Manning ruled OK to play

Peyton Manning is cleared to play football. Not so clear is whether it will be with the Indianapolis Colts.

Manning's status with the Colts and whether he and team owner Jim Irsay can patch up their public spat remain unsettled. However, at least it's a possibility now that Manning's surgeon has given the star quarterback clearance to start taking hits again.

"Peyton Manning underwent a thorough medical re-evaluation as part of a postoperative visit with his surgeon," Robert Watkins said in a statement. "As a result of this examination, Manning is medically cleared to play professional football."

Irsay responded to Watkins' statement by writing on Twitter that Manning has not been cleared to play by the team because he has not passed its physical.

Irsay issued a statement Friday regarding the status of his relationship with Manning: "Peyton Manning, Jim Irsay and the entire Colts family remain close and unified as we continue to work through all the options that relate to his future with the Colts."

The Colts owe Manning a $28 million roster bonus by March 8. They want to use the No. 1 pick in this year's draft on Manning's successor. And they must make key decisions over the next five weeks without knowing yet how much room they'll have under the salary cap.

Manning, who turns 36 in March, had neck surgery in September — his third in 19 months.

"We're in a holding pattern in that respect," new general manager Ryan Grigson said when asked if the uncertainty would prevent the Colts from doing business with their soon-to-be free agents. "Until it is (resolved), we're going to go about our business as usual."

Super Bowl winners among Hall finalists

Charles Haley, Bill Parcells, Jerome Bettis and Ed DeBartolo Jr. — all of whom won Super Bowls — are among 17 finalists who will learn today if they are voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Haley is the only player to win five Super Bowls — two with the 49ers and three with the Cowboys. DeBartolo owned the San Francisco team that won five NFL titles from 1981-1994.

Parcells coached the Giants to Super Bowl wins in 1987 and 1991. He also took the Patriots to the 1997 game they lost to Green Bay.

Bettis helped the Steelers win the 2006 Super Bowl.

Other finalists are Curtis Martin, Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Andre Reed, Chris Doleman, Dermontti Dawson, Kevin Greene, Cortez Kennedy, Willie Roaf, Aenaes Williams, first-year nominee Will Shields and senior committee nominees Jack Butler and Dick Stanfel.

LEGAL: Former Cowboys and Colts offensive lineman Kurt Vollers has been sentenced to 21/2  years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Vollers, 31, played for Dallas from 2002-04 and appeared in two games for Indianapolis in 2005.

RAIDERS: Steve Hoffman was hired as special teams coordinator, the same position he held with the Chiefs the past three years.