Indy quarterback Manning reportedly 'cleared to play'
Even with the Super Bowl looming in town, the saga with Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning is causing a stir. With a $28 million decision on whether the Colts will keep him coming next month — after he missed the entire 2011 season because of neck problems — general manager Ryan Grigson acknowledged that the Colts couldn't afford to make a mistake based solely on sentimental reasons.
The next twist came a few hours later Thursday when ESPN reported that Manning had been "cleared to play" by the two West Coast doctors who performed surgery on his neck. The Colts' own doctors have not approved him for contact, something that would have to happen for Manning to be cleared. The league also does not allow full contact in the offseason.
Gronkowski works out • New England tight end Rob Gronkowski tested his sprained left ankle on a limited basis Thursday in practice. "He did some things; he didn't do everything," Patriots coach Bill Belichick told a pool reporter. "We'll see how he is (today). I think that will be the big key — how he responds to this." It was Gronkowski's first practice work since suffering the injury in the AFC title game Jan. 22.
Bradshaw works again • Running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) and defensive end Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee) were the only New York Giants listed as limited in participation on the team's Thursday injury report. It was the second consecutive practice for Bradshaw, something coach Tom Coughlin couldn't recall Bradshaw pulling off all season because of the nagging injury .
Osi apologizes • After being fined $20,000 for skipping Wednesday's media session, Umenyiora was present during Thursday's session. And wouldn't you now, about half the questions were about his absence.
"I just chose to hang out with my family," he said. "I didn't know it was a mandatory session even though we had media day on Tuesday. I didn't know it was 'media day' every day. We hadn't practiced (Tuesday); we hadn't done anything. I didn't really know there was anything that needed to be talked about between Tuesday and Wednesday. It was a mistake, a big mistake."
The fine was stiff, but Umenyiora said, "I understood it. The NFL has to do what they have to do to protect the brand, get the product out to the people.''
Canty's "prediction" • With local media from each Super Bowl team looking for any verbal misstep this week, Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty provided some mild fodder by telling Giants fans to "get ready for a great game on Super Bowl Sunday, and get ready for a parade on Tuesday."
As in victory parade. As "guarantees" go, this hardly rates as Joe Namath in Super Bowl III.
"He's supposed to think like that," Umenyiora said. "There's really no other way to think. If that's what he said, that's what he said. We're going to ride with him."
Brady's hotel guide • Don't look for Tom Brady to be hired by the Buffalo tourism bureau. The Patriots' quarterback was talking about his father's devotion to watching him play — even on the road in Buffalo — when he uttered this gem to hundreds of reporters: "I don't know if you guys have ever been to the hotels in Buffalo. But they're not the nicest places in the world."
From staff, wire reports
