It's never easy enough for a great quarterback to just retire and walk away from the game, no questions asked. With a lack of quality quarterbacks and rumors about interest from various teams, people are going to wonder about Peyton Manning still playing football in 2016.

Those questions are directed to Peyton and his father, Archie Manning, says he gets them as well.

"But yeah, I do get asked if he will come back. But he won't. He won't. He's done," the elder Manning told Jenny Vrentas of TheMMQB.com. "He's 40 years old, and I think he kind of knows the NFL is probably not the place for 40 year olds."

Here's the thing though: Manning can have two retirement press conferences (check), file retirement papers (check) and start doing all the things retired football players do (check).

But people are still going to wonder about whether he might come back as long as football hasn't started. It's just the nature of the business -- Brett Favre was the subject of a million comeback rumors even after he left the game for multiple years.

(Favre is different from Manning because he actually did waffle all over the place when it came to leaving the game -- people legitimately thought he might try and take the football at halftime last year when he had his number retired at Lambeau Field.)

Manning's also getting heat because he hasn't immediately leaped into another vocation. He's enjoying his time off and doesn't plan on immediately becoming a broadcaster/coach/executive.

He's staying busy per Archie, though, which helps ease the sting of not being involved in football. Until the NFL offseason really ramps up anyway.

Peyton Manning and his father, Archie Manning, after beating the Patriots in the AFC title game. USATSI

"He's busy now. Come August, I'm sure he will be doing things, but he won't be in camp," Archie said. "He did it for a long time, but I think Peyton will be fine. He said he would miss it for sure, but I think the one thing about Peyton, he will be busy, and that's the good thing. I think if you just sit around doing nothing, that's when you really miss it."

Here's the reality: Peyton got to walk away with his final moment being a Super Bowl victory. Virtually no one gets that opportunity -- he and John Elway are the only two Hall of Fame quarterbacks (Manning's not in yet, but it's a formality) to win a Super Bowl in their final game playing in the NFL.

This league chews up and spits out lots of talented players in their prime. It treats older players in a really rough fashion. Watching Manning at times during his final season -- including Super Bowl 50 -- was brutal.

He got out while the getting was good and he'll be glad he did for a long time, even if it stings a little bit once training camp rolls around.