Just hours after being released by the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning returned to his home in South Florida.
"For 14 wonderful years, the only professional football I've known has been Colts football," Manning said in a news conference Wednesday morning. "It truly has been an honor to play in Indianapolis. I do love it here. I love the fans, and I will always enjoy having played for such a great team."
The future Hall of Famer landed at Opa-Locka Executive Airport just after 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, fueling speculation that he may be headed to the Miami Dolphins.
Local 10 caught up with Manning in Miami Beach on Wednesday evening.
"It's been an emotional day for me, just a unique day for me, spending time with my Colts organization, had a great visit with a lot of our staff members after that," Manning said. "I've been down here in Miami, training. That's where I've been working out. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne lives down here, so I've been down here working out with him, so that's really what I kind of needed to get back to doing."
Manning, 35, is now a free agent and is expected to be heavily pursued by the Miami Dolphins; a team in desperate need of a franchise quarterback.
Manning, who owns a home on Miami Beach, missed all of the 2011 NFL season due to a neck injury.
Several online betting sites have Miami listed as the favorite team to land Manning. Team owner Stephen Ross has said he would actively pursue Manning if he were available.
The Dolphins would not confirm they were among the teams pursuing Manning, saying, "We're not going to comment on any potential interest we may or may not have in any free agent."
"I haven't thought yet about where I'll play, but I have thought a lot about where I've been," Manning said.
Free agents can't officially sign with teams until March 13, so Dol-fans will just have to wait and see if he brings his talent to South Florida.
One famous South Florida sports figure isn't holding back his opinion on Manning potentially playing for Miami. Heat star Dwyane Wade tweeted Wednesday, "peyton that number 18 wld look gr8 in a dolphins uniform."