Peyton Manning has been medically cleared by two doctors, including Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed the most recent surgery on the Indianapolis Colts quarterback's neck, to resume his NFL career, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen and ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The sources said Watkins examined Manning recently in Los Angeles and 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. Watkins also instructed the quarterback to continue an aggressive rehabilitation path that provides an optimistic outlook for Manning to play in 2012. Watkins performed Manning's spinal fusion on Sept. 8, and on Dec. 1 declared that the fusion had achieved "firm fixation." Source: ESPN.com
well, there's really nothing in this article that we haven't known for 2 or 3 months ............ ............. 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.............. we have known for a about 2 months that the fusion was firm .......... that's why he was allowed to start throwing in December.............. the fusion is not the problem at this point ............ it's the arm getting back it's strength ..............
Just because he's now cleared does not in the slightest mean he'll get close to the level he was at. He's almost 36 and with the nervous systems being effectively tanked, he'll basically have to learn the throwing mechanics all over again, a process that will be difficult (and undoubtedly slowed) with his body beginning to regress. Be shocked if Manning is able to return to anything resembling his best.
He's been cleared...for a long time now. Nothing said recently is anything new. It's all just PR from both sides...
