Denver isn’t ready to close the door on a possible Peyton Manning return, despite what his father has said.
Archie Manning said after Sunday’s Super Bowl win, “I think Peyton’s done in Denver.” But John Elway on Tuesday said no decision has been made.
“I don’t know why Archie would say that, but obviously that is up to Archie,” the Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager told reporters during the team’s season wrap-up. “I said we’re going to give Peyton plenty of time to think about what he wants to do.”
Elway said there is no deadline on Manning’s decision, and he will give the 39-year-old all the time he needs. Manning won his second Super Bowl on Sunday, capping a roller-coaster season in which he missed seven starts after he suffered a tear in his plantar fascia near his left heel. He said after Sunday’s Super Bowl win he would “take some time” to decide on his future plans.
Manning has one year remaining on the deal he signed in 2012. His $19 million base salary for 2016 becomes guaranteed on March 9, and it counts $21.5 million against the salary cap.
“Again, we’re going to enjoy this, let Peyton enjoy this,” Elway said. “I’m sure he’ll sit down with his family and then eventually we’ll talk to him, too, and go through that. There is no timeline for that right now.”