Peyton Manning practices Friday; Denver Post says he should sit vs. Bengals

The Denver Broncos were relieved to have Peyton Manning back on the field Friday, and it looks like there's no doubt now that he's playing vs. the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.

However, The Denver Post's Mark Kiszla thinks Denver should sit Manning, who is dealing with an illness in addition to a thigh injury that occurred as a result of it. Manning hasn't looked like the All-Pro quarterback we're used to over the past month, but to sit him seems a bit preposterous.

Here's Kiszla's case for sitting Manning:

Bench Peyton Manning.

You want the Broncos to have their best shot at winning the Super Bowl?

Then don't let Manning play a single snap against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.

Oh, I can hear the screams of protest.

No Manning in the Denver huddle? The ESPN marketing machine that promotes "Monday Night Football" might not be thrilled. And fantasy league owners setting their lineups will be incensed if the Broncos take away Manning's helmet and instruct him to rest his aching 38-year-old body for the playoffs.

Manning has admitted it's a challenge dealing with the physical and mental issues he's had, but doesn't think it will be enough to cause him to miss Monday's game:

"At this time of year everybody, not just me, is dealing with different things physically," Manning said Thursday, after he departed practice to receive treatment on a nagging thigh injury. Asked if he expects to be ready for the Bengals, Manning replied: "I certainly hope so."