Sports | Peyton Manning Peyton Manning: Ignore Rumors, My Recovery Is on Track Says he's confident he will be 'cleared and ready to go' By John Johnson Posted Jan 31, 2012 5:52 PM CST Copied In this Jan. 1, 2012, file photo, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning watches from the sideline during the first half of a game. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File) Stories keep circulating that Peyton Manning is done with football in the wake of his spinal surgery—Yahoo Sports had one today based on anonymous sources, and Rob Lowe of all people tweeted a while back that he had the inside scoop that the quarterback's career is over, notes the Washington Post. How about Manning himself? He addressed the issue for the first time in an ESPN interview and said all the right things about playing next year. "I really feel good. I continue to make progress every day," he said, adding that he just had a "great day" at rehab. Doctors are telling him "everything thing looks good, that I'll be cleared and ready to go." Of course, he'd be crazy to say otherwise before March 8, the day the Colts must decide whether to pay him a $28 million bonus or let him become a free agent. Read These Next New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. Iran's supreme leader makes first public comments since ceasefire. Man accused of killing his daughters might be dead. Her blood isn't compatible with anyone else's. Report an error