Hours after reports surfaced that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had been cleared by doctors to resume his NFL playing career, team owner Jim Irsay denied that was the case.
AGAINST THE WALL
Peyton’s politicking puts Irsay in unenviable position. MARK KRIEGEL
“Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts. Team statement coming on Friday,” Irsay posted on his Twitter feed early Friday morning.
The latest twist in the saga involving Irsay and his star player came after ESPN reported Thursday that Robert Watkins, who performed Manning’s most recent neck surgery, believes the quarterback’s neck is stable enough to allow him to play immediately.
The report added that Colts neurosurgeon Hank Feuer also had cleared the 35-year-old to play in 2012.
”Peyton Manning underwent a thorough medical re-evaluation as part of a postoperative visit with his surgeon,” Watkins’ statement read. ”As a result of this examination, Manning is medically cleared to play professional football.”
Manning missed the entire 2011 season after surgery in early September to fuse together vertebrae in his neck. It was the third surgery on his neck in a 19-month span.
The uncertainty around Manning’s health has led many to conclude the Colts will cut ties with him, and select former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the top pick in April’s NFL Draft.
The Colts owe Manning a $28 million bonus if he is on the roster March 8, making it unlikely the team can afford both quarterbacks.
ALL THE DRAMA
Find out what was said between Peyton Manning and Jim Irsay.
Manning has spent his entire 14-year NFL career in Indianapolis after the Colts selected him with the top overall pick in 1998. Since entering the league, Manning has led Indianapolis to 11 playoff appearances, two AFC titles and a Super Bowl victory in 2006-07.
Manning said earlier this week that he expects to sit down with Irsay at some point following Super Bowl XLVI, which is being hosted in Indianapolis on Sunday, to decide his future.
However, Manning has sounded increasingly confident about his recovery and told reporters earlier this week that he was not planning to retire.
He’s been throwing at least two months, including a session Tuesday with several of his teammates.
There have been growing indications that the Colts may be ready to part with their longtime franchise player.
New general manager Ryan Grigson said Thursday that the team must put aside the sentimental reasons for keeping Manning and make a decision based on what’s best for the team. Team owner Jim Irsay is expected to make that 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.”
THE END
It’s here for Peyton, and Mark Kriegel called it last year.
Irsay and Manning are scheduled to meet again next week. Irsay told reporters earlier Thursday that he had nothing new to report.
That would be a welcome respite in Indy after four chaotic weeks.
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.
And the Manning story has continually upstaged Indianapolis’ first Super Bowl week.
Thursday was no exception. With speculation swirling about Manning’s future, his presumed successor — Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, expected to be taken by the Colts with the No. 1 pick — came to town and told reporters he wants to start immediately.
A few hours later, Grigson acknowledged that he met with Manning for 20 minutes last week, calling it a straightforward conversation between two regular guys. Pagano said he also spoke with Manning last week. Nobody provided details of the conversation, though.
”We’re in a holding pattern in that respect,” he 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.”
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