Report: Peyton Manning medically cleared to return to football

Topics: Football

Quarterback Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts looks on before the kickoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars Jan. 1, 2012, at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.

(Credit: Getty Images)

Two doctors who have recently examined Peyton Manning's neck and shoulder say the future Hall of Fame quarterback is ready to return to NFL football, ESPN reported late Thursday.

Sources who spoke to ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter that in recent medical examinations, two doctors "concluded the stability in his neck would have allowed the quarterback to play this Sunday if the nerves in his arm had regenerated to a satisfactory performance level."

Getting a medical clearance is hardly the only obstacle to an NFL return for Manning. He is on shaky terms with his longtime team, the Indianapolis Colts, who may release him and draft Stanford star Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft.

Several other teams have expressed an interest in Manning, but he will still be overcoming a yearlong hiatus -- and teams will have to weigh whether his age and the possibility of an injury recurrence are too great of a liability.

Meanwhile, Manning's throwing arm continues to regenerate, ESPN reports. While it wouldn't be unsafe for him to throw now, he won't be able to perform as he once did until nerves further regenerate in his triceps.

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by mecury69 February 3, 2012 9:14 AM EST: Come on down to Miami Peyton...we have the defense and the offense tools to get you to the big dance again!; Reply to this comment


by PeytonToSkins February 2, 2012 11:08 PM EST: #18 in burgundy and gold, a beautiful thing. Lets do this thing DC! www.DCPetitionForPeyton.com; Reply to this comment


by baileyccc February 2, 2012 9:50 PM EST: If he goes to the right team, he is in the Super Bowl next year, not so for the Colts.; Reply to this comment


by Big-Daddy-Kahuna February 2, 2012 9:03 PM EST: He gets medical okay to return so he can collect a cool 28 million bucks. Smell fishy?; Reply to this comment