Mike’s Minutes: Manning’s Retirement and Mickelson’s Resurgence

Curtains closed for Peyton?

Super Bowl XLVI couldn’t have produced a more poetic script: two premier quarterbacks, Eli Manning and Tom Brady, facing off against each other for the second time in four years in the city owned by a quarterback to whom both are inextricably linked – Peyton Manning.

As Eli paraded around Indianapolis’ Luca Oil Field celebrating another championship triumph over Brady, all older brother Peyton could do was watch and likely wonder if he would ever again be able partake in that on field jubilation.

But after learning of recent news that Peyton, who is recovering from a neck injury, underwent an alarming four procedures in the past 19 months, it’s safe to wonder if he should ever play again.

Such a story is nothing new in sports. We’ve seen it plenty of times with aging superstars who refuse to accept the inevitably of retirement. Ask Michael Jordan and Brett Favre.

However, Manning’s situation is unique – as most athletes’ play decline in their final years, Manning actually maintained his elite play and durability in 2010, his last season. In 2010, he threw for a career high 4,700 yards with 33 touchdowns, guiding his Indianapolis Colts to another playoff appearance.

That’s perhaps what makes his injury so freakish, so intriguing, and so dangerous. Manning has been unable to get healthy – with reports that he currently has greatly reduced arm strength. And considering he’s not the most mobile quarterback, Manning’s arm strength is essential for him to excel. Essentially, the injury has debilitated one of the game’s best.

As he continues his recovery and prepares for an imminent departure from Indianapolis, Manning needs to ask himself at what cost is he willing to risk his livelihood for the love of the game. All football fans know he revolutionized the quarterback position, with his ability to be an on-field coach while play at an elite level for more than a decade. In the next decade, his plaque will join other greats in Canton.

But if his body isn’t responding, then there’s only one decision Manning should make so he can at least watch his brother play and enjoy a healthy life. He would be unwise to audible from it.

Lefty looking right

Going into the 2012 PGA Tour season, most talk surrounded Tiger Woods’ improving game and his ability to win against the influx of new, young worldwide talent.

However, little discussion was made of Phil Mickelson.

Coming off an erratic one-win 2011 season, many people were writing the 41-year-old, back arthritic-ridden Mickelson as too old to win consistently anymore. But that all changed last week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, when Mickelson scorched playing partner Woods en route to a resounding come-from-behind two-shot victory.

Then came this past week in the Northern Trust Open. Although Mickelson lost to Bill Haas, his play was mostly dazzling, particularly when he birdied the 72nd hole to force a playoff against Haas and Keegan Bradley.

All week, Mickelson showed a quiet confidence and enthusiasm. He admitted that he’s been working tirelessly with coach Butch Harmon and even sought advice from a sports psychologist to help improve his focus on the course. Both are paying off.

It’s a long season, and Mickelson surely will have his share of ups and downs. But his game looks rejuvenated, and other than a Woods fist pump on Sunday, there isn’t quite anything in golf like a triumphant Mickelson.

With The Masters around the corner, golf is heating up thanks to Lefty.

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