Peyton Manning may have no choice but to ride off into the sunset.
During an appearance on the "Mike & Mike" show Tuesday morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the 39-year-old wants to continue playing, but it would be difficult for him to find the right situation that allows him to do so.
"Here's my understanding there: I think he'd like to keep playing. In a perfect world, he'd like to keep playing," Schefter said, according to Ian McCue of 247 Sports. "The question is, who's gonna give him an opportunity? And it's tough to identify that team right now that's willing to sign him to the deal that makes it worthwhile for him, that allows him to continue playing.
"Does he want to go move to another city? Because I think everybody at this point accepts and understands he's not gonna be back in Denver. So the question is where does he go and play? It's not gonna be the Houston Texans. It's probably not gonna be the Los Angeles Rams. So you go find a team that would be willing to sign him."
Manning is expected to meet with Denver Broncos general manager John Elway and head coach Gary Kubiak this week to discuss his future plans. The team would presumably like an answer by the time his $19-million salary becomes fully guaranteed on March 9.
Schefter pointed out that Manning will have plenty of other career opportunities should he retire, as several TV networks and NFL teams would undoubtedly love to bring him on board. He also didn't rule out the possibility of Manning returning to the Broncos, as unlikely as that scenario appears.
"Now, again, dominoes start falling. Moves start being made, one move begets another. All of a sudden we didn't see Denver losing Brock Osweiler. Well how'd they lose Brock Osweiler? And all of a sudden, 'Well maybe we should bring back Peyton Manning for one year,'" Schefter said. "So things happen that change the dynamics of the situation. But as we stand here today, on March 1, with the deadline franchise tag thing being at four o'clock today, it's tough to find a match as much as I think he would like to continue playing."
