ANDERSON, Ind. —
According to a Wednesday report by Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks on the magazine’s website, Peyton Manning underwent an unreported follow-up procedure on his injured neck last summer and the Indianapolis Colts believe further surgery is inevitable in the future.
It’s been widely reported that Manning had surgery on his neck May 23 in Chicago and again Sept. 9 in Los Angeles. Citing league sources, Banks reported the Chicago surgeon also performed a procedure at some point in between.
The follow-up operation would bring Manning’s total to four neck surgeries in the past two years.
Banks also reported the Colts believe Manning is developing bone spurs at a point above where his neck was fused in September. The team reportedly believes that condition also will require surgery, even if Manning is able to return to the playing field next season.
Reached by email, the Colts declined to comment on the report because none of the information had been verified by the team’s medical staff.
Manning missed the entire 2011 regular season while rehabilitating from the September surgery. He was cleared to increase his on-field activity in December but never returned to game action, and Indianapolis tied the St. Louis Rams with a league-worst 2-14 record.
According to Banks’ report, Manning aggressively attempted to prove to Colts coaches and officials that he could play during the final two weeks of the season.
An NFL.com report said Manning took part in a 30-play scripted session following the full-team practice on Dec. 14. Indianapolis took steps to ensure the session was not in violation of league rules.
Center Jeff Saturday, running back Joseph Addai and a group of unnamed receivers reportedly took part in the session, during which plays were run only inside the 25-yard line.
The session reportedly was viewed by then-Colts vice chairman Bill Polian, then-head coach Jim Caldwell and then-offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen. Manning reportedly hoped to run the red-zone offense in the home finale against the Houston Texans and in the season finale at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
On Dec. 18, Polian officially announced that Manning would not participate in any regular-season games.
“I wouldn’t have anything to say about all of that, one way or another,” Manning’s agent, Tom Condon, told Banks concerning his entire report.
Manning was cleared to resume his NFL career earlier this month by the doctor who performed his September surgery. But Indianapolis said its doctors have not cleared Manning to play, and nerve regeneration still must occur to improve the quarterback’s arm strength.
Polian, who was fired by the team along with his son and general manager, Chris, on Jan. 2, told Fox Sports.com’s Alex Marvez that he would be surprised and saddened if Manning does not play somewhere in 2012.
The Colts must pay a $28 million option bonus by March 8 to trigger the final four years of the five-year, $90 million deal Manning signed at Anderson University on July 31.
Owner Jim Irsay said Tuesday the team would welcome Manning back but only under a restructured deal that takes into account health concerns and Indianapolis’ tenuous salary-cap situation.
Polian, speaking on Sirius XM NFL Radio, said that is good news for Colts fans.
“We’ll see what happens going forward, but in one sense this is kind of a good thing because it frames the issue quite clearly in the public mind,” Polian said. “Both parties now have to sit down and determine what they want to do, and whatever they determine will be the right thing. There’s no losers in this, I don’t think.”
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Related Photos
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning talks to reporters in the team's locker room at its practice facility in Indianapolis on Dec. 2. Michael Conroy / The Associated Press
Discussion
Another surgery for Manning?
Web report alleges Colts QB had unknown procedure
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