Peyton Manning has at least one game left this NFL postseason, but his future in the league could be coming to a close sooner rather than later.
The quarterback’s offseason will be a big tell in how — and when — he finishes his career. Manning’s future in the NFL will reportedly be decided based on the results of an offseason exam on his surgically repaired neck, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
If the exam shows that his neck is stable enough, Manning will return to the Broncos for the 2014 season regardless of how the team finishes this postseason. If the the results show an increased risk for injury, Manning will be forced to decide whether to hang his cleats up and retire, Mortensen said.
The 37-year-old certainly raised some eyebrows about his future earlier in the week when he said, “The light is at the end of the tunnel for me, no question.” Manning is in his 16th NFL season after the Colts drafted him first overall in 1998. He had four neck surgeries before arriving in Denver prior to the 2012 season.
The Denver Post ran an ominous front page photo on Sunday before the Broncos took on the Chargers in the divisional playoffs. The photo featured a pensive-looking Manning standing underneath a dark cloud with the headline “A legacy under a cloud.”
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Manning has had a stellar regular-season career, but his legacy remains blemished by his playoff statistics. With a 9-11 playoff record, Manning-led teams have lost the first game of the playoffs eight times in 12 years of postseason appearances.
