DeMarcus Ware hints he intends to play next season

Denver Broncos linebacker DeMarcus Ware's future has come into question following a season in which he appeared in just 10 games because of a lingering back injury, and the fact that he'll turn 35 before the start of the 2017 season.

However, Ware hinted in a tweet Saturday that he isn't considering retirement.

"I'm not ready to rule the Kingdom yet; there's still fire in my heart to do work out here, Ware wrote. "And if you don't know the kind of work I'm referring to, you'll see this '17 season."

Ware is just one year removed from being a key part of a dominant Broncos pass-rush that propelled the team to a Super Bowl title.

If he's recovered from a back injury that's bothered him since last season, Ware should still be able to build on his 138.5 career sacks, the eighth most in NFL history.

However, he'll be a free agent this offseason, and Denver might be reluctant to hand him an extension, considering Von Miller's record contract and the presence of Shane Ray, who had seven sacks this campaign.