It turns out the sheriff will indeed ride off into the sunset. After a week in which Peyton Manning very much sounded like a man who wanted to continue his NFL career, the Denver Broncos, the league and fantasy football owners all got a dose of clarity heading into the start of free agency this week.

The five-time NFL MVP will announce his retirement during a news conference Monday at the Broncos' headquarters. The news was first reported ESPN's Chris Mortensen and subsequently confirmed by the Broncos. Monday's press conference in Denver will include a ceremony honoring Manning.

“When you look at everything Peyton has accomplished as a player and person, it’s easy to see how fortunate we’ve been to have him on our team,” Broncos general manager John Elway said. ”Peyton won a lot of awards and set a lot of records, but to me, what he helped our team accomplish during the last four years is what stands out the most. I’m very thankful Peyton chose to play for the Denver Broncos, and I congratulate him on his Hall of Fame career.”

Broncos coach Gary Kubiak thanked Manning for the one year they spent together, a year that ended with the Broncos winning Super Bowl 50.

“Nobody worked harder at the game and nobody prepared harder than Peyton,” Kubiak said. "His preparation was the best I’ve ever seen with how he went about his business. There was nothing like his work habits. Each and every week, he did everything he could to get ready to play not only against the defense but even against the coordinator. After competing against Peyton many, many times, I already had great respect for him. But being with him this season, going through what we went through and accomplishing what we accomplished—that was special.”

Indeed, Manning leaves Denver with his second Super Bowl win which, as Profootballtalk.com recently suggested, capped arguably the most bizarre season of his career.

Banged up and misplaced in Kubiak’s offense, Manning limped off the field with a torn plantar fascia after a November 15 home loss to the Chiefs amid what PFT's Michael David Smith characterized as "not-so-quiet whispers" that he’d overstayed his NFL welcome. Then, relegated to backup status for the first time in his NFL career, Manning came off the bench to help secure a Week 17 win over the Chargers, helping the Broncos secure the No. 1 seed (a loss would have put them at No. 5) and setting the stage for close postseason wins at home over the Steelers and Patriots followed by a convincing victory over the Panthers in a game the Denver defense dominated.

Of course, Manning wasn’t going to be playing for the Broncos in 2016. The only question was whether he’d leave on his own accord or be cut on Tuesday before the Broncos were on the hook for his $19 million in salary this year. Choosing retirement couldn't have been easy given the way the season went -- although the finish couldn't have been better.

Manning leaves the game having played 18 seasons. He made four Super Bowl trips with two titles, set copious of records and earned a place among the all-time greats. He will retire as the NFL's all-time leader in passing touchdowns (539), passing yards (71,940) and quarterback wins (186, tied with Brett Favre).

As ESPN.com suggests, Manning, who played 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, was a first-ballot Hall­ of­ Famer­-in­-waiting before spinal fusion surgery caused him to miss the 2011 season. He went to the Broncos as a free agent in 2012 and authored the most prolific season of any quarterback in history in 2013.

The Broncos made two Super Bowl trips in Manning's final three seasons.

In addition to being a five-time NFL MVP, Manning was a Super Bowl MVP, a 14-time Pro Bowl selection and a seven-time first-team All-Pro. His team made the playoffs in 15 of his 18 seasons. He had 14 4,000-yard passing seasons, and of the three seasons in league history in which a quarterback threw at least 49 touchdown passes, Manning has two of them.

Now the Broncos have to secure their QB position going forward.

According to 9News.com's Mike Klis, the Broncos have offered Brock Osweiler a three-year contract proposal that is worth more than $45 million. The package includes incentives.

Klis added: "The team's priority is unmistakable. They want to make Osweiler their starting quarterback in 2016 and beyond."

But as ESPN's Adam Schefter advised his Twitter followers this morning, while Osweiler may end up resigning with Denver that, at this time, is far from a certainty. Other QB-needy teams will make it tough.

Osweiler can become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday afternoon. The market begins with a “soft” opening Monday where free agents can talk to other teams to gage interest and their value.

The Texans, Browns and possibly the Jets are among the few teams that need a quarterback and could be interested in talking to Osweiler’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, on Monday, when the free-agent “tampering window” opens. It's obviously a situation we'll be watching closely in coming days.