In an appearance on NFL Network's "Super Bowl Live," Peyton Manning's agent said Friday the quarterback has made "a substantial amount of progress" and that he expects him to play in 2012.

Manning, of course, has been the hot topic of conversation in Indianapolis this week, even dwarfing the Super Bowl coverage itself at times in Indianapolis.

Tom Condon, who represents Manning, said, "Peyton certainly expects to return to play and he wants to play; he's enthusiastic about it. I think that the rehabilitation is going very well and I think he believes that also. He's made a substantial amount of progress and so we anticipate him playing football next year."

Manning, according to reports Thursday, has medical clearance that he is safe to return to playing, although Colts owner Jim Irsay refuted that in a tweet. The big sticking point and posturing in all this is whether the Colts are going to pay Manning's $28 million roster bonus in March or set him free as a unrestricted free agent.

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Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com