Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has been busy this off-season. In addition to paying respects to retiring stars like David Letterman and Derek Jeter, Manning has been touring college campuses in the South, specifically the University of Alabama and Oklahoma State, where he received a hefty pay-day to speak for giving an hour’s talk according to The Associated Press.

Now, he’s signed an endorsement deal with Nationwide Insurance to be featured in a national advertising campaign next NFL season.

“Staying active, I think that’s what I try to do,” Manning said Wednesday. “I don’t really enjoy just sitting around doing nothing. Obviously, I rarely get a chance to do that. Anytime I’m home, I’m playing, playing a lot of T-ball right now with the kids and playing, staying pretty busy there.

“I think I certainly feel more comfortable in my surroundings here in Denver and have more of an understanding of what the routine is, of what the culture here is as far as football is concerned. So when you do have some free time, it does allow you to do more in the community. I didn’t do as much my first year, especially as you’re kind of getting comfortable, and certainly had a ton of uncertainty with my injury and rehab.”

In the Broncos OTA practice Wednesday, Manning was spotted carrying a bright green football from the weight room to his weekly press conference, according to STACK.com. Manning wouldn’t say what the ball was for, only that it was “official Denver Broncos offensive business.” Writers speculate that it was to represent better ball security, as Manning had lost six fumbles during the regular season.

“So it’s nice to get back into more of a normal routine of the way that I’ve played quarterback and done things in the offseason as I used to do in years past when I was healthy under normal circumstances,” Manning said.

At the press conference announcing his endorsement deal with Nationwide Insurance, the quarterback handed a company executive a No. 18 Broncos jersey with the word “Nationwide” etched on the back.

“Don’t put it on eBay,” Manning said.

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