AILING TIGHT END RETURNS TO PATRIOTS PRACTICE ADVERTISING THE ASSOCIATED PRESS INDIANAPOLIS — Rob Gronkowski practiced with the New England Patriots for the Super Bowl for the first time Thursday. Now coach Bill Belichick is waiting to see how the
AILING TIGHT END RETURNS TO
PATRIOTS PRACTICE
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — Rob Gronkowski practiced with the New England Patriots for the Super Bowl for the first time Thursday. Now coach Bill Belichick is waiting to see how the All-Pro tight end’s injured ankle responds.
“He did some things. He didn’t do everything,” Belichick said. “We’ll see how he is (Friday). I think that will be the big key.”
Gronkowski participated on a limited basis and said it will be up to him to decide whether his high left ankle sprain will allow him to play Sunday against the New York Giants.
“I will make the final call,” he said. “I listen to the trainer’s advice, but it’s how I feel. I’m just trying to get better. The trainer has helped me get to a place where I need to be.”
He also said there are “a couple of options to explore” about how the ankle will be protected.
“I’m not even sure I’m going to wear anything (special),” Gronkowski said. “I’m taping it and testing things out every day to see how I feel.”
Peyton Manning’s
doctor gives QB
clearance to play
INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning has received the OK from his surgeon to start taking hits again.
A spokesman for Dr. Robert Watkins said in a one-paragraph email sent late Thursday night that the Colts’ star was cleared to play.
ESPN, citing unidentified sources, first reported Manning had been cleared.
The Colts contend that is nothing new because Manning was cleared to practice in December, a move that would have also allowed the quarterback to start playing again.
But it backs up Manning’s contention from earlier this week that his recovery from September neck surgery is on schedule.
“Peyton Manning underwent a thorough medical re-evaluation as part of a postoperative visit with his surgeon,” Watkins’ statement read. “As a result of this examination, Manning is medically cleared to play professional football.”
Colts owner Jim Irsay responded in a tweet: “Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts.”
Irsay said a team statement was coming later Friday.
The four-time league MVP missed the entire 2011 season after having his third neck surgery in 19 months, a fusion of two vertebrae. There have been concerns that the injury might end Manning’s 14-year NFL career.
However, Manning has sounded increasingly confident about his recovery and told reporters earlier this week that he was not planning to retire.
He’s been throwing at least two months, including a session Tuesday with several of his teammates.
NFL approves
$200 million loan
for 49ers stadium
INDIANAPOLIS — NFL owners approved a $200 million loan Thursday to help the San Francisco 49ers build a stadium south of Santa Clara.
The team plans to bid for future Super Bowls for the 68,000-seat stadium, which will be built adjacent to the 49ers’ facility.
“It’s huge,” 49ers CEO Jed York said of the league’s approval. “We’ve been at this since 1997. We’ll have shovels in the ground soon.”
Owners approved another part of the funding package two months after the team and Santa Clara announced they’d received an $850 million loan to cover most of the estimated $1 billion cost.
The rest of the cost will be covered by the league’s loan, a hotel tax and Santa Clara’s redevelopment funds.
“We will definitely be in by 2015,” York said, “with hopes of 2014.”
Asked about hosting a Super Bowl — the next one available would be the 50th game in 2016 — York said, “This will definitely be a fitting setting for a Super Bowl game and we will bid.”
The 49ers have to address their current Candlestick Park lease with the city of San Francisco that runs through 2014.
Andrew Luck hoping to play right away in NFL
INDIANAPOLIS — Andrew Luck is willing to learn from Peyton Manning. He just wants everyone to know he’s ready to play next season, too.
The Stanford quarterback said Thursday he could co-exist as Manning’s teammate even though his preference would be to play immediately.
“I think every competitor wants to play, every down, every play,” Luck said when asked about starting as an NFL rookie. “So, of course, who wouldn’t want to start?”
Luck spent less than 24 hours in Indianapolis, going through a battery of physical tests and learning the intricacies of nutrition at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.
His next trip to the city, for the annual scouting combine, might determine whether Luck becomes a permanent fixture.
Colts owner Jim Irsay has already said he intends to take Manning’s successor with the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, and it looks like a two-man race between Luck and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.
But there are big questions surrounding the Colts.
Indy has embarked on a major rebuilding project with Ryan Grigson, a first-time general manager, and Chuck Pagano, a first-time coach.
