Manning goes to work with his new team

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Peyton Manning is back in his element, barking out calls, throwing passes and working out with his new teammates. It sure beats watching, wondering and worrying.

He's still finding his comfort zone in Denver after spending 14 seasons in Indianapolis, but Manning is back serving as both quarterback and coach on the football field instead of pacing the sideline and wondering when his neck is going to allow him to return to the huddle.

Manning and his new teammates reported to the Broncos' headquarters Monday morning for the start of the team's offseason conditioning program. After some work in the classroom and weight room, Manning threw passes to his new receivers during some on-field work without the coaches, who aren't allowed to join them outdoors until OTAs start up in May.

"Everybody's been looking forward to this day for some time now," Manning said. "I thought it was a productive first day, but we've got a lot of work to do."

He didn't want to make any rash judgments about his receiving corps and although he said he was pleased with his first official workout since signing a five-year, $96 million deal with Denver on March 20, Manning declined to talk about his health or the progress he's made as he regains his arm strength following a series of neck operations that sidelined him for all of last season and led to his departure from Indy.

"I'm not going to get into these weekly reports. I've kind of been there and done that all fall of last year," said Manning, who is rehabbing under the direction of head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos and new strength and conditioning coach Luke Richesson.

"I'm enjoying being under one roof, being supervised by those two guys," Manning said.