Peyton Manning Addresses Questions About Health During ESPN Interview

The world waited with bated breath as Peyton Manning finally sat down to answer questions that would no doubt center on his health. The result was a few minutes of anticipation that melted away into frustration. 

ESPN's Trey Wingo was tasked with stroking the Manning ego while trying to find out whether the Colts' legendary quarterback would be back next year, retire or play elsewhere. Oh, and there was that little thing to do with his neck that we were dying to find out about. 

All you need to know, at least about how interesting this interview was, is the fact that the weather was actually brought up and discussed. 

Aside from that, Manning dealt with the sit-down better than any politician could ever hope. In fact, if he truly is done with playing football, we may be looking at a senator judging by the way he shaped questions and continued to smile. 

If you are out of the loop with all things Peyton Manning, he had spinal fusion surgery last September and failed to play in any games last season because of it. 

With the No. 1 pick in the draft, the stable of immensely talented quarterbacks grows by the sum of one Andrew Luck, and that is one thing we were hoping would be discussed. 

Instead, the conversation was far more fluff than substance. 

Despite rumors and rumblings to the counter, Manning stated that he felt just fine and is hopeful looking into next season. 

"

I really feel good. I continue to make progress every day. Everything that the doctors have told me has been on point, which is encouraging to me. I just had a great day today with rehab, just got back from the facility, and that's what we continue to do. Just keep trying to get better. So far I have. That's the plan from here on out.

"

Well, if we weren't going to get a steamy answer on the state of his neck injury or whether he would play for another team, or just retire, perhaps the mention of Jim Irsay would get things rolling. 

"

I think it's well documented how I feel about this city, the fans, the Colts, Jim Irsay. It's well documented. Tough decisions have to be made. They'll be made at the appropriate time. This is just not the week to do it. It's not the week. I know people can talk about it, that's fair, that's part of the game. It doesn't mean that I have to add to that conversation, and I just don't plan to.

"

The man was playing dodgeball with some fairly soft questions, and he was killing it. The two-part interview could have amounted to just five seconds. 

Manning could have come out, sat down and stated, "I'm good, weather is great and Jim Irsay is one hell of a guy."

Instead, we had to sit through and actual portion of the video where Gatorade was discussed. Yes, Manning rambled on about Gatorade and his need to tell us some of his favorite places to eat. 

It seems that when the party we all want to hear things from is not interested in talking, tiddlywinks and fluff get placed on live TV as if they were of some import. 

After a two-part interview on ESPN, we have learned nothing that we didn't already assume. Manning still wants to play football, there is no substantial update on his health and the weather in Indianapolis is nice. 

Only the weather is the most shocking of news.

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