Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning passed his postseason neck examination on Monday, which medically clears him to play in 2014.
It also guarantees him his $20 million 2014 salary, USA Today Sports reports.
Manning missed the 2011 season to undergo four neck surgeries and was released from the Indianapolis Colts in March of 2012. The five-time league MVP then signed a five-year, $96 million contract with the Broncos, which required yearly check-ins on his neck.
The soon-to-be 38-year-old passed his neck exam last year but was rumored to have considered retirement in 2014 if his neck proved unstable. But with Manning’s NFL-record 55 passing touchdowns in 2013, the Broncos did not expect any problems with this year’s exam and viewed it more as a final formality.
