Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning may not have won Super Bowl XLVIII in February, but he still got a primetime spot fitting of his status in the league with an appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Monday night.

And as Manning and Letterman, who both began their professional careers in Indianapolis, covered a variety of topics, Manning revealed the strength in his right arm is still not at presurgery level.

Manning missed the 2011 season after having spinal fusion surgery, his fourth procedure on his neck.

Peyton Manning appeared Monday on the "Late Show with David Letterman," discussing a wide variety of topics including his nerve condition and the Broncos' lopsided Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks. Patricia Schlein/Star Max/GC Images

He signed with the Broncos in March 2012, and has thrown 92 touchdown passes in the last two seasons combined as the Broncos have had back-to-back 13-3 regular-season finishes.

"I'm not at a 100 percent compared to what I was before my surgery,'' Manning said during his segment. "But I have made strides each season and this year felt a lot better than I did the year before. These nerves just go at their own pace.''

Manning also referred to his recovery, including the difficulty in dealing with the fact many who had similar surgeries said it would be difficult to predict how quickly or how much the nerve in his arm would regenerate, but that he could simply wake up one day feeling better than ever.

"You talk about waking up every day at 7 a.m. excited and then being pretty depressed by noon every day -- today's not the day,'' Manning said.

Manning also discussed how he tried to regain the feel in his throwing motion and the differences in the player he is now compared to the 13 seasons he spent with the Indianapolis Colts before his surgery.

"I used to sit in the mirror and just sort of go through my throwing motion trying to get the feel back the way I'd always thrown before,'' Manning said. " ... Maybe I can't throw the 100 mile-an-hour fastball any more, but I can still strike you out, picking my spots, working the plate. I don't make the same kind of throws I used to make, I try to use the cerebral part, use my experience.''

And as he said in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Manning said he has no intentions of retiring. He has participated in the Broncos' offseason program and is set to enter the third season of a five-year contract.

Manning was cleared to play by the team's medical staff as well as an outside doctor not associated with the team in exams on his surgically repaired neck in March.