Peyton Manning says 'I really feel good

Manning, in an interview with ESPN's Trey Wingo, said that he and Irsay will discuss whether the Super Bowl-winning quarterback will remain with the Colts "at the appropriate time, and when we do, I think some decisions will be made after that. But until then I'm just continuing to rehab, work hard, and to enjoy this week because it really is a special week for the city and certainly for my family."

Manning said that his recovery from spinal fusion surgery in September -- his third surgery in 19 months -- is going well despite the fact he didn't play last season.

"I really feel good. I continue to make progress every day," he said. "Everything that the doctors have told me has been on point, which is encouraging to me. I just had a great day today with rehab, just got back from the facility, and that's what we continue to do. Just keep trying to get better. So far I have. That's the plan from here on out."

Manning said that he'll continue to have checkups over the next several weeks, and termed his mood as "encouraging."

The Colts face a March 8 deadline for a decision on Manning. They owe him a $28 million option bonus on that date. If they don't pay it, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Asked to predict what decision will be made, Manning deferred.

"I cannot predict that," he said. "I think it's well documented how I feel about this city, the fans, the Colts, Jim Irsay. It's well documented. Tough decisions have to be made. They'll be made at the appropriate time. This is just not the week to do it. It's not the week. I know people can talk about it, that's fair, that's part of the game. It doesn't mean that I have to add to that conversation, and I just don't plan to."

Andy Reid 'optimistic' about 2012

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid confirmed Tuesday that Juan Castillo will remain the team's defensive coordinator and also announced that Todd Bowles has been hired as the team's secondary coach.

Reid, explaining why it took him until the end of January to address the 2011 season, said he wanted to take some time to reflect on all aspects of his team after a disappointing 8-8 record.

"Bottom line is we have to do better," he said.

Reid said he didn't want to make excuses for the 2011 season, but "I'm very optimistic going forward and I feel very good going into next year."

When asked if he felt more pressure to win from owner Jeffery Lurie in 2012, Reid said "there's no more pressure than there has been."

"That's why we do this. We do this to bring a championship to the city of Philadelphia, to get the ring and that's why players play, that's why coaches coach. And when we go about our business in the offseason that's how we do it and we crank on that. We spend a lot of hours and are involved in it.

"So I understand where he's coming from and I'm right there with him on that. He didn't say anything in there that ruffled my feathers or anything else that I don't completely agree with. And listen, I know that's how the fans feel and I understand that. I completely understand that. And it's a frustration, I understand that. My point is that we're going to bust our tail to get it right, that's where I'm at."

When asked if he thought 2012 is a make-or-break season for him, Reid said he approaches every season that way.

"I think every season you come out as a coach and a player, it's a make-or-break season. That's how you look at it, and if you don't, you're wrong. You've taken the wrong approach," he said.

Besides the addition of Bowles, the rest of the coaches will remain in their same roles, Reid said. The Eagles coach also said he talked to Steve Spagnuolo about joining his staff before the former St. Louis Rams coach agreed to become the New Orleans Saints' defensive coordinator.

Bears hire Phil Emery for GM position

The Chicago Bears have hired Kansas City Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery as their new general manager.

Emery was an area scout for the Bears from 1998-2004. He replaces Jerry Angelo, who was fired after an injury-riddled 8-8 season.

Emery and New England Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht were finalists and both interviewed twice.

The Bears also interviewed San Diego Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye, New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross, and current director of player personnel Tim Ruskell.

49ers' Aldon Smith charged with DUI

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested and charged with DUI early Saturday morning in Miami.

According to a police press release, Miami Beach Police arrested and booked the standout rookie into jail at 9:32 a.m. ET Saturday morning.

Smith's bond was set at $1,000.

Smith, in his first season out of Missouri, led the 49ers with 14 sacks and is a top candidate for NFL Rookie of the Year.

Giants win with OT FG

 The New York Giants have their own Super Bowl formula: in overtime and on the road.

And with Lawrence Tynes' foot.

Five plays after the 49ers' Kyle Williams fumbled a punt, Tynes kicked a game-winning 31-yard field goal in overtime, sending the Giants to the Super Bowl with a 20-17 victory over San Francisco in the NFC championship game on Sunday.


In another tight one in this decades-old postseason rivalry, both defenses made key stops before New York capitalized on a rare mistake in San Francisco's resurgent season. Williams' blunder put the Giants in perfect position for another sensational finish in a season full of them.

"That was a tough game. We had to fight for every yard that we got," Giants quarterback Eli Manning said. "Defense was outstanding, special teams getting us two turnovers was huge. That led to 10 points."

The first three overtime series ended in punts before Williams fumbled. The Giants won it moments later and silenced -- for good this time -- the towel-waving, poncho-wearing sellout crowd at cold, rainy Candlestick Park.

"It was one of those situations where I tried to turn it upfield and it just didn't work out," Williams said.

Manning and the Giants (12-7) will face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 in Indianapolis as 3½-point underdogs. The last time the teams met for the NFL title, 2008, the Giants ended the Patriots' bid for a perfect season.

Tynes had a hand, er, foot in getting the Giants to that one, too, kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime at Green Bay.

Adrian Peterson begins knee rehab

The pain from the surgery was agonizing, and it prevented him from sleeping much most nights. That means there was plenty of time for the mental torture to take its toll as well, as the Minnesota Vikings star running back wondered what he could have done differently in that game against the Redskins to prevent such a devastating injury.

Peterson

Now that Peterson is up walking around and has started the rehabilitation process, he is determined to return to his All-Pro form.

Peterson and Vikings head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman met with reporters on Friday to give an update on his recovery, two weeks after Peterson had surgery to reconstruct the ACL and repair the MCL in his left knee.

"I feel like the first week was the toughest part for me, not being able to sleep, waking up every two hours, just dealing with the pain and the frustration, looking ahead like, 'Wow, I've got a long way before I'm able just to move around and walk,'" Peterson said. "But after that first week, I feel like things really just started to calm down. The pain started to subside. I was able to just get more motivated about the process."

Hall of Fame announces 17 finalists for Class of 2012

Two first-year-eligible nominees -- coach Bill Parcells and offensive tackle Will Shields -- are among the 15 modern-era finalists who will be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2012 when the 44-member selection committee meets Feb. 4 in Indianapolis, the day before Super Bowl XLVI.

Joining Parcells and Shields as finalists are 12 modern-era players and a contributor.

Although technically a first-year-eligible candidate, Parcells has been a finalist twice before (2001, 2002) following his announced retirement as head coach of the New York Jets in 1999. Parcells returned to coach the Dallas Cowboys in 2003, and the five-year waiting period was in effect when he retired from coaching in 2006.