a reach for a finish.
come back duck duck!
Now that we are out of cap hell – we want two good revenge games against you and the donkeys! HEE HAW!!
It’s obvious Peytons arm is junk by the time the playoffs roll around. If he stays in Denver, you’ll have to figure a way to rest him throughout the season, so he has something in the tank for the playoffs.
Still not getting through Foxborough.
I mean another divisional tital if you want but for $96m? Nah
At this point, it’s almost more interesting to guess what Manning’s next role in the NFL will be, than to wonder if he’ll play qb for one more year. To Manning, though, it’s probably a matter left for his financial advisers to figure out. And that’s the part that makes me not care all that much if he quits or not. There is very little in it for me, one way or the other.
So just because your drafted one round higher Then Wilson makes you have everything to be a great QB? Don’t think order of The draft has anything to do with it. Just ask Brady or Manziel. With Manning they have a chance now, with Osweiler they’ll have to wait untill and If he develops Into their starting QB. By Then they’ll be missing some key people on defense and offense.
Give us one more man, come on!
Decision looms, give me a break, everybody knows he’s coming back. He is to selfish to worry about hurting the team, it’s all about Peyton, and breaking some more records! Let’s face it he will never see another super bowl, and if he did luck out and get there he would just lose it anyway. Time to sell pizzas full time, your time was good, but it’s over now!
I’m a Cardinals fan so… I have no skin in the game. However… I’m a football fan and Peyton Manning has been an absolute pleasure to watch as a fan. He has been a class act. I think he has changed the game, for the better.
He is getting older and whenever he decides he doesn’t want to play anymore… I’m ok with that. I’m sure he discussed with Elway how much power the new coach was going to have over him and the way he like to operate. Not all head coach’s or offensive coordinators can submit to a guy like Manning. On offense Manning is the head coach and OC… All rolled up in one person.
“…it’s possible he could become a good quarterback.” Brock Osweiler? Seriously. Wow. I’ll take Peyton at 19 million please.
I think it is time for Peyton to retire.
Great quarterback. First ballot unanimous HOF. Perhaps more physically/mentally talented than Brady.
Insisted on having so many offensive weapons and took up so much cap room personally that teams were handicapped.
Couldn’t or wouldn’t sacrifice for the sake of the team.
Stay home old man.
They really should strike a deal to have him retire and start the Osweiler era.
I hope they don’t though. 🙂
I’d pay Manning $19 mill in a heart beat
One of the best to ever play the game
Makes everyone around him beter
Why the fired fox I’ll never understand
Just like it has made Curtis Painter a good QB too.
Peyton has been great for football and a class act. That said, I think Denver needs to move on. You can see a great QB who is past his best.
Could be time for Elway to pull the plug.
I’d like to see Manning come back for one year, win a Super Bowl and ride off into the sunset like Elway. And I’m no Broncos fan.
I hope this does not turn into another brett farve deal. Either your in or your out…
He’s done. Why pay him $19 million?
No way they want him at that price. I hope he returns and hamstrings that franchise for another year. The Broncos are going to stink next year, with or without Manning.
Better than Brady. Doesn’t need to cheat to win.
Cut that meat! Cut that meat!
$19MM/yr and Manning can’t afford a $600.00 plane ticket?
Playoffs to 3rd place. I would think some of their FAs are watching this very close.
They might have the two biggest heads in football…
I am very curious how much the donkeys really want him back with that price tag. Considering the way he seemed to fold in the latter half of last season.
Peyton is an ego-maniac like Favre was. Isn’t Peyton about 2k yards short of breaking the all time passing yards record? This is his motivation (personal stats over what’s good for the team).
Denver should do what’s best for them and fail him at his physical and get out from that albatross contract. Let him go to Tennessee or Houston and get his yards and let Denver move on.
Peyton will play another year, do great early, and next December we’ll see defenses clamp down on them. Manning will lob fluttering ducks at the feet of his receivers 5 yards down field, and the Broncos will have another early exit from the playoffs.
Tom makes 11-12 million, so how is Manning worth 19? Rob job
Has to have everything perfect around him all the time, no wonder he always goes to pieces in the playoffs where chaos is the only constant.
I don’t care how much money you have, it’s tough to turn down $20mil for one season of football if someone is willing to give it to you..
Manning’s going to play. They’re just negotiating how many car dealerships and other investments it will take to keep his cap number down. John’s a real pro when it comes to off-the-books-compensation.
It may take another year of mentoring for Peyton to turn Brock into the next Jim Sorgi or Curtis Painter.
I think the Broncos are in a similar position to what GB went through 6 years ago. They have a back up that shows promise but haven’t had the opportunity to see what he can do in gameday situations. Manning wants to play every snap and the Broncos would have been smart to pull Manning when they had big leads. It didn’t happen and now they need to know because Osweiler’s contract is either up for renewal, or do you go another direction and let him walk.
And no, Bret didn’t whine the entire offseason, only when training camp opened and again for the next 3 years.
He now understands why Ted and Mike did what they did. Someday Bret will admit such. I still respect what he did for us and that will culminate with his Packer Hall of Fame induction this year. It was kinda neat seeing him get emotional talking about it last week. He’s a Packer for life and he said it.
I say come back and break MORE records. I’d LOVE to hear these jealous beotchs whine some more.
Peyton,
I hope you realize that you will never catch up to Tom Brady.
I had a dream last night that Manning was released because the Broncos wanted to plan for the future and his decision was between the Titans and one other team I don’t remember, he chose the Titans to end his career with. We’ll see if that comes true this year or next.
Look, the guy loves football more than money. So for all of you that are bitchin about the 19 mil, I am sure that does not mean a lot to him at this point.
He wants to play as long as he can. So back off, there is no one good or bad that I would rather watch on a Sunday.
He is not stupid, he knows his limitations so lets get some big ass men in front of him so he has 5 minutes like Brady does to get rid of the ball.
He’ll never have as many asterisks as Brady but he was still pretty good!
Well if Ellis is picking up Manning it’s almost like he is recruiting him again. That shows me that either he truly believes in Manning or he doesn’t believe in Brock Lobster. Either way Manning has been remarkable with the Broncos despite a poor second half of last season and the playoffs of course. But be honest, who gives the Broncos the best shot this season? Peyton or Brock?
Oh, and google “Peyton Manning european clinic” sometime if you think his legacy is clean and there was nothing suspicious about him coming back from 4 neck surgeries to break the NFL TD record at age 37.
dualprime says: Feb 13, 2015 11:37 AM
He’ll never have as many asterisks as Brady but he was still pretty good!
————————————
Ah yes, I’m sure Brady cares about the imaginary asterisks all the obsessive Pats haters give him.
Manning is likely their best chance to get back to the SB, depending on his health, of course. But nothing is guaranteed. Whatever injuries he had toward the end of the season certainly seemed to have an impact.
In the playoff game against the Colts I seem to recall him making terribly inaccurate throws 3-4 times and missing open receivers up the right sidelines. Those are the kind of throws that a future HOFer should make with ease. Or at least MOST of them.
Tough to say. I can see it either way, but I tend to agree with those saying that Denver needs to figure out what they have in Osweiler at some point.
Oh, and here’s a thought. If Denver is up by a good margin, how about putting Osweiler in to get some experience in garbage time? Manning is famous for taking every rep, which, you know, good for him I guess, but how about recognizing when that’s just idiotic and hurting the team, versus when you “need” the reps to work something out?
The Payton farewell tour begins