Peyton Manning’s decision on 2016 season could be delayed another week

Peyton Manning plans to meet with Denver Broncos vice president and general manager John Elway and head coach Gary Kubiak this week, but there are no plans for the 39-year-old quarterback to announce his intentions for next season.

NFL Network refuted a report from Woody Paige of the Denver Post last week that implied Manning would announce his plans for 2016 this week.

Elway said in Indianapolis during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine that there is no pressure for Manning to make a decision immediately.

The longer his decision lingers, the closer backup quarterback Brock Osweiler inches toward free agency. The Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams could be interested if one or both quarterbacks break free of the Broncos.

Manning is owed $19 million as part of a contract he signed after 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. But he reduced his base salary to around $15 million last season, only to recoup the $4 million with postseason wins.

Elway said Manning has earned the right to delay his decision and enjoy the Super Bowl 50 victory because of his 18 years in the NFL. Kubiak said he had no feeling which way Manning could lean and said he wanted to be sensitive to both parties during the decision-making window, which began after the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 and ends next week.

That’s because Osweiler, who started seven games in 2015 while Manning recovered from a foot injury, can begin discussing a contract with other teams on March 7. Elway said he was unable to tell Osweiler what Manning would do — clearly a factor in Osweiler’s decision whether to toe the water or dive headlong into free agency — because he did not yet know.

James Palmer of NFL Network said Manning doesn’t plan to share anything this week.

Manning’s longtime agent, Tom Condon, told USA Today this week “He hasn’t told me,” whether he’ll play or retire.

Manning’s parents said in Santa Clara, Calif., that they felt like he was done in Denver and would likely retire.