Peyton Manning Says He Wants To Play Again In 2011

Read More: Peyton Manning (QB - DEN), Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning spoke to the Indianapolis media for the first in a month on Thursday and confirmed what Colts exec Bill Polian has said: he wants to try to return this year. Manning obviously doesn't know for sure whether that will happen because it's dependent on his recovery process goes from a third neck surgery on Sept. 8.

Manning also briefly touched on the contract extension he signed prior to the season. It was a reported five-year extension worth $90 million and he said Thursday that there's an out for the Colts after this year because he didn't know if he would be healthy.

"Those are all fair questions, but that's not what I'm going to talk about right now," Manning said. "I'm thinking about how can I get a little better? (The contract) is really a one-year deal with a four-year extension and that was my recommendation because I wasn't healthy when I signed the contract."

It makes you wonder about his physical prior to signing the contract. Some reports stated that Manning didn't take a physical -- his words above would indicate he would've failed the physical if he had taken one -- but Polian and Co. have said that Manning did take a physical.

Manning said he's rehabbing and waiting for the "regeneration of the nerve" in his neck. He still has "some restrictions" moving around.

The original diagnosis had him possibly returning in 3-4 months which would mean sometime around December, if he is indeed able to return this year. The Colts have not placed him on IR, hoping he's able to return and at least practice at some point this season.