On Indianapolis’ front, the good news was tempered by Colts owner Jim Irsay, who tweeted that “Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts.”

The sources said Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed the procedure on Manning, examined the player recently in Los Angeles and concluded the stability in his neck would have allowed Manning to play this Sunday, even, 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.”

Watkins, according to the sources, joined Colts neurosurgeon Dr. Hank Feuer in clearing Manning to play. One source said that Feuer recently told Manning, “If you were my own son, I’d tell [you] to go play.”

A spokesman for Watkins said in a one-paragraph email sent later Thursday night that the Colts’ star was cleared to play.

“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.”

Irsay said a team statement would be forthcoming later Friday.

In addition to Manning’s optimistic words expressed in an interview with ESPN on Tuesday, in which he indicated he plans to resume his playing career, the medical clearance by his two doctors, the sources said, will bolster his determination to play in 2012.

What remains in question is the timeline in which Manning’s nerve regeneration to his triceps will improve to the point where he is throwing passes in the manner that helped him win four MVP awards during his 13-year career.

According to one source familiar with Manning’s medical review, “It’s not a safety issue; it’s a performance issue.” This source added that Manning is “making progress.”

The source said Manning had a throwing session Tuesday with two of his Colts receivers — Anthony Gonzalez and Blair White — at an undisclosed location and that Manning has spent numerous recent days throwing to at least one wide receiver, aiming to regain as much strength as possible in his arm.

However, the source said Manning still cannot pinpoint a date when his performance will reach an acceptable level to him. The source alluded that it might take to the one-year anniversary of Manning’s May 23, 2011, surgery on a bulging disk in his neck.

Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay have both said they expect to sit down after the Super Bowl to discuss his future with the team as a March 8 deadline nears in which Manning is due a $28 million option bonus that will trigger the final four years of a five-year, $90 million contract he signed before the 2011 season. The quarterback already received $26 million as part of that deal.

Manning has expressed a desire to settle his future with the Colts “sooner than later.” There is widespread belief around the league that Irsay will not exercise the $28 million bonus. Irsay was not available for comment.

Yet should the Colts opt not to exercise the option, they would be forced to release Manning, who would immediately become a free agent. And so, while the NFL’s free-agent signing period is set to begin with the commencement of a new league year March 13, Manning could be a free agent as early as next week.

If Manning becomes an unrestricted free agent, several teams are expected to bid for him, including the Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and possibly the New York Jets, among others.

Teams such as Arizona already have debated the merits of pursuing Manning behind closed doors. Some people within the Cardinals organization believe Manning could do for Arizona what Kurt Warner once did, propelling the team into an instant playoff contender.

Manning likely would be willing to sign a contract that would tie bonuses and salary to his roster status for 2012, and sources say that he will heavily factor in a team’s ability to have a roster capable of competing for a playoff spot and, consequently, a Super Bowl title.

Trading Manning no longer is an option. Irsay has said he will not trade Manning — which means he would have to pick up the $28 million bonus to retain the quarterback’s rights — and he also will not trade the No. 1 pick in the April draft, when the Colts are expected to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck or possibly Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. Many NFL executives expect Luck to be the pick.

While it is well known that Manning philosophically believes a quarterback who is the first pick in the draft needs to start from day one and wants to avoid the potential controversy that could develop in that situation, the Colts also have aligned their coaching staff with Manning-friendly offensive assistants.

New Colts coach Chuck Pagano recently hired Bruce Arians as the team’s offensive coordinator and retained former offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen as the quarterback coach. Arians was Manning’s first quarterback coach with the Colts form 1998 to 2000, and Manning offered Pagano a strong endorsement on Arians last week when the new coach and quarterback met.

Despite the fact that some have wondered if Manning will play again, the signs have been encouraging, even dating back to December.

In December, Watkins released a statement through the Colts that said: “X-ray and CT examination of the surgical area shows that the fusion performed in September has achieved firm fixation. Peyton now will be allowed to increase the intensity and breadth of his workouts as tolerated.

“There remains every indication that his recovery will continue. There still is no timetable for Peyton’s return to practice, which is one of many steps in his expected return to game action. He is working hard on a rehabilitation program outlined in conjunction with myself, Erin Barill and Peyton. His response to this plan in the future will dictate his return date.”

That is what has happened. Manning has intensified his workouts and now those close to him are more optimistic than ever that he will be playing in 2012.

Chris Mortensen is ESPN’s senior NFL analyst and Adam Schefter is ESPN’s NFL Insider. Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.

INDIANAPOLIS — New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said Wednesday that the team is looking into a specialized cleat he could wear in Super Bowl XLVI to make it easier for him to play despite a high left ankle sprain.

“I think we’re going over that tonight, so we will see with the training staff,” Gronkowski said.

Gronkowski added that he was unsure whether he would practice Wednesday, while Patriots coach Bill Belichick didn’t reveal the team’s practice plans for Gronkowski.

“Rob is doing better, so we’ll just have to see where he is today,” Belichick said. “I think he’s making improvement, getting better every day. We’ll just take it day to day and see what he’s able to do today.”

It is widely assumed that Gronkowski will play Sunday night. The bigger question figures to be the degree of his effectiveness, and even he acknowledged he’s not sure how his time away from the practice field would affect him.

“I’m just staying at weight and doing what I possibly can do to stay in shape,” he said.

Tuesday was Gronkowski’s first day without a walking boot since injuring the ankle Jan. 22 in the AFC Championship Game.

Gronkowski, who was selected to the Pro Bowl after finishing with 90 receptions for 1,327 yards and a tight-end record 17 touchdowns in the regular season, repeated multiple times that he was adopting a short-term focus. He didn’t want to forecast how it would feel by Sunday night.

“I don’t know yet, we’re going day to day,” he said Tuesday. “We’re making new steps every day and feeling better every single day. You just want to keep going in the right direction. I want to be out there with the team, obviously.”

In other injury news, Patriots tackle Matt Light was back in action after missing media day due to an illness.

“I’m doing well. It’s a good morning,” he said.

Light added that he was excited about practicing later Wednesday.

“We have a good game plan here. We are ready to go,” he said.

Fellow tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who also missed media day because of illness, assessed his chances of playing in the Super Bowl. He’s been out since suffering a foot injury Nov. 27.

“I feel all right. I was under the weather for a little while, but I think it’s clearing up now,” Vollmer said of his recent illness. “Physically, I started practicing again, I think it went well. If I’m ready to play or not, Bill (Belichick) and the medical staff make the decision.”

Vollmer missed five of the first six games of the season with a back injury, which lingered even as he tried to rehabilitate his more recent foot ailment.

“It’s hard to deal with. You feel like you beat something, and then you want to get out there. You play a few games. You’re obviously on a good team, you see there’s a chance of going somewhere,” Vollmer said of the two injuries. “I think just dealing with injuries is hard for any player. But just missing time, and just trying to get better. It’s tough sometimes.”

Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.

It happened again Tuesday, when Colts quarterback Peyton Manning denied whispers that he was pondering retirement.

“I have no plans on doing that,” he said.

It’s the strongest indication that, despite having his third neck operation in September, he hopes to play in the NFL when the new season kicks off later this year – something the league is happy about.

“My plan hasn’t changed,” he said. “I’m on track with what the doctors have told me to do, and I’m doing that. I’m rehabbing hard.”

The NFL would prefer to keep the focus on this week’s juiciest story lines — Giants quarterback Eli Manning trying to outdo his older brother by winning a second Super Bowl; Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick chasing their fourth titles and maybe exacting a little revenge for their loss to New York four years ago.

But as everyone knows, this is Peyton’s place, his town, and fans hang on every detail of his recovery.

“It’s not the way it should be,” he said earlier Tuesday in a taped interview with ESPN.

The Colts ended their most tumultuous month in more than a decade with another flurry of moves.

Team officials confirmed Tuesday that they had hired Bruce Arians, Manning’s former quarterbacks coach, as offensive coordinator, and Harold Goodwin as offensive line coach. They also fired tight ends coach Ricky Thomas and assistant offensive line coach Ron Prince.

The whirlwind of changes began Jan. 2, the day after the Colts clinched the No. 1 overall draft pick with a league-worst 2-14 record. Irsay has since fired vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian, and dismissed coach Jim Caldwell and most of his staff — a series of changes that prompted Peyton Manning to voice his complaints two days after the conference championship games.

Two days later, Irsay called Manning a “politician,” fueling a public spat that drew national attention. The two tried to put out that fire before the team’s scheduled arrivals, but the fallout has continued into this week.

“I would think he’s very uncomfortable, especially with the Giants here and Eli,” former Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “When you get to a Super Bowl, even though it’s the second (recent) one for the Giants, you want the focus to be on that achievement. He would much rather have the focus on Eli and what they’ve done to get here, and unfortunately, that’s not going to happen.”

If there were any doubts, they were answered in a strange 24-hour period that began with the host committee’s news conference Monday.

Irsay joined the mayor, governor and two committee officials to discuss game-week preparations, but wound up taking most of the questions, nearly all of which focused on Manning’s future. Afterward, Irsay said he didn’t plan to discuss the Manning situation again this week.

On Tuesday, Manning piped in.

Shortly after the NFL’s annual Super Bowl media day event ended, Peyton Manning met with a small group of reporters with the idea of turning the attention back to Sunday’s game.

That didn’t work too well, either.

“I’m working hard, I had a really good session today,” Manning said after repeatedly being asked about his rehab. “I continue to make progress and work hard. The doctors are encouraged and that’s encouraging to me.”

The four-time league MVP hasn’t played in more than a year because of a damaged nerve that caused weakness in his throwing arm. He had neck surgery in May, then underwent his third and most invasive neck surgery in 19 months in September. Doctors fused two vertebrae together, a procedure that forced him to miss the Colts two-win season.

Since then, there has been rampant speculation about his recovery, the potential risks of a return, whether the Colts will pay Manning a $28 million roster bonus in early March to prevent him from becoming a free agent or whether the soon-to-be 36-year-old might retire.

“My plan hasn’t changed,” Manning said. “I’m on track with what the doctors have told me to do, and I’m doing that. I’m rehabbing hard.”