On Wednesday, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning said he plans to return in 2015, if the team wants him. On Thursday, the coach of the team said he wants Manning to return.
“I would say when you’re kind of in the top three quarterbacks in the league, maybe the top of all time, I’d say there’s a pretty good likelihood,” John Fox told reporters. “He’s had a tremendous year, there is no doubt. We’ve still got things to get done and [we are] looking forward to the opportunity.”
So have Fox and Manning talked about 2015?
“It’s cliché but in this business you pretty much stay one week at a time,” Fox said. “So probably not a lot of conversation, but if you’re asking me moving forward, would we like that opportunity? I’d say yes.”
Manning is completed the third year of a four-year deal with the Broncos. His salary for 2015 is $19 million, and Manning’s cap number will be $21.5 million.
In contrast, backup Brock Osweiler, a second-round pick in 2012, will be completing his rookie deal at a base salary of $660,000. The Broncos will have to decide whether to extend Osweiler’s deal, possibly without ever seeing him play a meaningful role in a regular-season game. They also could trade him to another team before his contract expires.