ESPN: Andrew Luck hopes to play right away

Quarterback Andrew Luck says he's ready to start in the NFL next season.

Luck was in Indianapolis on Thursday to work out at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. It won't be his last trip to Indy.

He'll return in three weeks for the NFL combine and perhaps for good after April's draft. Colts owner Jim Irsay has said he will use the No. 1 overall pick on a quarterback, especially with Peyton Manning's health still unresolved.

Manning's surgically repaired neck sidelined him for all of the 2011 season, but he says he's making progress and has been throwing passes recently. Also, Irsay must pay a $28 million roster bonus by March 8 or risk losing Manning to free agency.

Luck says he could co-exist with Manning, but he wants to play right away.

Colts owner Jim Irsay said Wednesday that he expects to meet with Manning next week, but that any decision on Manning's future will likely wait until early March.

The Colts face a March 8 deadline for a decision on Manning. They owe him a $28 million option bonus on that date. If they don't pay it, manning becomes an unrestricted free agent.

However, Irsay told reporters Wednesday that the two sides could strike a deal to delay the payment and the deadline.

"Look, anything is possible if the two parties choose to get together," Irsay said when asked about redoing Manning's $90 million contract.

Manning, in an interview with ESPN's Trey Wingo on Tuesday, said he plans to continue playing football and that his recovery from spinal fusion surgery in September -- his third surgery in 19 months -- is going well despite the fact he did not play last season.

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