TV report: Peyton Manning likely to miss regular season opener
The reports conflict, but they suggest the same thing: Peyton Manning's neck isn't healing as quickly as he and the Colts would like.
Late Sunday night, WTHR in Indianapolis reported "several sources" indicated Manning will not play in the team's season opener on Sept. 11 against the Texans. The station and ESPN's Chris Mortensen both reported that the quarterback is being re-evaluated by several doctors because he is progressing slowly from offseason neck surgery. Mortensen, however, has not confirmed that Manning will miss any regular season time, despite the evaluations.
The latest reports of Manning's injury setback started early Sunday night when radio talk show host John Michael Vincent of ESPN 1070 in Indianapolis tweeted that Manning needs another neck procedure and he will remain out "indefinitely."
In another tweet, Vincent, who goes by his initials on the air, said, "I'm not trying to be a newsbreaker. Never cared for that. I thought you would like to know. seems to be solid. If I'm wrong U can torch me."
Mortensen's report refuted Vincent's tweet, saying no new neck procedure is being planned at this time.
The Colts responded quickly as Sports Illustrated's Peter King tweeted a nebulous response from team president Bill Polian. According to King, Polian said, "I don't know anything about that. I honestly don't."
Several minutes after authoring the Polian tweet, King came back and suggested that at the very least, he is "starting to believe" Manning won't be ready for Week 1 against the Texans.
Manning has started 227 consecutive games, including the playoffs, the second-longest quarterback streak in NFL history, trailing only Brett Favre. The ESPN report notes, "Of all the numbers Manning has put up over the years, the streak is the one he has usually said means the most."
Late Sunday night, WTHR in Indianapolis reported "several sources" indicated Manning will not play in the team's season opener on Sept. 11 against the Texans. The station and ESPN's Chris Mortensen both reported that the quarterback is being re-evaluated by several doctors because he is progressing slowly from offseason neck surgery. Mortensen, however, has not confirmed that Manning will miss any regular season time, despite the evaluations.
In another tweet, Vincent, who goes by his initials on the air, said, "I'm not trying to be a newsbreaker. Never cared for that. I thought you would like to know. seems to be solid. If I'm wrong U can torch me."
Mortensen's report refuted Vincent's tweet, saying no new neck procedure is being planned at this time.
The Colts responded quickly as Sports Illustrated's Peter King tweeted a nebulous response from team president Bill Polian. According to King, Polian said, "I don't know anything about that. I honestly don't."
Several minutes after authoring the Polian tweet, King came back and suggested that at the very least, he is "starting to believe" Manning won't be ready for Week 1 against the Texans.
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According to a tweet from WTHR's Rich Nye, Manning's father Archie also declined comment on whether his son needs another surgery.
Manning has had two neck surgeries in the last two years, including one earlier this year. The recovery from his most recent surgery has gone slower than expected and the quarterback has, in part, blamed on that on the NFL lockout, which kept him away from team trainers.Manning has started 227 consecutive games, including the playoffs, the second-longest quarterback streak in NFL history, trailing only Brett Favre. The ESPN report notes, "Of all the numbers Manning has put up over the years, the streak is the one he has usually said means the most."
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