There's much ado about Peyton Manning's agent saying that his client told him, "I really like to play."
That's all the more reason Manning won't return.
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Manning's agent, Tom Condon, said on Sirius XM Radio that he hasn't asked the quarterback whether he intends to return in 2016, via CBS Sports.
Condon, however, did say that Manning told him, "The closest he's got to disclosing any of his intentions was that he said he just wanted to take his time and make sure, and he said 'I really like to play.'"
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Of course he does. His teams are always in Super Bowl contention and he's making millions of dollars. And he is playing football. A lot of us "really like to play" football.
But the fact is that Manning really can't play anymore. And he knows it. At least not like he used to. That's why it's taking him time to make sure -- he's convincing his competitive self that it doesn't matter anymore whether he really likes to play.
This past season was his worst statistically. Even if the Broncos consider his return, which reports say they don't, odds are better than even that he gets replaced again by Brock Osweiler.
And next time, it probably won't have anything to do with a Manning injury.
Worse, Manning -- knowing the Broncos want to move on -- could sign a one-year deal with a quarterback-needy team. Let's say the Los Angeles Rams want to make a splash in their return to the West Coast.
Then you have the possibility that an ineffective Manning is benched in favor of Case Keenum. Is that how Manning wants his career to end? On the bench of a franchise with which he has no bond?
The Denver Post's revelation that Manning will retire wasn't all that much of a "revelation." He had already told Patriots coach Bill Belichick his famous "This might be my last rodeo" comment.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport already reported that Manning told an inner circle of friends his intent to retire. And now his squeakly clean image has been tested in the aftermath of the Super Bowl (see video below).
Manning may really like to play, but dealing with his diminishing skills, dealing with the possibility of losing his starting job and dealing with media questions about his off-the-field issues likely have already decided his fate.
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