Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning said Friday he hasn’t made up his mind about playing in 2015 but hopes to know soon.
“I’m still trying to take some time to evaluate some things,” Manning said after receiving the Bart Starr Award in Phoenix. “I’m not interested in making this a lingering thing. I’d like to make a decision soon.”
Manning said he has met and had dinner with new Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak and will make his decision based on a number of issues, especially whether he can “help the team” win.
Manning said he also plans to sit down with general manager John Elway when he returns from vacation.
The Broncos won the AFC West this season but lost in the divisional round of the playoffs to the Indianapolis Colts. Manning played with a strained right quad.
Manning, who turns 39 in March, had multiple neck surgeries before joining the Broncos three seasons ago. He has been checked every year to ensure that his neck can still withstand the hits.
The Broncos have requested that Manning let them know his plans by March 9 — the day before teams must exercise their rights on veteran players under contract. He is due $19 million next season.
Manning said he didn’t think passing his annual physical would be a problem regarding his surgically repaired neck.
“I’m taking some time to assess some things and to see,” he said. “Of course I think that’s something that’s important to me is not whether I can physically do it for myself, (but) can I physically do it to help the team? I’ve always wanted to be part of the solution to helping and never a problem.
“It’s one thing to play and have a uniform and be on the roster. It’s another thing to truly be able to contribute and help. That’s the only way I’ve ever known to play football.”
Kubiak has said he wants to build a playbook around Manning’s talents, assuming Manning returns.
“I want to be the best support system I can be for Peyton. … We’ve had some very good conversations, and we’ll have many more,” Kubiak said when he was introduced as the new coach.
“It’s easy to build a playbook for him. I mean, he’s been the master at it for many, many years, and you’re talking about a Hall of Fame player, a Hall of Fame person.”
Manning, a five-time MVP, struggled in the second half of the season and the playoff loss to Indianapolis after a strong start to the year. After the 24-13 loss to the Colts, he acknowledged he was dealing with a thigh injury suffered in a Dec. 14 win at San Diego.
Manning’s father, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, said Thursday he believes his son will make a decision “maybe in the next week or two.”
“He’s given a lot of thought to it,” Archie Manning said. “My advice for him is to go through the process, get away a little bit, let your leg heal, give it a lot of thought and decide what you’re going to do … (I) think he’s taken a good evaluation of where he is physically.”
Petyon Manning said he was honored to receive the 2015 Bart Starr Award.
“It’s a special award,” he said. “Bart Starr, obviously his impact on so many communities and people and of course the NFL is well documented. It’s an honor to receive an award with his name on it.
“I’m truly sorry he couldn’t be here this morning, but his son, Bart Jr., was here and Bart was of course here in spirit. I had a great conversation with Bart’s wife Cherry about a month ago when she called me to tell me I was going to receive this award — that meant a lot. And of course, my dad’s had a relationship with Bart going back many years. So it’s quite an honor.
“To receive the award from Coach (Tony) Dungy, my old coach who has so many things in common with Bart Starr, is very special. He couldn’t have picked a more appropriate presenter to replace Bart than my old coach. So really a memorable morning for me.”
Starr, 81, is recovering from two strokes and a heart attack that he suffered last year.