INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning isn’t ready to discuss retirement yet.
The four-time NFL MVP told a group of reporters Tuesday he doesn’t plan to stop playing and that his recovery from a third neck surgery continues to be on schedule.
“My plan hasn’t changed,” Manning said at a hotel after Super Bowl XLVI Media Day at Lucas Oil Stadium featuring the Giants and Patriots. “I’m on track with what the doctors have told me to do, and I’m doing that. I’m rehabbing hard.”
Asked about reports he may soon retire, he responded, “I have no plans on doing that.”
Manning’s shadow has been looming over the NFL title game for days, and it doesn’t show signs of going away anytime soon though he wishes he wasn’t such a distraction.
“It’s not the way it should be,” he said earlier in a taped interview with ESPN. “I really don’t think it will be as the week goes on.”
The quarterback of the hometown Colts has not played in more than a year because of a damaged nerve that caused weakness in his throwing arm. He had neck surgery in May, then underwent his third and most invasive neck surgery in 19 months in September. Doctors fused two vertebrae together, a procedure that forced him to miss the Colts’ 2-14 season.
Since then, Manning hasn’t been able to escape the spotlight.
There has been rampant speculation about his recovery, the potential risks of a return, whether the Colts will pay Manning a $28 million roster bonus in early March to prevent him from becoming a free agent, or whether the soon-to-be 36-year-old might quit playing.
The ongoing saga has spilled right into the first Super Bowl week in Indianapolis.
Though the marquee story line was supposed to be Manning’s brother Eli vs. Brady, it’s the older Peyton who continues to make news.
Following last week’s public spat with team owner Jim Irsay and the ensuing make-up, Irsay joined the city’s mayor, the Indiana governor and host committee officials at Monday’s news conference to discuss game week. Irsay wound up taking most of the questions and most focused on Manning’s future. He also said he didn’t want to discuss the Manning situation again this week.
Tuesday, Manning was the chatty one.
Shortly after about 5,000 fans watched more than 1,000 reporters spend two hours interviewing Patriots and Giants, Manning delivered the third part of Media Day with an impromptu appearance in front of a small group of reporters. His motive was to turn the away from him and back to Sunday’s game and his brother’s quest to win a second Super Bowl ring.
That didn’t work too well, either.
“I’m working hard, I had a really good session today,” Manning said after throwing to several teammates. “I continue to make progress and work hard. The doctors are encouraged and that’s encouraging to me.”
Manning smiled throughout the 10-minute interview and looked happier and more vibrant than he has in months.
Not everyone is paying attention to the diversion.
“Oh you meant Eli? I got it now,” Patriots linebacker Gary Guyton said when asked about coming here with Manning in the headlines.
Most Colts fans have enthusiastically backed Eli in hopes of sending the dreaded Patriots home empty-handed again. And Eli chimed in, too.
“Peyton has had an unbelievable career. Since I’ve been watching football, I haven’t seen anybody play at a higher level than he has,” Eli said. “It has always been my goal to get to his level of football, to get to his level of play. That is something that I’ve worked on. I’ve watched him in situations and I’m just amazed on some of the throws and plays he’s made in his career. I try to ask as many questions and get as much help from him as I can.”
Peyton said, “I’ll be rooting hard for the Giants. I’ve always wanted nothing but the best for Eli and I hope he breaks all of my records.”