Colts QB Manning should be ready for season, dad Archie says

Archie Manning expects his son, Peyton, to continue being a pain in the neck for NFL defenses next season.

He, like every other football fan, isn't exactly sure when that will be.

The patriarch of football's first family said Monday that his son's recovery from neck surgery isn't going as quickly as the Indianapolis Colts quarterback had hoped, though he should be ready in time for the start of the 2011 season.

"It's just been 10 days," the father said. "He's not where he wants to be. It's just something that came up and had to be done, so hopefully it'll work out."

Manning spoke to reporters during Jim Kelly's charity golf tournament in Batavia, N.Y., about 40 miles east of Buffalo. This year's event, the 25th anniversary of Kelly's first tournament, is expected to raise more than $400,000 for the Hall of Fame quarterback's Kelly For Kids Foundation, which distributes money to numerous children-supported charities across western New York.

Those attending the event included Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger; former Bills stars Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed; and Colts vice chairman Bill Polian, the architect of Buffalo's four Super Bowl teams.

Between the neck surgery and the ongoing lockout, there were lots of issues to discuss.

At the top of the list was the surgery that Peyton Manning had last month to remove part of a bulging disk. It was the second time in 15 months that the Colts' franchise player had neck surgery.

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Two weeks ago, Colts owner Jim Irsay said he expected the recovery to take 6 to 8 weeks. Archie Manning didn't provide an updated timetable for his son's return.

There are, of course, other complications in play.

Manning's contract expired after last season. In February, the Colts put the exclusive franchise tag on Manning -- a move that prevents him from negotiating with other teams. If he signs the one-year deal, he would make $23 million next season.

But until the labor situation is settled, the Colts can't even negotiate.

Without providing precise details, Irsay has said he already has offered Manning a deal that will make him the highest-paid player in NFL history. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady currently holds that distinction after signing a four-year contract that pays him $72 million for a record average annual salary of $18 million.

There's also the ongoing lockout.

Peyton Manning was one of the players on a class-action antitrust lawsuit intended to end the work stoppage. Archie Manning said both of his sons, Peyton and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, have been working out with teammates, so they'll be ready for the start of the season -- whenever it happens.

"They're not frustrated. A quarterback's duty now is to try to organize his team and have some workouts, so they've both been doing that throughout the offseason on and off," Archie Manning said. "Unfortunately, Peyton just had a little surgery, so he's down right now. They're like all the other players. They love what they do. They want to get back at it and have a season."

The father can't wait for a resolution, either.

"There's really nothing to create urgency thus far. The closer we get probably to July, hopefully both sides kind of say, 'We need to get this done so there can be some practice time,' " he said. "I just sincerely hope they don't miss any games. I really don't want to miss games. The NFL has done such a great job through the years, it's a great product, a great game, and I understand both sides and what they're trying to do. But I'm just like all the other fans, I hope it can get done."

Until then, the Colts apparently will receive updates on their best-known player any way they can, including talking to Manning's father.

"Well, we had a conversation about general things like the twins and how Peyton's doing," Polian said, referring to the two children whom Peyton and his wife welcomed in March. "It was good to see him."

But the Colts would rather see a resolution to the lockout and get their quarterback back on the field quickly, too.

"If things go right, he'll be there for the season," Archie Manning said.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Johnson: Palmer should go if he doesn't want to be a Bengal

Tank Johnson calls Carson Palmer's threat to retire "definitely serious," and he agrees with teammate Cedric Benson that if the quarterback isn't willing to give his all, the Cincinnati Bengals have no use for him.

And that, Johnson says, hardly is the only chemistry issue for the team. The other problem: reality TV stars/wide receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. The Bengals' veteran defensive tackle told Sirius XM NFL Radio that their presence in training camp last year had a negative impact.

"When we got Chad and T.O. coming off their TV circuit right into our training camp, I mean, that just put a big cloud over a bunch of humble guys," Johnson said Thursday night. "And I'm not saying anything to take away from Chad and T.O.'s offseason adventures, because, hey, if they want you on TV, be on TV, but it just really clouded a bunch of humble guys."

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Palmer's situation has been another dark cloud, and Benson, a Bengals running back who's scheduled to become a free agent when the NFL lockout is over, earlier this month charged that the team should cut ties with the quarterback and that keeping him would be "detrimental to the team."

"If he's there and not happy," Benson said, "he's not going to give us his best."

Said Johnson: "In terms of what (Benson) said about Carson, I mean, he's absolutely right. There's no way that you can bring that kind of energy into the locker room. I mean, if a guy doesn't want to be there, let him go."

Palmer, who last season passed for 3,970 yards and 26 touchdowns but also matched a career high with 20 interceptions, announced shortly after the conclusion of the Bengals' 4-12 season that he wanted out or he would retire. Bengals owner Mike Brown said at the NFL Spring Meeting earlier this week that "we don't plan to trade Carson."

"He's important to us. He's a very fine player, and we do want him to come back," Brown said. "If he chooses not to, he'd retire. And we would go with Andy Dalton, the younger player we drafted, who's a good prospect. Ideally, we'd have both of them. That'd be the best way to go forward. If we don't have Carson, we'll go with Andy."

Johnson said he wouldn't be surprised in Palmer is through.

"I don't think Carson's a guy who likes to come out in the media and put himself kind of on the stage if he's not serious," Johnson said. "I've known Carson all the way since we played in the Pac-10 together" -- Palmer at USC, Johnson at Washington -- "and I haven't known him to be much of a jokester, so I'm thinking he's pretty serious."

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Johnson: Palmer should go if he doesn't want to be a Bengal

Tank Johnson calls Carson Palmer's threat to retire "definitely serious," and he agrees with teammate Cedric Benson that if the quarterback isn't willing to give his all, the Cincinnati Bengals have no use for him.

And that, Johnson says, hardly is the only chemistry issue for the team. The other problem: reality TV stars/wide receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. The Bengals' veteran defensive tackle told Sirius XM NFL Radio that their presence in training camp last year had a negative impact.

"When we got Chad and T.O. coming off their TV circuit right into our training camp, I mean, that just put a big cloud over a bunch of humble guys," Johnson said Thursday night. "And I'm not saying anything to take away from Chad and T.O.'s offseason adventures, because, hey, if they want you on TV, be on TV, but it just really clouded a bunch of humble guys."

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Palmer's situation has been another dark cloud, and Benson, a Bengals running back who's scheduled to become a free agent when the NFL lockout is over, earlier this month charged that the team should cut ties with the quarterback and that keeping him would be "detrimental to the team."

"If he's there and not happy," Benson said, "he's not going to give us his best."

Said Johnson: "In terms of what (Benson) said about Carson, I mean, he's absolutely right. There's no way that you can bring that kind of energy into the locker room. I mean, if a guy doesn't want to be there, let him go."

Palmer, who last season passed for 3,970 yards and 26 touchdowns but also matched a career high with 20 interceptions, announced shortly after the conclusion of the Bengals' 4-12 season that he wanted out or he would retire. Bengals owner Mike Brown said at the NFL Spring Meeting earlier this week that "we don't plan to trade Carson."

"He's important to us. He's a very fine player, and we do want him to come back," Brown said. "If he chooses not to, he'd retire. And we would go with Andy Dalton, the younger player we drafted, who's a good prospect. Ideally, we'd have both of them. That'd be the best way to go forward. If we don't have Carson, we'll go with Andy."

Johnson said he wouldn't be surprised in Palmer is through.

"I don't think Carson's a guy who likes to come out in the media and put himself kind of on the stage if he's not serious," Johnson said. "I've known Carson all the way since we played in the Pac-10 together" -- Palmer at USC, Johnson at Washington -- "and I haven't known him to be much of a jokester, so I'm thinking he's pretty serious."

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Jets' Sanchez has MRI on shoulder, should be OK to face Bears

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez beat the Pittsburgh Steelers with a sore shoulder.

Coach Rex Ryan said the New York Jets quarterback had an MRI exam Monday on his right shoulder, which was "kind of sore" after it was banged up early in the team's 22-17 win Sunday. Ryan downplayed the MRI, saying it was strictly "precautionary," and Sanchez should be fine to play at Chicago next Sunday.

"Anytime it's your quarterback, you're going to make sure he's OK," Ryan said.

Ryan said Sanchez banged up the shoulder during the Jets' second drive.

"It was like the first time he ran with the football," Ryan said. "His arm was in an awkward position, but it never affected him."

Sanchez was 19 of 29 for 170 yards with a touchdown rushing and no interceptions, snapping an eight-game streak of being picked off at least once.

"As somebody said, 'Maybe this should happen to you in all these games,' because he played great," Ryan said.

And, would that "somebody" happen to be Ryan?

"No, it wasn't me," Ryan said with a big grin. "Mark and I aren't talking. I'm just kidding."

Ryan also joked that he probably shouldn't have said anything about the shoulder.

"Now that's going to be our story," he said. "Oh, no."

Ryan added that Sanchez might be limited at practice this week because he got "beat up pretty good," along with several teammates in a physical game with the Steelers. He also revealed that he took some practice snaps away from Sanchez -- "one or two" -- last week to "tick him off more than anything else."

Sanchez had been struggling coming into the game against the Steelers, having thrown one touchdown and five interceptions in his last three games.

"You send a message that, you know what? You're my guy, and everybody knows you're my guy," Ryan said. "It will make him accountable, I'll make everybody accountable."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bengals QB Palmer rests hip, should be ready Sunday

Carson Palmer sat out practice to rest an injured hip, but Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis expects his quarterback to be ready for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, the team's official website reported.

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Jordan Palmer and Dan LeFevour split the snaps in practice Thursday, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Also sitting out practice were cornerbacks Leon Hall (hamstring) and Morgan Trent (knee), and safeties Chinedum Ndukwe (knee) and Roy Williams (knee).

Linebacker Brandon Johnson (knee), cornerback Johnathan Joseph (ankle), wide receiver Terrell Owens (hand) and linebacker Keith Rivers (foot) were limited.

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