The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Manning did not provide any transparent insight Wednesday during a speaking engagement that was organized long before his Super Bowl win and the looming questions about his NFL future. Aside from a crowd-pleasing joke with a Papa John's punchline to open his speech, he didn't talk about his immediate future at all. Yet 24 days removed from his Super Bowl victory and seven days from the moment when the Broncos must decide whether to guarantee his salary for 2016 or cut him, Manning absolutely did not sound like a man ready to hang it up.

Diehards Line:This according to NFL Network's Jeff Darlington, who added that instead, Manning spoke like a player with an ever-growing fire for the game; a player who even viewed the issues of 2015 as a result of short-term hardships (a temporary injury and a new system) rather than standard age-related deterioration. While also pointing toward the physical limitations that resulted from the foot injury, and conceding that he understands he can't make the 55-yard throws with ease, Manning still came back to the idea of playing in a new system. "I cannot overemphasize the importance of a system on a football player," Manning said. "When you're in a system for a long time, you master that system. In the past, I could throw certain passes with my eyes closed because I knew exactly who was going to be open and where they were going to be." Darlington went on to suggest that begs the question: If Manning's future with the Broncos is over, where could Manning play that would allow him to bring his old system? Cleveland and Los Angeles seem to be the only logical options. Whatever the case, Darlington believes Manning has a plan. That plan, though, remains to be seen. ... Stay tuned.