INDIANAPOLIS — They filed in one by one through the front lobby, light luggage in hand.

The Broncos’ coaching staff arrived Tuesday for the start of the NFL scouting combine. Offensive assistant Brian Callahan checked in first. Then new head coach Gary Kubiak. No one is more important than the other with this new Broncos’ coaching staff.

New offensive line coach Clancy Barone, tight ends coach Brian Pariani and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison patiently waited their turn in the suddenly growing line leading to the front desk.

Peyton Manning wasn’t here, not that he would be. Manning was ever present, though, in the minds of the Broncos’ coaching staff.

“I’m expecting him to come back,” Kubiak said. “We want to play with him. This organization has won a lot of games with him and we want to get back and do it again. Expecting him to come back.”

This used to be Manning’s town. He is even given indirect credit for building Lucas Oil Stadium where the combine workouts for draft prospects will take place this week.

Broncos’ football operations boss John Elway said there was no Plan B when he introduced Manning as the team’s freshly signed quarterback in March 2012.

Three years later, Kubiak said there is still no Plan B, even though Manning has not officially announced his intentions of playing in 2015.

So what’s the hold up?

“I don’t think there’s any hold up at all,” Kubiak said. “He and John are working through the process. That’s been the plan all along, the way I understand it.”

Still, there has been anticipation of a definitive announcement since Manning said following his Bart Starr Award banquet in Phoenix that “I’m not interested in making this a lingering thing. I’d like to make a decision soon.”

Manning received that humanitarian award on Jan. 30. It’s nearly three weeks later. He met last week with Elway and team president Joe Ellis, who flew on owner Pat Bowlen’s private plane to pick up Manning in New Orleans.

By all accounts, the meetings at Dove Valley, and the flight from New Orleans to Centennial, went well. But Manning has not announced his decision. The final decision is lingering.

It’s possible the Broncos will look at restructuring Manning’s contract that calls for a $19 million salary in 2015 with a cap figure of $21.5 million. Then again, the Broncos went through the trouble of flying Manning in on Bowlen’s private plane, only to ask for a pay reduction? That wouldn’t be in the re-recruitment textbook.

Manning has to take a physical sometime between Monday and March 5. But Manning said three weeks ago the exam would be little more than a routine procedure.

What the Broncos don’t see as a problem is Manning meshing with Kubiak’s offensive system. Kubiak likes the stretch rushing system that features zone blocking and one-cut running. And he likes play-action passes off that running system.

Overlooked is Manning always has been a superb play-action ballhandler.

“As Mike (Shanahan) and I were putting systems together for the Broncos, one team we studied for a long period of time was the Colts when Manning was playing for them,” Kubiak said. “Our systems crossed big-time.”

And so with Manning as their quarterback — he is under contract, and that $19 million becomes guaranteed on March 9 — the Broncos arrived here to observe young talent. The Broncos will have the No. 28 pick in the draft. They are also expected to be awarded multiple mid- to-late round picks.

“The interviews are the biggest thing,” Kubiak said of the combine. Teams can meet for 15 minutes with up to 60 prospects.

“To get in the room and get to know the kids, I think that’s the most important thing. We got a head start last week as far as who we’re talking to, who we’re going to see. I think John and his staff did a tremendous job. Probably as prepared as I’ve seen a group coming here this early. I was very impressed.”

With that Kubiak moved to the bank of elevators where one would lift him to his floor and room. He’s used to temporary quarters. He has been living in a Denver-area hotel since he was hired Jan. 19 to replace John Fox as the Broncos’ coach. He and his wife Rhonda found a home to rent and they’ll move in a couple weeks.

“I’m in no hurry,” Kubiak said. “It’s all good.”

He was talking about his living accommodations. He could have also been referring to his quarterback.

Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikeklis