Peyton Manning Expects to Play for Denver Broncos Next Season

Peyton Manning isn't going anywhere anytime soon. The Denver Broncos quarterback said Wednesday that he doesn't envision retiring before his current contract runs out.

Via Mike Klis of The Denver Post, Manning told reporters he expects to be back with the Broncos in 2015:

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I certainly plan on being back if the Broncos will have me. At this point I'm thinking about Oakland [Sunday's opponent]. I know this is the time when there are conversations about what coaches are going to return. For some reason I guess I get to fall into that category because maybe I'm closer to the same age as some of the coaches. But I have no plans along those lines. I'm enjoying playing and looking forward to Sunday's game and the game to follow that.

"

When Manning restructured his contract with Denver in 2013, the terms of the deal stipulated that the Broncos could void his $19 million salary in 2015 and 2016 if they cut him before the season begins.

It would seem an obvious choice for Denver to bring Manning back. He's thrown for 4,454 yards and 39 touchdowns this year while completing 66.8 percent of his passes.

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

There are, however, some questions about whether the 38-year-old's skills are beginning to diminish to a noticeable extent. Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar commented after Denver's Monday night loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that the end could be near:

ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold wrote that general manager John Elway has given no indication the team would consider letting Manning go.

Between that and Manning's declaration, it seems No. 18 will remain exactly where he is when next year rolls around.