ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Manning flew to New York this spring to pay his respects to Derek Jeter and David Letterman, two much-admired superstars in the middle of their long goodbyes. "Im sad to see some of these guys retiring," the Broncos quarterback said at the time. "Im not far behind." Yet retirement really isnt on Mannings radar as he prepares for his 17th NFL season, his third in Denver. Coming off the best two-year stretch of his career, Manning is keeping tacklers, tedium and time itself at bay. At 38, Manning said hell keep playing as long as hes still productive and loves the game. That passion and productivity were on full display last season when he won his fifth MVP award and set single-season records by passing for 55 touchdowns and more than 5,500 yards. There are no signs of his affection or efficiency ebbing anytime soon, either. "You see it in how he prepares every day," centre Manny Ramirez said. "Were here in the off-season and hes still putting the same amount of focus as he does in-season, preparing, trying to get better every day, trying to pick apart the defences." "I still enjoy the work and preparation," said Manning, who lost wide receiver Eric Decker to the Jets but gained coveted free agent Emmanuel Sanders and prized rookie Cody Latimer. That turnover actually helps keep Manning young at heart, coach John Fox suggested. "Theres so much change in the NFL nowadays that I think that keeps the juices flowing, whether thats getting Emmanuel Sanders up to speed or last year, Wes Welker. Anytime you put a new cog in there, thats an adjustment," Fox said. "I think he takes pride in that and he attacks that. He seems to me to be having a great time." Manning would like to play out his contract, which runs through 2016. Yet, while hes not pondering retirement, he said in an interview with The Associated Press that he has certainly contemplated what it will be like. "Sometimes I sort of kick back and I pause and I think what sorts of things would I miss the most if I wasnt playing," Manning said. The answer hits him like one of those teeth-rattling sacks by Robert Mathis. "Being in the huddle," Manning said. "Thats what I missed most when I was injured, Ill say that. I mean, theres no other type of unity or bond that I think any other job can provide. I know there are meetings, there are video conferences. But that huddle, because of where it takes place: its often on the road, in the middle of the field, in front of 80,000 people, its unique." Its what excites him even at an age when many quarterbacks have retired to the broadcast booth or are hitting the links instead of the weights. "When you dont play football anymore, you can broadcast, you can coach, you can be in management, whatever, but you are not allowed to go into the huddle anymore," Manning said. "That huddle is just for players. You can go into the locker room after the game and you can speak to the team, but I think any retired player would probably tell you they miss the huddle." The way Manning has guided the Broncos to a 28-8 record over the last two years belies how far he had fallen when he was forced to sit out the 2011 season in Indianapolis and even had to look in a mirror to relearn his release point after a series of neck surgeries weakened his throwing arm to the point he could hardly grip, much less throw, a football. Mannings reboot has turned into a blessing. "Yeah, although I have to say, some guys might need a year off to whatever, relight to fire, whatever it may be. I didnt need a year off to remind me of how much I love football," Manning said. "But when you have it, it sure does reinforce what you kind of always thought, that I do love it." Working with play-caller Adam Gase and new teammates has revitalized Manning. "Sometimes it, the monotonous routine, the boredom, that pushes guys out, not the physical part of it," Manning said. "And I have been stimulated the past two years working with Adam and working with different teammates, so it does sort of keep the bounce in you, I think." Manning doesnt view himself so much as a 17-year NFL veteran but as Denvers third-year quarterback. "I really feel because its a new team, post-injury, its kind of a new me. Thats how I have to look at it," Manning said. "Im a different player from before I was injured. Im not saying better, worse, whatever, just a different player. And so what I can compare myself most accurately to is my first season here in Denver and kind of how I am physically and how I am with my teammates and with Adam and so its helped to have now two years to build off that baseline." He no longer feels like a visitor in his own locker room. "And I like going into that huddle," Manning said. "I like the guys that I get to work with. I like lifting weights, working with Wes Welker, doing a set of bench press with Jacob Tamme, I like working with the guys that I play with and I still like learning. I like being challenged by Adam every day to be a better football player. There are a lot of things that I still enjoy about it. "And I look forward to driving over here every day. I think as soon as you go, Golly, I do not want to go over there today, thats when youve got to get out." Trendy Wholesale Shoes . The Raptors general manager has his list of possible draft selections whittled down to a handful ahead of Thursday nights NBA draft in Brooklyn, New York. The Raptors, who have auditioned dozens of players over the past couple of weeks, have the 20th overall pick in the first round, as well as the 37th and 58th picks in the second. Cheap Shoes Outlet Stores . 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Authentic Shoes For Cheap .The other side of the Bruins special teams unit delivered in the end.Gregory Campbell netted the game-winner with less than 10 minutes remaining and the Bruins fended off a late four-minute San Jose power play to earn a wild 5-3 win over the Sharks.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Ottawa Senators will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they face the Chicago Blackhawks who are trying to secure their place in the post-season. You can listen to the game live on TSN 1200 in Ottawa at 7:30pm et. The Senators have lost four of their last six at home versus the Blackhawks and a late-season fade has just about knocked them out of the playoff race. They snapped a six-game slide with Mondays shootout win over Tampa Bay, but lost a 3-2 shootout to the Florida Panthers the following night. Ottawa has gone 2-6-3 in its last 11 and sits eight points back of four teams tied for the two wild card berths in the Eastern Conference. On Tuesday, Vincent Trocheck and Brandon Pirri beat Ottawas Robin Lehner in the shootout. After Turris rattled a goal off the post and in, Jason Spezza fired wide on Ottawas second chance and Floridas Roberto Luongo ended the game with a glove save on Michaleks backhand as he did a split in the crease. Lehner had 39 saves for the Senators, who begin a five-game homestand tonight. "It is what it is," Lehner said of the loss. "We lost that one but I thought it was a good effort." Anderson may get the start tonight and it would be his first since March 10, when he suffered an upper-body injury. He is 4-1-2 with a 3.43 GAA lifetime versus the Blackhawks. Bobby Ryan, who leads Ottawa with 23 goals, missed his second game with a lower-body injury and will miss the rest of the regular season due to surgery to correct a sports hernia. Ryan was acquired in a trade with Anaheim on the same day long-time Sens skater Daniel Alfredsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings. He finished his first season in Ottawa with 48 points in 70 games.dddddddddddd The Blackhawks went into Thursday nights game versus the hosting Boston Bruins needing just one point to clinch a playoff spot, but were blanked 3-0 in their first trip to TD Garden since winning the Cup last June. Corey Crawford stopped 20 shots for the Blackhawks, who had won three of their previous four but were shut out for the second time in three games. A struggling power play didnt help. Chicago went 0-for-2 on the man advantage and has gone 0-for-20 in its last seven on the road. "Were looking to get one more win," Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said. Chicago played a fourth straight game without winger Patrick Kane due to a lower-body injury and fellow forward Bryan Bickell also sat out his fourth in a row because of an upper-body issue. Still, the Blackhawks sit second in the Central Division, one point ahead of the Colorado Avalanche but 14 up on the fourth-place Minnesota Wild. It is unknown if Crawford will start on back-to-back nights or if rookie backup Antti Raanta will face the Senators for the first time. Crawford is 2-0-0 with a 1.92 goals against average in his career against Ottawa, picking up a victory in relief on Oct. 29. He yielded one goal on 15 shots in spelling Nikolai Khabibulin as the Blackhawks rallied for a 6-5 win. Jonathan Toews scored twice in the third period to notch a hat trick as the Blackhawks beat the Senators for a third straight meeting and for the sixth time in the last seven encounters. Ottawa saw Craig Anderson allow six goals on 40 shots, while Kyle Turris and Milan Michalek both had a goal and an assist. ' ' '