Peyton Manning will reportedly play next season for the Denver Broncos after pondering retirement over the past several weeks following their disappointing performance in the 2014 NFL season.
According to Jeff Duncan of New Orleans Times-Picayune, Manning is currently in New Orleans and is working out for his impending return to training camp.
Duncan also revealed that Manning has already consulted fitness training Mackie Shilstone about his current physical condition. Shilstone, who was best known for helping boxers Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. prolong their career, will reportedly guide the 38-year-old quarterback in his offseason workouts in the coming weeks.
Manning told reporters in December that he is determined to play for another season, but changed his stance after the Broncos took an early exit following their 24-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC divisional round.
The veteran quarterback, who is the oldest starting QB in the league, struggled to find his rhythm late in the regular season, and also failed to make major impact in Denver's loss to Indianapolis, which raised questions about his ability to lead the Broncos to success.
But despite failing to live up to expectations in their last few games of the 2014 NFL season, Broncos general manager John Elway made it clear that they want Manning to return for another run this year.
"The career that he's had and what he's done, not only for the NFL, but in the short time he's been here with the Denver Broncos, what he's meant to us is tremendous," Elway said last month. "We'll continue to monitor that, but the bottom line is we want him back, and it's going to come down to what Peyton wants to do."
Broncos linebacker Von Miller also played down talks about Manning's retirement and defended his teammate from his critics, reiterating that the 14-time Pro Bowl player is still capable of leading Denver to a championship.
"We can win a championship with Peyton. I think that's the only thing that matters," Miller told The Denver Post. "What else can I say? I think he's coming back. He said a long time ago that he would stop playing football when he felt like he was hurting a team more than helping a team. There's still so much he can do."
Manning, whose $19 million contract for next season will be fully guaranteed when he is still on the roster on March 9, will reportedly talk to Elway in the coming days to discuss his future. The league's all-time leader in career touchdown passes will also wait for results of medical examinations on his neck and thigh.
