QB-PEYTON MANNING (on how he is feeling physically)
"I'm doing OK. I've had a tough month. It's really been a challenge for me, something totally different than I've ever had to experience, just the constant rehab, countless hours, multiple sessions with our physical therapist. Erin Barill is his name. this is the first time we've had a full-time physical therapist, and he's been with us, full-time, I want to say, for the past four years, and he's been great. He's the guy that's really responsible for getting (DE) Dwight Freeney back and (DB) Bob Sanders back. This is the first time I've really had to deal with him on this consistent basis. I've certainly had injuries before, but he and I have gotten pretty close. Certainly up in Terre Haute, he comes over to my house at night. I was here watching the Falcons game at 9 o'clock on Saturday night and we go at 6:30 in the morning. He's been fantastic and he's really pushed me. It's just a constant, everyday process. We have day-to-day goals, just trying to accomplish something different each day, and that's kind of where we are at this point."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if he will be ready to open the season)
"It has not been a pain-free process. I'd be lying if I said that. That is my goal, to be ready for that first game, but at this point, Erin and I are the ones really dealing with it every single day. The doctors come every four or five days and sort of look at it, but Erin and I are the ones doing it every single day, and he and I have goals each day as far as what we want to accomplish. Certainly, that is our goal and it's been my goal all along. Hopefully it continues to progress up to that point."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on if his rehab is mentally draining)
"Like I said, it's been a challenge, but I feel that so far Erin and I have faced up to it and realized that this is what we have to get done today. I've been able to combine my film study in. Terre Haute was great, being able to watch the film in my room. I was able to go to some meetings, but I did put the rehab ahead of everything. I feel mentally I've been able to stay into it, but the coaches' orders, they've allowed me to put my rehab first and foremost and trying to do whatever I can to get back healthy and get back out there."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on staying out of the public eye)
"I really haven't had a whole lot to say to tell you the truth. I'm talking to you all right now, and this is taking away from my rehab right now. This is just to kind of, maybe, stop some of the whining going on. Like I said, I just didn't want to get into these daily progress reports. I've done nothing but rehab. It looks like we are already in the rumor mill. (Vice President of Public Relations) Craig (Kelley) showed me some story that Channel 13 put out via a cell phone camera which is just not true. I don't wear a knee brace. I wore this (wrap) today for the first time. I really don't wear anything on my knee. I haven't worn a knee brace at all during the rehab process. Anybody that knows me, I wear tight jeans, there's no way a knee brace can fit under my blue jeans anyway. If we are to the point of the cell phone camera, putting that on the news, that's a little disappointing. I guess I'll squash that right now, it's just not true. I just don't wear a knee brace. Hopefully that will put an end to that."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on people wanting assurance that he will play vs. the Bears on Sept. 7)
"Like I said, this has been a totally new process for me and I have learned to put my full trust in Erin. He and I have had some pretty heated discussions. Certainly it has not been the most enjoyable process that I've been through, but he's been great because he's challenged me and he's really kept me on an even keel as far as trying to make constant process. Certainly all along that has been our goal, to try to get back on to the field in order to play in that first game. As to when I'm going to be back on the practice field, that has yet to be determined. It just depends on how everything goes from here on out. I need to have a good week this week. Obviously the sooner the better for me, but I'm still sticking to Erin's advice and going based on how and I feel and I feel that's the best plan for us at this point."
QB-PEYTON MANNING (on how long he needs to practice before playing in a game)
"It's hard for me to gauge and to get into that. I can throw. I have been able to keep my arm in shape. I can lift weights with my upper body and my lower body, so I feel I've been able to stay with my strength level. Like I said, as far as when and how much time I need, we will just have to wait and see for that."
