PITTSBURGH – Ryan Clark respects Peyton Manning, and he feels for the Indianapolis Colts as they continue to search for traction and an identity while their franchise quarterback recovers from neck surgery.

Still, the Pittsburgh Steelers safety isn’t exactly complaining about taking on the winless Colts (0-2) without Manning on Sunday, and Clark’s source of glee has nothing to do with facing Kerry Collins instead of the three-time MVP.

Collins has a better record (3-2) against the Steelers than Manning (2-2), a better completion percentage (64 to 60), and a better touchdown/interception ratio.

The one thing Collins doesn’t have on Manning? Acting ability.

Taking on the Colts without Manning means not having to endure 20-25 seconds of the quarterback standing at the line of scrimmage frantically barking out orders as if he was playing some football version of charades.

“Thank God because that is so boring,” Clark said with mock exasperation. “Such a theatrical performance.”

Clark was kidding. Sort of. Clark is pretty sure there was some football involved in Manning’s gestures. He’s also pretty sure some of it was simple gamesmanship.

“It got talked about so much and people loved it so much I think Peyton even kind of fed into it, ‘I’m going to keep doing this because people think I’m doing a lot at the line,’” Clark said.

The Colts have been more deliberate through the first two weeks as veteran Kerry Collins – plucked out of retirement by coach Jim Caldwell a month ago – learns the system Manning has orchestrated so artfully for 13 seasons.

That’s fine by the Steelers, particularly guys like nose tackle Casey Hampton. He’s used to playing maybe 15-20 snaps against the Colts because he’s not quite fit enough to dash on and off the field while Manning operates out of the no-huddle even if Hampton, like Clark, is suspect of Manning’s motives.

“Do you know he’s really getting guys lined up and doing that? You never really know what he’s doing,” Hampton said.

Collins isn’t familiar enough with the Colts’ offense to play those kind of games. It doesn’t mean he hasn’t been effective against the Steelers. He beat them the first three times he faced them, including a 17-point whipping in 2008 while playing for Tennessee. And even at 38-years-old, the Steelers believe Collins can get operate quickly if not quite as efficiently as Manning.

“They’re not going to run the same offense that Peyton runs, because there’s only one Peyton, but they’re still running their offense,” defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said. “And they’re still running no-huddle, and we’ll have to be ready for a lot of snaps and getting our calls in at the ball.”

Pittsburgh will likely be without defensive end Brett Keisel, who missed practice again on Thursday with a knee injury. Third-year man Ziggy Hood will get the start if Keisel can’t go, and though he’s wary of Collins, he’s not expecting a track meet.

“It could be slowed down to where we get in our formations and we get it right,” Hood said. “This is the third game and (Collins) has only been there so long. If we was playing them late in the season, maybe that no huddle will come into play. Maybe this week we don’t know. We’ve got to be prepared.”

For all the progress the Colts believe they’ve made while giving Collins a crash course in an attack that’s been tailored to Manning’s unique talents, they know they’re not quite operating at the same speed as usual.

General manager Bill Polian, who helped coax Collins out of retirement to keep the Colts afloat while Manning heals, heard Houston linebacker Mario Williams boasting about how much easier it was to go through the pre-snap without Manning back there pointing fingers.

“(Williams) said the defensive line felt much more comfortable doing their jobs because all of Peyton’s motions and gestures didn’t let them know when they had to get into their stances, so it caused them trouble,” Polian said. “Kerry can’t do that. Nobody can. Peyton is like a race-car driver who has been driving that car for 14 years. He knows every nuance, every little bump, you have to recognize that and say this is going to be a different looking team.”

Still, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin pointed out Collins looked Manning-esque the last time he played the Steelers, nearly leading Tennessee to a miracle comeback in week two of the 2010 season after coming on in relief of Vince Young.

The Steelers were firmly in command 19-3 late in the fourth quarter when Collins led the Titans to a quick touchdown and a 2-point conversion and had the team driving again when the lock ran out.

“That experience is not lost as we prepare for this one,” Tomlin said.

Pittsburgh’s defense was back to its usual swarming self against the overmatched Seahawks last Sunday, pitching a 24-0 shutout. Yet through two weeks the Steelers have yet to generate a turnover, the first time that’s happened in consecutive games since 2009.

Collins hasn’t provided the Steelers with many opportunities, throwing just two picks in 163 career attempts against Pittsburgh. Clark points out the defense’s mindset is focused more on getting stops than getting the ball.

The Steelers will have more time to think about it on Sunday now that Manning’s acting is relegated to TV commercials for the time being.

“It’ll be weird playing them without Peyton, period,” Hampton said.

Ryan Clark respects Peyton Manning, and he feels for the Indianapolis Colts as they continue to search for traction and an identity while their franchise quarterback recovers from neck surgery.

Still, the Pittsburgh Steelers safety isn’t exactly complaining about taking on the winless Colts (0-2) without Manning on Sunday, and Clark’s source of glee has nothing to do with facing Kerry Collins instead of the three-time MVP.

Collins has a better record (3-2) against the Steelers than Manning (2-2), a better completion percentage (64 to 60), and a better touchdown/interception ratio.

The one thing Collins doesn’t have on Manning? Acting ability.

Taking on the Colts without Manning means not having to endure 20-25 seconds of the quarterback standing at the line of scrimmage frantically barking out orders as if he was playing some football version of charades.

“Thank God because that is so boring,” Clark said with mock exasperation. “Such a theatrical performance.”

Clark was kidding. Sort of. Clark is pretty sure there was some football involved in Manning’s gestures. He’s also pretty sure some of it was simple gamesmanship.

“It got talked about so much and people loved it so much I think Peyton even kind of fed into it, ‘I’m going to keep doing this because people think I’m doing a lot at the line,’” Clark said.

The Colts have been more deliberate through the first two weeks as veteran Kerry Collins — plucked out of retirement by coach Jim Caldwell a month ago — learns the system Manning has orchestrated so artfully for 13 seasons.

That’s fine by the Steelers, particularly guys like nose tackle Casey Hampton. He’s used to playing maybe 15-20 snaps against the Colts because he’s not quite fit enough to dash on and off the field while Manning operates out of the no-huddle even if Hampton, like Clark, is suspect of Manning’s motives.

“Do you know he’s really getting guys lined up and doing that? You never really know what he’s doing,” Hampton said.

Collins isn’t familiar enough with the Colts’ offense to play those kind of games. It doesn’t mean he hasn’t been effective against the Steelers. He beat them the first three times he faced them, including a 17-point whipping in 2008 while playing for Tennessee. And even at 38-years-old, the Steelers believe Collins can get operate quickly if not quite as efficiently as Manning.

“They’re not going to run the same offense that Peyton runs, because there’s only one Peyton, but they’re still running their offense,” defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said. “And they’re still running no-huddle, and we’ll have to be ready for a lot of snaps and getting our calls in at the ball.”

Pittsburgh will likely be without defensive end Brett Keisel, who missed practice again on Thursday with a knee injury. Third-year man Ziggy Hood will get the start if Keisel can’t go, and though he’s wary of Collins, he’s not expecting a track meet.

“It could be slowed down to where we get in our formations and we get it right,” Hood said. “This is the third game and (Collins) has only been there so long. If we was playing them late in the season, maybe that no huddle will come into play. Maybe this week we don’t know. We’ve got to be prepared.”

For all the progress the Colts believe they’ve made while giving Collins a crash course in an attack that’s been tailored to Manning’s unique talents, they know they’re not quite operating at the same speed as usual.

General manager Bill Polian, who helped coax Collins out of retirement to keep the Colts afloat while Manning heals, heard Houston linebacker Mario Williams boasting about how much easier it was to go through the pre-snap without Manning back there pointing fingers.

“(Williams) said the defensive line felt much more comfortable doing their jobs because all of Peyton’s motions and gestures didn’t let them know when they had to get into their stances, so it caused them trouble,” Polian said. “Kerry can’t do that. Nobody can. Peyton is like a race-car driver who has been driving that car for 14 years. He knows every nuance, every little bump, you have to recognize that and say this is going to be a different looking team.”

Still, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin pointed out Collins looked Manning-esque the last time he played the Steelers, nearly leading Tennessee to a miracle comeback in week two of the 2010 season after coming on in relief of Vince Young.

The Steelers were firmly in command 19-3 late in the fourth quarter when Collins led the Titans to a quick touchdown and a 2-point conversion and had the team driving again when the lock ran out.

“That experience is not lost as we prepare for this one,” Tomlin said.

Pittsburgh’s defense was back to its usual swarming self against the overmatched Seahawks last Sunday, pitching a 24-0 shutout. Yet through two weeks the Steelers have yet to generate a turnover, the first time that’s happened in consecutive games since 2009.

Collins hasn’t provided the Steelers with many opportunities, throwing just two picks in 163 career attempts against Pittsburgh. Clark points out the defense’s mindset is focused more on getting stops than getting the ball.

The Steelers will have more time to think about it on Sunday now that Manning’s acting is relegated to TV commercials for the time being.

“It’ll be weird playing them without Peyton, period,” Hampton said.

The usually quiet Indianapolis Colts are becoming a surly
bunch.

Last week, they bristled at the suggestion they’d falter without
Peyton Manning. After a dismal season-opener, they’re downright
ornery.

Players and coaches spent most of the week trying to figure out
what went wrong at Houston, how to make corrections and map out a
game plan to rebound against Cleveland this week.

It’s not just talk. The Colts are spitting mad.

“It’s not easy any time you get beaten like that,” Pro Bowl
center Jeff Saturday said. “But we’ve got too much pride in our
team and our teammates to just take it.”

Conventional wisdom suggests that this is how the Colts will
look without Manning, a four-time league MVP who had started 227
consecutive games including the playoffs before last week. He’s
expected to miss at least two months after having his third neck
surgery in 19 months last week.

The Colts (0-1) claim those suggestions are, well,
premature.

Indy hasn’t started 0-2 since 1998, Manning’s rookie season, and
the Colts have no intention of doing that this year. But they must
prove they can win without their leader.

“Regardless of anything that happens _ Peyton being there,
Peyton not being there _ it doesn’t mean you’re going to have a bad
season,” defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “It just means you had
a bad first week. That’s Round 1 out of 16 rounds. We lost Round 1.
We just have to do things a little better.”

Round 2 comes Sunday against the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil
Stadium, this year’s Super Bowl site.

Plenty has changed since these teams last met in 2008.

New coach Pat Shurmur is looking for his first career win. Colt
McCoy has taken over at quarterback, and Peyton Hillis is the
Browns’ workhorse running back.

However, the results haven’t changed much over the last three
years.

The Browns (0-1) have won more than six games just one time
since 2002, and are undergoing another rebuilding project.

“For us, it’s all about focusing on the next game we have,
focusing on the 2011 Browns, learning the offense, learning the
defense, getting wins, putting wins together, and turning this into
a winning team,” left tackle Joe Thomas said. “All those historical
things kind of take care of themselves.”

The first step, for both teams, is fighting back.

Indy is coming off one of its most abysmal performances in
years. The offense scored only seven points at Houston, the defense
couldn’t get off the field and the punt return team gave up a
touchdown return in the final minute of the first half. With no
Manning to bail out the Colts any time soon, fans are already
fretting as players avoid panicking.

“Last week, people are up in arms about what happened, and this
week is a new challenge,” said defensive captain Gary Brackett, who
will miss Sunday’s game with a left shoulder injury. “We can go out
there and redeem ourselves, and be sitting pretty again.”

Cleveland players are also trying to tamp down concerns after
last week’s comedy of errors.

On a punt return that Josh Cribbs might have scored on, a Browns
blocker hit a Bengals player, sending both into Cribbs and knocking
him to the ground.

And Shurmur’s coaching debut will undoubtedly be remembered for
the play Cleveland lost track of. When the Bengals quick-snapped
the ball in the fourth quarter, the napping Browns (0-1) were just
breaking the huddle and Cincinnati threw a 41-yard TD pass for the
go-ahead score.

Shurmur insists the Browns have learned from that mistake,
perhaps just in time to avoid a repeat against an Indy team that
has traditionally liked the fast tempo.

“We need to answer it.,” Shurmur said. “We just have to make
sure that we cover down. It’s a hard lesson to learn on that play.
We’ll do better.”

Indy hasn’t been the same this season.

The coaches slowed things down for Kerry Collins’ debut. The
revamped offensive line broke down far too often last week, and
Collins lost two fumbles in the first 15 minutes. They’re hoping
with another week of practice that Collins and the offense will
look more normal Sunday.

But the Colts know there’s only way to muzzle the critics: Start
winning.

“It doesn’t really matter what they think, to be honest with
you,” receiver Austin Collie said. “We’re going to back on the
field and we’re going to be OK.”

Read More: Peyton Manning (QB – IND), Indianapolis Colts

The surgeons who performed Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning’s third neck operation in 19 months say the operation ”very well, without complication” and that the prognosis on his recovery is good, the Associated Press reports.

Los Angeles-based father and son doctors Robert Watkins Sr. and Robert Watkins Jr. of Watkins Spine performed the procedure at Marina Del Rey Hospital.

Manning underwent a procedure to repair a bulging disk in his neck at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago on May 23. That procedure, his second in 15 months, was expected to have a six-to-eight week recovery time. Thursday’s procedure, a “single level anterior fusion” will keep the four-time league MVP out for two-to-three months, and could sideline Manning for the entire 2011 season.

The Colts had already ruled Manning out for this Sunday’s season opener against the Houston Texans, ending Manning’s 227-game consecutive start streak. Veteran Kerry Collins was coaxed out of retirement during training camp and be the first quarterback other than Manning to start in the regular season since 1997. Despite the grim prognosis of Manning’s availability this season, the Colts are not ready to end Manning’s season.

“Rehabilitation from such surgery is typically an involved process,” the Colts official statement on Manning read. “Therefore, there will be no estimation of a return date at this time.  We will keep Peyton on the active roster until we have a clearer picture of his recovery process.”

For more reaction on the suddenly Manning-less Colts, visit Stampede Blue.

The unthinkable suddenly seems possible in Indianapolis – opening the season without Peyton Manning.

The four-time league-MVP who has never missed a start in his NFL career is doubtful for Sunday’s game at Houston because of lingering soreness in his back following offseason neck surgery. If Manning sits, it would be the first time the NFL’s active iron man missed a meaningful game after 227 consecutive starts including the playoffs.

“I hate it for Peyton,” said Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, one of Manning’s closest friends. “You want him to be healthy, you want him to be back, but you want him to take care of it, too. It’s sad when players face tough times, but I know he’s strong enough to get through it.”

The question is whether the Colts can survive without their franchise quarterback, whose streak stands second in NFL history to Brett Favre’s among all QBs.

Team officials have not said how much longer it could take Manning to recover, leaving that decision to Manning and his doctors.

Over the years, life without Manning has been pretty dismal.

The only time he missed a regular-season snap because of injury, against Miami in 2001, backup Mark Rypien fumbled. The Dolphins recovered, then drove 59 yards for the winning score. Manning returned on the next series with a bloody mouth. He was later diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his jaw.

On the rare occasions when Manning has played sparingly, in the preseason and meaningless late-season games, the Colts have not fared much better.

The goal now is to change that trend.

“If anything, we want to go out there and step it up,” Pro Bowl safety Antoine Bethea said. “Of course it will be different (without Manning), but it’s one of those things that if it happens, everybody else has to step up. It’s next man up.”

That’s been true at every position but one over the past 13 years in Indy. And now the Colts’ longtime mantra will be put to its most challenging test.

Manning had surgery to repair a nerve May 23, but the recovery has taken longer than the expected six to eight weeks that would have put back on the field for the start of training camp. Instead, Manning started camp on the physically unable to perform list and wasn’t activated till last Monday.

He did limited work at practice last week, which led to complaints about back pain. The team issued a statement Monday saying that team doctors re-evaluated Manning over the weekend and instructed him to stop practicing while he undergoes more tests.

No additional surgery has been scheduled.

“At the conclusion of the diagnostic process, if there are any new developments in the prognosis which we outlined for Peyton at the start of training camp we will report them,” the statement said. “As of now, Peyton continues to deal with a complicated neurological recovery, the end date of which is unpredictable.”

Losing Manning for any time, even one week, would be a shock to Indy fans. Not only has he never missed a start, he’s rarely missed practice.

Manning sat out one week of training camp in 1998 before signing his rookie contract. It was a decade later when he missed all of training camp in 2008 because he underwent surgery twice to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee. The only other time his playing status was in doubt was 2001 after he was injured at Minnesota in a preseason game.

Somehow, he’s always made it back for game day.

“I’m sure it’s killing him,” receiver Anthony Gonzalez said. “I’ve not spoken to him, but knowing him, how hard he’s working, how many hours he’s put into it, I’m sure it’s hurting.”

The last quarterback other than Manning to start for Indy was Jim Harbaugh, now the San Francisco 49ers coach.

Many who know Manning well aren’t counting him out yet.

On Monday, coach Jim Caldwell urged caution to those already writing the end of the streak.

Former Colts coach Tony Dungy, now an NBC analyst, told viewers recently he expected Manning to play unless he was “dead.” Harbaugh had been thinking the same way before the latest twist in this saga.

“Watching Peyton Manning, the pro, the competitor, I’m not going to take your word for it that he’s not going to be in there for the first ballgame,” he told reporters Aug. 25. “So the streak may indeed just rage on.”

Still, the Colts are preparing as if the second-longest starting streak by an NFL quarterback will be history after Sunday.

Sixteen-year veteran Kerry Collins came out of retirement, presumably to back up Manning in case this happened. Collins has spent the last 12 days learning the playbook and splitting work with Curtis Painter at practice.

Collins said that while he’s comfortable running the Colts system and familiar with Houston’s defense from his days in Tennessee, it would be unfair to expect anyone, including a former Super Bowl starter, to deliver a Manningesque performance.

“There’s no way I can replace someone like Peyton and what he means for this team and this franchise,” Collins said. “But I will bust my butt to get ready and I hope the guys see that.”

Team owner Jim Irsay said he anticipated Manning returning for the start of training camp.

But after signing a five-year, $90 million contract in late July, Manning was placed on PUP and didn’t return to practice until last week.

Manning has repeatedly said the 4½-month lockout delayed his rehabilitation because he couldn’t work out with team doctors.

When he returned in 2008 after missing all of camp, Manning struggled during the first half of the season. He eventually led Indy to nine straight wins and back to the playoffs, picking up the third of his record four MVP awards.

Could he take a snap to keep the streak alive? Sure.

But Manning ruled out that possibility last week.

“I have to be able to competitively play,” he said then. “I have too much respect for football. I’ve got to be able to compete and to help my team win, and that’s what’s fair to the team, fair to myself.”

And right now, it appears, that means playing with someone other than Manning behind center for the first time since December 1997.

“He loves to play, loves to compete, loves to practice, and any time he can’t, it’s tough,” Caldwell said. “That’s who he is. He’s always been a hardworking guy. He doesn’t miss days – offseason, in-season, you name it – he’s always there. I think that’s the commitment to the sport he’s made since he was a little guy.”

– AP

INDIANAPOLIS — Colts owner Jim Irsay remains confident he can reach a long-term deal with four-time league MVP Peyton Manning.

During a hastily called news conference Thursday, Irsay says he has made Manning an offer worth more than Tom Brady. Brady signed a four-year, $72 million deal in September.

Colts owner Jim Irsay says he has made a contract offer to Peyton Manning that is worth more than Tom Brady’s deal.

While not divulging details, Irsay is willing to sign Manning to a five-year or six-year deal. Manning turns 35 next month.

Irsay also says he’s started discussing a new deal for kicker Adam Vinatieri and is still debating what to do with safety Bob Sanders, the oft-injured safety who was the NFL’s 2007 Defensive Player of the Year. Sanders has played in nine regular-season games since winning the award.

— The Associated Press

The Indianapolis Colts have assigned their franchise tag to Peyton Manning, locking up the star quarterback for next season while the sides work on a long-term deal.

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) – The Indianapolis Colts have assigned their franchise tag to Peyton Manning, locking up the star quarterback for next season while the sides work on a long-term deal.

Colts owner Jim Irsay announced the move on his Twitter feed Tuesday afternoon.

© 2011 The Sports Network

Read More: Peyton Manning (QB – IND), Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers

Larger-than-life figures like Tom Moore, Howard Mudd, Jim Mora Sr., Tony Dungy, and former-University of Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer are all often cited as the people who helped ‘develop’ Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning into the juggernaut under center he is today.

But one key person that is often overlooked is Bruce Arians, Peyton’s quarterbacks coach from 1998-2000.

Arians is now the Offensive Coordinator for the 2010 AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who will face the Green Bay Packers later this evening in Super Bowl XLV.

Arians tutored Manning his rookie year, which saw him break rookie records for touchdowns and yards that season. Manning then burst onto the scene in 1999, guiding the Colts to a 13-3 season one year after a 3-13 season.

Arians left the Colts in 2001 and became Offensive Coordinator of the Cleveland Browns from 2001-2003. He joined the Steelers in 2007, and coached their offense to a victory in Super Bowl XLIII over the Arizona Cardinals, who were coached by Ken Whisenhunt; the man Arians replaced as Steelers Offensive Coordinator.

Today’s Super Bowl is Arians’ second as an assistant for the Steelers. He has over 32 years of coaching experience, including 16 years in the NFL.