INDIANAPOLIS — This one's for Peyton?
John Elway knows a little something about deciding to retire from the NFL at age 38. The Broncos' Hall of Fame quarterback turned executive vice president doesn't see that happening with Peyton Manning.
"We're hopeful Peyton comes back," Elway said of his current Hall of Fame QB at the NFL Combine Thursday. "We want him back. He hasn't given me a definitive decision. I believe he will be back. ... He's the best player for us (at that position)."
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The Broncos felt the same way about Manning when his and their season ended with a thud in the home divisional playoff loss to the Colts more than a month ago. That stance hasn't changed.
What has changed is that six weeks later, Manning "feels much better" physically. The Broncos also have hired a new head coach in that time, Gary Kubiak.
Elway dispelled the notion that Manning can't fit "easily" in Kubiak's offense, because it actually would take pressure off an older Manning from throwing too often, and leaning more on an effective zone-blocking running game the Broncos once used to have to help an older Elway.
"It's more dependent on balance," Elway said of Kubiak's offense. "Peyton's not going to have to throw it 50 or 55 times."
At this point, the Broncos and Elway would be ecstatic if Manning throws it for them any number of times in 2015.
