David J. Phillip
Peyton Manning at the Super Bowl Opening Night media event.
Peyton Manning (unintentionally) gave the world a big hint about his football future when, after the Broncos AFC Championship victory of the New England Patriots, microphones caught him telling Bill Belichick that Super Bowl 50 "might be his last rodeo."
In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, Manning may have just dropped another big hint about his future: reportedly telling his friends he expects to retire after Sunday's big game.
"The reality is he let the cat out of the bag a little bit," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on Monday. "I also know he has told close friends that he expects this to be his last game as well."
While all signs are pointing towards the Super Bowl being Manning's final game, even this report suggests that Manning still hasn't made a final decision, or at the very least, he is leaving opening a small possibility for a return next season.
Despite inside sources and errant microphones, to the public Manning has remained reticent about his future.
"Maybe I hit the fountain of youth in the next month and I play another 10 years," Manning said at Media Day on Monday night.
When Marshall Faulk asked him directly whether or not he was retiring, Manning responded, "I don't know the answer to that, Marshall."