Irsay insists, again, that he and Manning are fine

INDIANAPOLIS | For the second straight week, Colts owner Jim Irsay is trying to put an end to a public spat between him and Peyton Manning.

Irsay said Friday that he and his star quarterback remain "close and unified." The statement included a photo of Manning, Irsay, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and others at a party Thursday night.

At about the same time they were attending that party, Manning's surgeon issued a statement saying he had been cleared to play football.

A couple of hours later, Irsay responded on Twitter by saying that Manning had not been cleared by the team's doctors -- causing yet another stir during Indy's first Super Bowl week being headlined by Manning's younger brother, Giants quarterback Eli Manning.