ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The benefits of having a veteran like quarterback Peyton Manning on the field are evident all over the field.
The offense is excited to work with the four-time NFL MVP. Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy said wide receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas are "like two little kids in a candy shop," with Thomas going so far as to say he's preparing for his "best year yet."
The game can get a little easier for the defense, having gone against one of the best quarterbacks in the league in practice.
He constantly helps younger players -- particular his fellow quarterbacks -- offering insight and encouragement from his 13 seasons in the league.
And as far as McCoy is concerned, it's even a gift for the coaches.
"This is what you want," he said. "As a coach, this is the type of player you want to coach. You're very fortunate -- these opportunities don't come around very often. So we're going to all take advantage of it."
It's the thoroughness with which Manning approaches each aspect of the game that stands out most to McCoy.
That factor has been a benefit especially as the team continues to develop and install its offensive scheme for the 2012 season.
"The first thing he said to us is, 'Hey, listen, you guys have a system in place. I want to learn your system but also have the flexibility to do some of the things that we've done for the last 14 years in Indy,'" McCoy recalled. "I'd be an idiot if I didn't listen to him. So there's a number of things that we've taken from what he's done in the past and there's a fair share of the things that we're going to carry over from the past here also."
As the offense progresses through OTAs, McCoy said the team -- specifically Head Athletic Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos -- is monitoring Manning's throwing as he continues his recovery from injury.
"We're going to monitor his reps on a daily basis and how many throws he has, but that's Greek's job," McCoy said. "Greek and him have sat down and determined how long he can go, how many throws he can make each week. But the mental challenge we're throwing at him, we're throwing everything at him like every other player. His reps will increase as we go."
However, that doesn't mean the team is limiting the distance and type of throws the quarterback makes.
"He's fine -- he can do everything," McCoy said. "We're installing our system and he's doing whatever he thinks is best."
"Peyton's been great," he continued. "He's been open from day one, trying a lot of new things we've done or that we've been doing for a number of years but that he has never done. He wants our opinion on those things. With some things that we've taken from his past, I'll be the first to ask questions to him. We're all in it together."
