The last time Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was on a team and failed to start was September 1994. Manning was at Tennessee and the starter was a guy named Todd Helton. Todd. Helton.
Now with the Colorado Rockies.
Following Manning's eclipse of Helton came one of the most spectacular and lasting careers of any player in any sport at any time in history. You know all of the statistics and accolades -- the negatives as well -- but this isn't about those things.
This is about the beginning of the end. Manning is 35 years old and coming off major neck surgery. Not an ankle. Not even a shoulder. His neck.
What we're likely seeing now is instead of Manning having five or six years left in football, it might be two or three. Basically, we should all enjoy Manning while we can, because I fear he'll be gone sooner rather than later.
This is Manning's 13th season, and while Brett Favre played football for 862 years, Favre is a freak. No one is like him, and no one ever will be again. Manning doesn't possess the Favre freakiness (in more ways than one, thank God) and the neck injury is the biggest sign that Manning's body is starting to permanently break down.
I can hear Colts fans now:
Shut the (expletive deleted) up, Dr. Freeman.
These aren't just my thoughts. This is the feeling among some personnel people throughout the sport. Manning's neck injury scares them. It scares the hell out of them. Many of them believe that while Manning will be back this year, the neck injury will have lasting effects beyond this season. Let's put it this way: Some of the Colts' competitors say they can finally see a day when Manning isn't kicking their ass. Hey, it's a cruel sport.
I think it scares the hell out of the Colts as well. This is new territory for that franchise. They've rarely had to experience life without Peyton. His potential absence, I believe, is what led to the insensitive quotes from wide receiver Reggie Wayne when Wayne was asked about Manning replacement Kerry Collins and in the process offered an awkward defense of backup Curtis Painter.
"We don't even know him, we [aren't] vanilla, man, we [aren't any] simple offense," Wayne explained, speaking of Collins. "So for him to can come in here and be the starter, I don't see it. I think that's a step back. Who says Kerry's going to be the starter? Just because we bring him in doesn't mean he's the starter. He's got to learn, too, right? Unless they gave him a playbook months ago, he's got to learn too.
"I don't care who you are, I mean I'm not going to let anyone just come in here and just push someone [like Painter] aside like you're that dog now, you know what I mean?"
Wayne's mini-outburst, I believe, is as much about worry over Manning as it is defense of Painter. I would even say more former than the latter.
This is indeed a scary time not just for the Colts but for the sport. Imagine an NFL without Peyton Manning. It's difficult to do. Manning has had his issues, and truth is he should have at least a few more rings considering the level of talent he had on offense at one point (Marvin Harrison, Marshall Faulk, Edgerrin James, offensive line). But few players have had the on-field and off-field cultural impact of Manning. If there were a Mount Rushmore of NFL players, he might be on it.
Let's hope I'm wrong and a healthy Manning plays football for as long as he wants, the neck injury becomes a thing of the past and Manning's last game is in 2020. Let's hope I'm wrong.
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Discussions about Josh Hamilton's long-term future with the Texas Rangers are on hold as the 2010 American League MVP focuses on his daily battle against addiction after his second relapse with alcohol in three years.
Hamilton acknowledged that he had a "moment of weakness" at two Dallas bar/restaurants Monday night because of a "personal reason with a family member." He apologized to his family, fans and the team during a 12-minute news conference at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Friday, when he spoke without a script and did not take questions.
"You guys all know how hard I play on the field and I give it everything I absolutely have," said Hamilton, who expressed appreciation for the Rangers continuing to support him. "When I don't do that off the field, I leave myself open for a weak moment. I had a weak moment on Monday night in Dallas."
Hamilton added: "It was just wrong. That's all it comes down to. I needed to be at a different place. I needed to be responsible. I was not responsible. Those actions of mine have hurt a lot of people I'm very close to."
Hamilton, the No. 1 overall pick in 1999 whose major league debut was delayed until 2007 because of his drug and alcohol addiction, said he did not use drugs during this relapse. He added that he has passed two drug tests this week and plans to meet with doctors from the league's substance abuse program in New York soon.
The Rangers were informed of the relapse by Michael Moye, Hamilton's agent, on Tuesday. Moye and Rangers general manager Jon Daniels agreed then to table discussions on a contract extension for Hamilton, who is entering the last year of a two-year, $24 million deal.
"Obviously it's something that we've got to address and address within this context," said Daniels, who met with Hamilton on Thursday. "But I just want to be clear on something from our perspective. This is not a baseball story how we view it, how I view it. This is real. This is something that Josh deals with, an addiction, an issue that he has that affects him and the people around him that care about him. He's a husband, he's a father, first and foremost, and that's where our head is, to make sure he has the support he needs and his family needs going forward."
Hamilton, who hoped to sign a contract extension before spring training, wrapped up his news conference by saying, "It would be nice if it was talking about a contract, but we'll put that on the back burner for a while."
Hamilton said he was out at dinner and ended up ordering three or four drinks. He said he called Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler and asked him to come join him, but he said he didn't tell Kinsler that he had been drinking.
"I did not drink in front of him," Hamilton said. "We finished up at this restaurant that was closing and decided to go across the street to another place that stayed open. We talked baseball, family, life, all these things."
About 30 minutes later, Kinsler was ready to go home. Hamilton said his teammate dropped him off "where I needed to be," about a quarter of a mile away.
"He said, 'You're not going to go back out or anything, are you?'" Hamilton said of Kinsler. "I said, 'No,' and then, 'I'm good.' Then I did exactly what I told him I wouldn't do."
?
Any time I drink, there's a point that comes where a switch flips and you never know when that point's going to be reached, whether it's the first three or four, or the 15th. And that's what's so dangerous about it.
? -- Josh Hamilton
Hamilton returned to Sherlock's Pub & Grill and had several more drinks. He admitted that "things happened that, me personally, I'm not proud of after I drank" but didn't discuss any incidents specifically.
"Any time I drink, there's a point that comes where a switch flips and you never know when that point's going to be reached, whether it's the first three or four, or the 15th," Hamilton said. "And that's what's so dangerous about it."
Sherlock's Baker St. Pub & Grill, the bar where Hamilton went Monday, issued a statement Friday through a public relations agency.
"Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Kinsler were customers at a Sherlock's Baker Street Pub in Dallas on Monday night," the statement says. "Customers at our establishment are responsible for their personal actions. In respect to his privacy, any further inquiries should be directed to Mr. Hamilton."
Hamilton has battled to stay sober since an incident in a Tempe, Ariz., bar a little more than three years ago.
Then, he was photographed drinking with several women and those pictures went viral about seven months later. Hamilton spoke to the media about it at that time and apologized, saying: "I hate that this happened."
After his 2009 relapse, Hamilton immediately called the Rangers and Major League Baseball, and passed a drug test shortly thereafter and went through league-sanctioned counseling. Hamilton also made sure his support system was fully in place, including having Johnny Narron, his "accountability partner" at the time, with him at spring training and through the rest of the season.
Right now, Hamilton and the Rangers are still in the process of finding a new "accountability partner" after Narron left the club to become the Milwaukee Brewers' hitting coach. Hamilton's father-in-law, Michael Dean Chadwick, was planning on assuming that role for Narron but didn't want to leave his teenage daughter as she gets closer to finishing high school.
"We're close to hiring somebody and we were before this happened," Daniels said.
Hamilton was banned from baseball in 2003 for drug and alcohol use while in the Tampa Bay organization. He was reinstated in 2006 and is drug-tested three times a week.
Hamilton, who has a .308 batting average, 118 home runs and 425 RBI during a spectacular, but injury-plagued career, said this episode is a harsh reminder that he must stay vigilant in staying on the right path.
"I cannot take a break from my recovery," Hamilton said. "My recovery is Christ. My recovery is an everyday process. When I take that one day off, it leaves me open for a moment of weakness and it's always been that way.
"For everybody that I've hurt, for fans, kids, people that have addictions that look up to me, I apologize to you. When you're doing this, you don't mean to hurt anybody, but you're only thinking it hurts yourself, but I know it hurt a lot of people."
After his public apology earlier in the day, Hamilton appeared as scheduled Friday night at a Christian men's rally in Katy, Texas, near Houston. He again didn't take any questions, and spoke only to the congregation.
"I could hide in shame and not show up tonight and be withdrawn, but I didn't want to do that," Hamilton told the group while reiterating his Christian faith. "I'm doing what I had to do today. I am fessing up. I am going to be a man about it, I am fessing up. People are going to call me a hypocrite, but I am a sinful man."
Hamilton's wife Katie posted a couple of messages on her Twitter account earlier in the day.
"Truly appreciate all the encouraging & supportive tweets we've been getting," one tweet said. "God is Faithful and forgives -- so thankful that you all are."
Another tweet read: "Showing us such love and encouragement during this time."
Hamilton was especially regretful about the impact his actions could have on his wife, who stuck by his side when he hit rock bottom and was out of baseball, and four daughters.
"I put my wife through a lot in our marriage and she's a very strong woman," Hamilton said. "It's about time I became the strong one in the relationship, take responsibility and take the lead in making choices, making decisions and stepping up and being the man I'm supposed to be and not continue to hurt her, put my kids in situations where they might hear things. It's not a good situation for anybody."
Hamilton, a key figure in the Rangers' two consecutive trips to the World Series, has worked to avoid even the smell of alcohol, something his teammates have respected. They have even catered their postseason celebrations for him (and former teammate C.J. Wilson, who also did not want to be around alcohol) by having ginger ale and water showers before breaking out the champagne after winning a playoff series.
His battle with addiction delayed Hamilton's track to the big leagues despite being the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1999 by the Tampa Bay Rays. He did not make his major league debut until 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds, who traded Hamilton to the Rangers before the 2008 season.
Hamilton's last relapse was in January 2009. When discussing the incident in August 2009, Hamilton said it was the first drink he'd had since Oct. 6, 2005, the day he vowed to stay sober.
"I just ask everybody who's watching and listening to pray for me and pray for my family as we go through this difficult time," Hamilton said. "Pray for me and pray for my family, because it never gets easy. It never gets easy."
Tim MacMahon is a reporter and columnist for ESPNDallas.com. Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
KANSAS CITY -- The Royals have agreed to contract terms with Ramon Hernandez Jorrin, a right-handed-hitting outfielder from Cuba, after evaluating him in the Dominican Republic.
"We had a chance to watch him play in games and we liked him," general manager Dayton Moore said. "Several other teams were trying to sign him as well. He's not a big high-profile guy, but he's had some success in the Cuban professional league. He's been in our academy, our scouts like him and [international scout] Rene Francisco felt we should sign him."
Hernandez Jorrin, 22, is a corner outfielder with some power and a strong throwing arm, Moore said, and he's likely to start in Class A ball.
GRAYSON, Ga. -- One college football recruiter called Grayson High School defensive end Robert Nkemdiche the Southeast's best prospect since the early 1980s, when schools from across the country were lining up to sign two running backs who, more than three decades later, are still affectionately known by only their first names -- Herschel and Bo.
Another college recruiter described Nkemdiche as a younger version of Reggie White, the late NFL Hall of Famer, because of his rare combination of size, speed and strength, as well as his ability to rush quarterbacks from the edge or bull-rush guards and centers from the trenches.
Grayson High School coach Mickey Conn said the college recruiter who compared Nkemdiche to Auburn's Bo Jackson and Georgia's Herschel Walker might have been a little starry-eyed.
Conn said it would probably be more appropriate to compare Nkemdiche to NFL Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor and Derrick Thomas or maybe current Chicago Bears star Julius Peppers.
Nkemdiche (pronounced Kim-dee-chee) isn't afraid of the lofty comparisons -- even if he's only 17 and still seven months away from the start of his senior season of high school football.
"It's crazy," Nkemdiche said. "It's great they compare me to people like that. I want to back it up and make everybody right."
Over the past two weeks, when college football teams were putting the finishing touches on their 2012 recruiting classes, many head coaches were traveling to Grayson, which is about 30 miles northeast of Atlanta, to at least catch a glimpse of the country's No. 1 prospect for the Class of 2013.
Even though NCAA rules permit only minimal contact with high school juniors, Alabama's Nick Saban, Georgia's Mark Richt, Florida's Will Muschamp, Clemson's Dabo Swinney and Tennessee's Derek Dooley each visited Grayson High School during the past two weeks. Assistant coaches from Florida State, Miami, Michigan State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Vanderbilt -- and assistants from at least a dozen other schools -- also stopped by to see the country's most highly sought high school football player.
"The only thing that concerns me with all the recruiters and media and everyone always wanting his time are the distractions," said Conn, who played for Alabama and was a member of the 1992 national championship team. "I've never seen a player as good as him in high school. The comparisons don't bother me. He knows college is going to be a different animal.
"The great thing is Robert has taken it all in stride and handled it with a lot of humility. His teammates have handled it well, too. There's no friction in the locker room and he doesn't try to separate himself from everyone else. He's taken his best friends on trips with him."
Nkemdiche is handling the spotlight with maturity and modesty because he had to grow up faster than most of his classmates. He was born in Atlanta, the son of Nigerian immigrants. Nkemdiche's mother, Beverly, returned to her native country three years ago to become a politician. She was elected a state congresswoman last spring, representing a part of southeast Nigeria.
Nkemdiche said he doesn't worry much about his mother's safety, even though Nigeria has been engulfed by political and religious unrest in recent months. Nigeria is roughly split between the predominantly Muslim north and Christian south. More than 14,000 people were killed in ethnic and religious clashes in the West African nation between 1999 and 2009, according to the International Crisis Group, and recent bombings left more than 300 people dead.
"It's pretty wild," Nkemdiche said. "I feel like she's being protected and she's in God's hands, so I'm not concerned."
Nkemdiche's father, Sunday, lives in Atlanta, but his work schedule made it difficult for Robert to keep attending school at Grayson High. When Beverly Nkemdiche returned to Nigeria, Grayson High assistant coach Lenny Gregory became Nkemdiche's legal guardian. Nkemdiche lived with Gregory for two years, and then lived one semester with Conn's family. Nkemdiche has lived with Rams quarterback Nick Schuessler's family for much of the past year. Schuessler signed a national letter of intent on Wednesday to play football at Mississippi State this coming season.
"It's been good," Nkemdiche said. "Nick and I have a very, very close bond. We're like brothers. I love his family and they love me."
Nkemdiche's older brother, Denzel, was a freshman defensive back at Ole Miss this past season. Beverly Nkemdiche visited her sons in Atlanta for two weeks over the Christmas holiday, and she and Robert communicate almost daily via text messages and Facebook.
Conn got his first glimpse of Nkemdiche when he returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown while playing on an eighth-grade team. As a freshman at Grayson High, Nkemdiche played about 10 snaps a game. He had 19 sacks as a sophomore, helping lead the Rams to a 10-4 record and the Class 5A state semifinals.
This past season, Nkemdiche had 18 sacks and ran for 17 touchdowns, guiding Grayson High to a 15-0 record and Class 5A state championship. In the Rams' 24-0 victory over Walton High School in the state championship game in the Georgia Dome, Nkemdiche ran for 85 yards and one touchdown. On one play on defense, he lifted a blocker with his right arm and tore the jersey off running back Tyren Jones -- another highly regarded prospect -- with his left.
"He's the best defensive line prospect in high school I've ever seen and it's not even close," said Central Gwinnett High School coach Todd Wofford, whose team lost to Grayson 22-0 last season. "He has it all. We held him to two sacks, and I thought we did a great job on him. We put two men on him and chipped him with a running back all night. When he decides he wants to get back there, he's going to get back there. It doesn't matter how many guys you put on him."
Nkemdiche certainly looks the part of being the country's top high school prospect. He's 6-foot-5 and weighs 270 pounds. He bench presses 350 pounds, power cleans 335 and squats more than 500. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds, a time usually reserved for running backs and other skill players.
"It's unbelievable how compacted he is," North Gwinnett High School coach Bob Sphire said. "Obviously, he must be all muscle. I've had some of the older recruiters come through here and tell me he's Lawrence Taylor. He's really good. He's legit. He's extremely explosive and he's a tough football player. He ain't no pretty boy. He'll get down and dirty."
Nkemdiche said he doesn't have a favorite college at this point. He said he's most interested in Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Oregon. He attended games at Alabama and Georgia this past season and attended the Crimson Tide's Junior Day this past weekend.
"When I look at schools, I start with the coaches and how they discipline their kids," Nkemdiche said. "Then I go to the players and how I interact with them, and then I look at how early I can play."
Nkemdiche will sign with the college of his choice on Feb. 6, 2013. It figures to be one heck of a recruiting battle.
"When it started, I was quite a bit surprised," Nkemdiche said. "As it got more and more, I just blocked it out. I didn't let it get to me and just paid attention to my team and season. It's good I'm ranked up there. It's going to be crazy."
Mark Schlabach covers college sports for ESPN.com. You can contact him at schlabachma@yahoo.com.
SANTO DOMINGO -- From the Yaquis to the Yankees last season, Luis Ayala is familiar with the road he is on now.
A year ago, the right-hander took the mound for Mexico's Obregon squad during the Caribbean Series without a job in the United States and ended up signing a Minor League deal with New York a few days after the round-robin ended.
On Friday, Ayala stepped on the rubber for Obregon again, this time against Puerto Rico's Indios de Mayaguez, and, just like last year, he's in search of one more shot at the big leagues. Whether he gets another chance or not is to be determined. One thing is certain: The veteran is not ready to call it quits anytime soon.
"Fortunately, my participation in the Caribbean Series last year gave me chance at a contract with the Yankees," Ayala, 34, said. "Here I am in the same situation, a free agent again after another year in the Major Leagues having a little bit of a hard time signing. I haven't had any good offers but I'm confident that, God permits, I will get a chance to pitch for a team that will allow me to show my abilities."
Ayala is off to a good start. The veteran was perfect in 1 2/3 innings and picked up the save in Mexico's 2-0 win against Puerto Rico in Friday afternoon's game. On Saturday, Ayala should get another chance to pitch when Mexico (1-2) faces Venezuela's Tigres de Aragua in the matinee, followed by Puerto Rico (1-1) against the Dominican Republic's Escogido squad in the nightcap.
Detroit's Andy Dirks hit an RBI single in the top of the 13th inning to break a 2-2 tie, and Milwaukee's Erick Almonte drove in two more runs to pace the Dominican Republic (2-0) to a 5-2 victory against Venezuela (0-2) in the second game Friday to remain undefeated. Julio Lugo also had a hit for the Dominican Republic in the victory. Almonte drove in three of Escogido's runs in the win.
"I was just waiting on my pitch and did the best I could when I had the opportunity," Almonte said. "We will rest up and come win tomorrow."
In last year's Caribbean Series, Ayala pitched five scoreless innings in four games as Mexico's closer. He allowed only two hits and picked up two saves.
The question remains: Can he keep it up this year? Ayala says he can and there is a reason why he is feeling so confident these days. He had an ERA of 0.92 with 12 saves in 19 2/3 innings this winter for Obregon.
"I feel healthy and I feel confident and I feel it's very important to show what you are capable of doing when you are healthy," he said. "I know I can get back to the big leagues. I think my numbers were pretty good when I was with the Yankees. It was a little difficult at the end because of a few ailments, but I'm confident I can do something in [the Major Leagues]."
Ayala was a pleasant surprise for New York last season, finishing with a 2-2 record and a 2.09 ERA in 56 innings for the Yankees. He does not appear to fit into New York's plans for 2012, although there are reports the club has expressed interest in bringing him back. The Astros, Angels and Orioles are also reportedly interested in the veteran.
Changing teams should not be an issue for Ayala. He's pitched for five teams -- Expos/Nationals, Mets, Twins, Marlins and Yankees -- in parts of seven big league seasons in his career. He was originally purchased from Mexico's Saltillo club by the Rockies in 1999 and then bought back by Saltillo two years later.
In 2002, the Expos purchased his contract from Saltillo and he made his debut with them the following season. The right-hander was in Washington's organization until 2008, but was traded to the Mets that year. He has been with six different Major League organizations since 2009.
That said, the uniform Ayala is wearing this week remains the most important.
"This is something that you will never forget, being in the Caribbean Series, and I'm proud to represent Mexico," Ayala said. "This is an event that has a lot of tradition and it's great to compete against the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Puerto Rico on this level. It's an honor to defend the colors of your country."
COLLEGE PARK, Md. � Maryland coach Mark Turgeon would rather meet with mentor Roy Williams at a restaurant than on the basketball court.
Turgeon was an assistant to Williams for four seasons at Kansas two decades ago. Now in charge of rebuilding the program at Maryland, Turgeon will go up against Williams for the first time Saturday when the Terrapins (13-8, 3-4) host No. 5 North Carolina in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.
Turgeon isn't looking forward to it. He says, "You don't ever want to play against friends. That's no fun.'
But Maryland's first-year coach says Friday he's less worried about facing Williams than he is about trying to find a way to stop standout forward Harrison Barnes, the leading scorer for the Tar Heels (19-3, 6-1).
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Mark Cuban is $75,000 lighter in the wallet after being fined for his criticisms of the crew that officiated the Dallas Mavericks' Wednesday night loss to Oklahoma City.
Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, who was ejected from that game after kicking a ball into the stands, also was hit with a $35,000 fine, according to the Dallas Morning News.
But that's something of a victory for the Mavericks, since there was concern expressed by Cuban that Carlisle could be suspended.
And, as CNBC's sports business columnist Darren Rovell�tweeted: "Mark Cuban's 75K fine represents 0.003% of his net worth. That's the equivalent of fining the average American THREE DOLLARS."
The Rangers should take Josh Hamilton's latest relapse into consideration during contract talks, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor. 
Any time I drink, there's a point that comes where a switch flips and you never know when that point's going to be reached, whether it's the first three or four, or the 15th. And that's what's so dangerous about it. 
