Peyton Manning Speaks Out

Peyton Manning still wants to play football. In an interview that appeared Tuesday in The Indianapolis Star, “It’s 20 degrees, it’s snowing, the building is absolutely empty except when you see coaches cleaning out their offices,” Manning said. “I guess it’s the reality of the football world, just not something I’ve had to deal with very often. But I’m in there every day, so I have to sit there and see it. Everybody’s being evaluated and I’m no different. It’s not the best environment. “It’s unfortunate because so many of them have been such a big part of so many big wins here, and this is so … sudden,” Manning added. “Their keys didn’t work the next day. There’s no other way to do it? I don’t know. That’s hard to see, all these people leaving. And I may be behind them. Who knows?” Actor Rob Lowe, who wrote Manning was expected to announce his retirement last week. Manning said, “I never thought `Sodapop Curtis’ would announce my retirement,” he said, referring to Lowe’s character in the 1983 movie “The Outsiders.” “I always thought I would be the one to announce it.” New general manger Ryan Grigson inferred the decision about paying Manning a $28 million bonus in March or letting him become a free agent would be made by team owner Jim Irsay. “Whatever happens,” Manning said. “I can’t give you a prediction because Jim (Irsay) and I will sit down at some point and he’ll get a feel for where I am and I’ll get a sense of what direction he wants to go. Right now, I have no idea.” Irsay has repeatedly said he that Manning’s health, not money, will dictate the Colts’ decision, and he didn’t appear to back away from that with his latest Twitter post. “Knowing medical situation last yr. n still paying $26,000,000.00 to #18, I’ve no regrets. It was right thing2do,” Irsay tweeted, explaining he was not upset about it. Manning said he has not met with Irsay to find out the Colts’ thoughts. “That’s going to happen at some point, but we haven’t had that conversation yet because we really don’t need to have that conversation yet,” Manning said.