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In
this Jan. 1, 2012, file photo, Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Peyton Manning watches from the sideline during the first half
of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in
Jacksonville
,
Fla.
Shortly after introducing Chuck Pagano as
Indianapolis
' new coach, team owner Jim Irsay responded to the comments
Manning made earlier this week about the Colts by referring to
the only four-time league MVP as a "politician."
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INDIANAPOLIS - Peyton Manning
is cleared to play football. Still not so clear is whether it
will be with the Indianapolis Colts.
He got the good news Thursday
while little brother Eli was making final preparations to lead
the New York Giants against the New England Patriots in
Sunday's Super Bowl — something big brother always aims for.
Maybe there's even a Manning
vs. Manning Super Bowl in the offing.
What remains unsettled, though,
is Peyton's status with the Colts and whether he and team
owner Jim Irsay can patch up their very public spat.
At least it's a possibility now
that Manning's surgeon has given the star quarterback
clearance to start taking hits again.
"Peyton Manning underwent
a thorough medical re-evaluation as part of a postoperative
visit with his surgeon," Dr. Robert Watkins said in a
statement. "As a result of this examination, Manning is
medically cleared to play professional football."
Colts owner Jim Irsay responded
to Watkins' statement by writing on Twitter that Manning has
not been cleared to play by the team because he has not passed
its physical. He said the club would issue a statement later
Friday.
That's just another piece of
this muddled mess.
The Colts owe Manning a $28
million roster bonus by March 8, they want to use the No. 1
pick in this year's draft on Manning's successor and they must
make key decisions over the next five weeks without knowing
yet how much room they'll have under the salary cap.
Manning, who turns 36 in March,
had neck surgery in September — his third in 19 months.
"We're in a holding
pattern in that respect," new general manager Ryan
Grigson said when asked if the uncertainty would prevent the
Colts from doing business with their soon-to-be free agents.
"Until it is (resolved), we're going to go about our
business as usual."
Nobody seems to know how this
will play out.
The biggest problem in
Manning's recovery has been regaining the strength in his
throwing arm. That's something Manning and the Colts have not
discussed, and, apparently, it's not even a topic between the
two brothers.
"I don't know what's going
to happen with Peyton," Eli Manning said. "I know he
is rehabbing. He is going to try to get better. I know he
wants to continue to play football, if that's an option. The
No. 1 priority for him is to get to 100 percent. Until he gets
to that position, it's tough to say what is going to
happen."
The Manning circus has
dominated the headlines at Indianapolis' first Super Bowl.
It started with rumors about
Manning's possible retirement, and the Colts' pending
statement will certainly keep Peyton in the headlines — and
overshadow his brother's quest for a second Super Bowl title
— for a fifth consecutive day.
The question is whether the
Colts are willing to pay a 36-year-old quarterback who has had
three neck surgeries in 19 months.
And there have been growing
indications the Colts may be ready to part with their longtime
franchise player, though Irsay will make the final call.
"You can't do things to
where you are going to hurt the whole franchise with other
decisions that you know might hurt at the moment, but in the
end they help the sum of the parts," Grigson said.
"It is a tough deal in this business, and it happens at
every position. It happens with coaching, it happens with
people in personnel and it is completely part of the process
and the business."
Irsay and Manning are scheduled
to meet again next week.
Last month, the Colts fired
vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian, coach
Jim Caldwell and most of Caldwell's assistants. The flurry of
moves prompted Manning to go public with his complaints, which
drew a strong rebuke from Irsay.
The two appeared to mend fences
Friday.
But the onslaught of Manning
news just keeps coming.
"It's hard not to pay
attention. It seems to be all over the news everywhere and I
don't live in a cave," said Stanford quarterback Andrew
Luck, the presumed successor to Manning.
"You never really replace
someone like that," he added. "He (Manning) is such
an iconic sports figure especially for this city, this area.
From what I understand, he's done so many great things outside
of football and in the community."
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