Peyton Manning is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The Denver Broncos quarterback has been in the league since 1998 and understands that his playing days might not happening much longer. Currently in the midst of another playoff run with a Super Bowl in mind, Manning is trying to enjoy the moment, aware he might not get too many more of them.
Manning is remaining coy on his future and how many more years he sees himself playing in the league. The Broncos are preparing to face the San Diego Chargers on Sunday in the AFC Divisional Playoff round, an atmosphere that is sure to excite the players. Manning says he is just fortunate to get the opportunity to play in a game like that.
"It'll be a great atmosphere Sunday playing a good football team, and there's nothing else I'd rather be doing than to be in that opportunity," Manning said, via the Denver Post. "It's certainly my goal to enjoy the preparation - not just the game, to actually enjoy the preparation part of it, enjoy being around the guys. Because certainly the light is at end of tunnel for me, no question, so you enjoy these things maybe even more than maybe you have in the past."
Manning certainly has the statistical resume to impress. This season he set records in touchdown passes (55) and passing yards (5,477). Manning's postseason has been slightly more inconsistent. The quarterback is 9-11 in 14 seasons with one Super Bowl to his name. Eight of those losses have come in the first round, something he hopes to avoid this time around.
"I know it's easy to summarize - to take a whole bunch of football seasons and lump them together. I don't personally believe in that theory," Manning said. "I think each season takes on its own identity and different things occurred along the way at different points in my career. In anybody's career. This is the 2013 season, and it's its own chapter. We're looking forward to writing it for a number of more weeks."
Last season with the Broncos, Manning lost in double overtime to the Baltimore Ravens. He admits the disappointing finish to last season is being used as motivation this time around as players are eager to make a serious run at the Super Bowl.
If the Broncos get their wish and win the Super Bowl in February, could it be Manning's swan song? The quarterback of course would like one more championship before he calls it a career. After admitting his time could be coming to an end, will it happen sooner rather than later?