Peyton Manning takes swipe at Al Jazeera America closing

If anyone was upset by news that cable news channel Al-Jazeera America was closing after only two years, Peyton Manning was definitely not one of them.

The Denver Broncos quarterback — who was linked to a banned human growth hormone by the network last month — made light of the announcement that Al Jazeera will soon shut down after failing to attract a wide enough audience in the US.

"I'm sure it's just devastating to all their viewers," Manning sneered at a press conference in Colorado Wednesday.

And with good reason.

The fledgling news outlet  aired a documentary, The Dark Side: Secrets of the Sports Dopers, and reported that Manning ordered shipments of HGH which were shipped to his wife Ashley while he was rehabilitating from a neck injury in 2011.

The 39-year-old Manning has vehemently denied Al Jazeera's accusations and denounced the report as "complete garbage" before threatening to sue the network.

Manning did miss the entire 2011 season as he was undergoing career-saving neck surgeries leading to his departure from the Indianapolis Colts before rebounding to a successful run in Denver.

In October 2013, the channel was launched after opening 12 bureaus in the United States and a state-of-the art studio in New York — backed by a $500 million investment.

However it had trouble persuading cable and satellite companies to carry it, and only had about 30,000 viewers in prime-time. 

A spokesman for Al Jazeera — which is owned by the Quatari royal family — told The Washington Post that news of the closure will not affect the department that reported the alleged doping scandal.

So far, nothing has come from the allegations and it doesn't sound like Peyton is too worried about them anyway.

Colts owner Jim Irsay pays $2.2 million for Ringo Starr drum set

A drum kit Ringo Starr used to record some of the Beatles' earliest hits was sold for $2.2 million at auction in Beverly Hills to Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts. 

Julien's Auctions said Irsay bought the three-piece 1963 Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl kit on Friday during a two-day auction involving more than 800 items owned by Starr and his wife, actress Barbara Bach.

Starr used the kit in more than 200 performances between May 1963 and February 1964 and was used on such iconic recordings including Can't Buy Me Love, She Loves You, All My Loving and I Want to Hold Your Hand.

The auction, which includes items like instruments and career memorabilia, concludes Saturday.

Also for sale is a guitar used by John Lennon, which the late Beatle gave to Starr.

"[We] thought... we've got lots of furniture, we've got lots of cutlery... and I thought let's make it really crazy and special... like John's guitar,' Starr said at a party on Tuesday night ahead of the auction.

"It's been played twice," he added.

Last month, Julien's Auctions sold a drum head from a kit Starr played on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 for $2.1 million.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the couple's Lotus Children Foundation, which focuses on global social welfare issues.

So if you hear someone banging out It Don't Come Easy from the owner's box at Lucas Oil Stadium, you'll know who it is.

Protesters rappel off top deck at Colts-Panthers game with protest banner (VIDEO-PHOTOS)

Monday night's rain-soaked Panthers overtime victory over the Colts had more than its share of twists and turns, but the most crazy moment occurred when a pair of protesters rappelled off the top deck of Bank of America Stadium and unfurled a banner while hanging in mid-air longer than one of Andrew Luck's three interceptions.

During the surreal moment, the two protesters dangled over fans in the lower tier and in front of press-box windows late in the third quarter, then displayed a banner telling the Charlotte-based Bank of America to "dump Dominion" — a reference to Dominion North Carolina Power and a website WeAreCovePoint.org. (The site has since crashed.)

BofA currently owns the naming rights of the stadium.

The game continued as police and stadium moved the crowd from underneath the dangling anarchists, communicating with them to no avail.

#Carolina @Panthers Game - Bank Of America protesters going to jail #MNF #NFL pic.twitter.com/zngpAPfRZ1

— Brad R. Howard (@brad_howard) November 3, 2015

They eventually came down and were arrested.

Got photos of both protestors being escorted out. Neither seemed worried nor to have showered in quite some time. pic.twitter.com/Zo1wK4hyNe

— DEC Management (@davidcanter) November 3, 2015

Monday Night Football's broadcast did a quick cutaway to the two rappellers before returning to the game, but the press box did a bird's-eye view of the idiotic duo.

Protesters rappel by press box, hang a sign that says Dump Dominion pic.twitter.com/unJllSAfbS

— scott_fowler (@scott_fowler) November 3, 2015

Fans immediately took to the Internet wondering how in the world did the pair manage to get all of the sophisticated rappelling gear inside the stadium considering that bags that have to be checked prior to entry including: "purses, bags or clutches no larger than 4.5" x 6.5."

The Bank of America Stadium has detailed list of allowed and prohibited items on its website. 

Panthers spokesman Steve Drummond says the team and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are investigating the incident. 

Female reporters barred from Jaguars locker room during media diversity weekend: Report

Three female reporters were temporarily barred from entering the Jacksonville Jaguars locker room following the team’s loss to the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.

Graham Watson of Yahoo Sports, Joey Chandler of the Tuscaloosa News and the Tulsa World’s Katie McInerney were not allowed to enter the locker room by someone they described as an usher, reported the Indianapolis Star.

“At first we thought we had the wrong door,” Watson said. “He said, ‘I’m not sure you’re allowed back there.’”

Chandler added: “He said, ‘I’m sure you know how guys are, I’m just warning you.’”

Ironically, the women were reportedly at the game as part of the Associated Press Sports Editors sports media diversity weekend.

When getting ready to enter Jags locker room with other APSE female fellows, old man tried to deny us entry. It's still 2015, right?

— Joey Chandler (@Joey_TNews) October 4, 2015

According to Watson and Chandler, after the man stopped them, he started asking people if they were allowed in the locker room, delaying their entry for two to three minutes. Someone with the Jaguars eventually told him they were allowed in, according to the women.

I was just blocked from a locker room by an old, out-of-touch geezer who wasn't sure women were allowed because "you know how guys are."

— Graham Watson (@Yahoo_Graham) October 4, 2015

According to Watson and Chandler, the public relations teams of both the Colts and the Jaguars later apologized for the incident.

Colts spokesman Avis Roper said “the usher was in an area where he didn’t know who was allowed access.”

Or the "geezer" as Watson so succinctly put it.

Funny, you don't you hear male reporters barred from women's locker rooms after a game complain about exclusion? And while these righteous female reporters were quick to jump on social media and start tweeting discrimination, why aren't they calling for equal access for their male counterparts at women's events?

There's still a thing called privacy — even in 2015.

Colts hang 'AFC Finalist' banner at Lucas Oil Stadium, get ridiculed by Internet

The Indianapolis Colts decided to commemorate their 45-7 AFC title game loss to the Patriots by hanging an "2014 AFC Finalist" banner at Lucas Oil Stadium this week.

I spy a new #Colts banner inside @LucasOilStadium. We're live from mini-camp beginning 4p #TheNowIndy on @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/wLDkp4YOSE

— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) June 10, 2015

And, if hanging up a banner that will remind you of a 38-point beat-down every time your team plays at home wasn't bad enough, the Twitter trolls had a field day.

The Colts hanging a "2014 AFC Finalist" banner at Lucas Oil is the funniest thing anyone's ever done in the history of sports

— Jill Pellegrini (@jillpell28) June 10, 2015

Colts hang AFC finalist banner. Congratulations on getting smoked 45-7 & putting a banner up to remind you how bad you lost

— Eric Blodgett (@eblodge8706) June 10, 2015

We scored 3 points in the first quarter..... Gotta hang a banner. #Colts

— ryan berardi (@armyrossi) June 10, 2015

In the Colts' defense, this isn't the first time they've hung up an "AFC Finalist" banner, it's just the first time they've done it in the social media era when people could make fun of it. Here's a look at the banners from 1995 and 2003.

Colts have been doing that "finalist" banner thing for a long time now, for what it's worth. pic.twitter.com/MUAhIlzVy1

— Christopher Price (@cpriceNFL) June 10, 2015

Gronk does Happy Dance after epic touchdown (VIDEO)

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is used to scoring impressive touchdowns, but this effort in his team's 42-20 win on Sunday Night Football over the Indianapolis Colts was one for the ages. 

Gronk catches the ball on the 18-yard line, brushes off or runs over five Colts players before steamrolling into the end zone for a 26-yard score.

Then came a well deserved Happy Dance:

And all that before blocking Sergio Brown into an NBC camera on a previous play:

Scoring touchdowns just seems to come naturally to the Gronk. As does the dance:

Bettor loses $100K on Colts' late-game choke: Report

A Delaware bettor put down $5 for a 15-team parlay, looking for a shot to win $100,000. In order to win, the gambler would need to pick all 15 games correctly against the spread. And the odds are long.

But things looked pretty good for this person after Indianapolis rolled to a 14-point third quarter lead and the individual had correctly picked the first 14 games.

All that was needed to collect 100 grand was a Colts win by more than three.

And we know what happened.

The Colts ended up blowing the two touchdown lead and losing, 30-27, on a Cody Parkey field goal as time expired.

"It definitely looked like Delaware had a winner when the Colts were up by 14 midway through the third quarter," lottery director Vernon Kirk said in a statement, according to the Delaware News Journal. "Then to have the Eagles rally like that -- and to win in the last three seconds of the game -- it was agonizing to watch when you knew one player was so close to such a big payout."

It's almost a sure bet that this person will need more than Luck on the other team next time he or she bets.

According to the paper, no one has hit this particular parlay since 2011.

[CBS Sports]

Colts' Coby Fleener fakes dunk over crossbar after TD (VIDEO)

Since dunking over the crossbar is banned in the NFL now, Colts tight end Coby Fleener put a new twist on the move Saturday: He fake dunked over the crossbar.

After catching a 21-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Luck, Fleener walked up to the crossbar like he was going to dunk it. The referee then stared Fleener down, as if he was daring Fleener to slam it down.

That's when Blue the Colts mascot trotted over to rein in Fleener and save him a hefty fine.

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham was fined $30,000 last week for his two rogue  touchdown celebrations — and that ain't horse feed.

But Fleener went to Stanford, so he knows better.

Colts won't let Hakeem Nicks wear No. 88: Report

After wearing No. 88 during his five-year career with the New York Giants and as a standout receiver at North Carolina, Hakeem Nicks has been given No. 14 by the Colts, according to the team's website.

And not by any choice of the newly acquired wideout.

To be clear, the Colts have not officially retired the 88 jersey which the team’s all-time leading receiver, Marvin Harrison, wore during his 13 seasons in Indianapolis, and which Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey wore for nine seasons in Baltimore. But the Colts aren’t giving No. 88 out anymore.

“Everybody knows I love those eights on my chest, but we’ll have to see how that pans out,” Nicks said when he signed with the Colts in March.

The Colts are running out of numbers in the 80s, with Raymond Berry’s 82 and Gino Marchetti’s 89 both retired, and Reggie Wayne’s 87 likely to be retired some day as well. But it's only right they retire 88, and when they do they should honor both Harrison and Mackey.

The Colts open their offseason conditioning program Monday, at which time Nicks will work out in his new number.

Nicks wants long-term contract, courts Colts, Chargers and Panthers: Report

Hakeem Nicks wants to clarify his earlier remarks about accepting a one-year, prove-it contract. What he really meant to say was that he wants a long-term deal before re-establishing himself on the free-agent market.

And he especially wants the Colts, Panthers, and Chargers to know about it.

Just one day after an ESPN report said the soon-to-be former Giants receiver was willing to accept a single-year deal so he could prove his market value, on Sunday, Nicks corrected himself and told ESPN, “I just want to make it clear that I want a long-term deal.”

He also wouldn’t mind getting it from the three teams he specifically mentioned, reports The New York Daily News.

“Ideally, this is what I want,” Nicks said. “I want to go to a team where I’m the missing link. There are a number of teams that I have my eye on once I hit the market. I know if I went to a place like Indianapolis I would be dangerous with a quarterback like Andrew Luck. I can see myself catching passes from Cam Newton or even Philip Rivers.”

He didn't even mention the Giants or Eli Manning. Not that it matters to them.

Nicks is almost definitely not going to re-sign with the Giants, the team that made him a 2009 first-round draft pick. There doesn’t seem to be any reason for the Giants to give the underachieving Nicks a lucrative, long-term contract, not after two subpar seasons and lingering questions whether he gave one-hundred percent last season.

Nicks figures to attract plenty of interest from other teams and likely will start setting up visits on Tuesday when teams can speak with him directly. Until then, the only contact interested teams can have is with Nicks’ agent.

“Players have already started to reach out to me from other teams saying they would love for me to come join them,’’ Nicks told ESPN. “I just want to make it clear that I want a long-term deal and I want to be happy. I’m excited about talking to teams and making it work.”

Colts punter fined for tweeting naked pic of Andrew Luck: Report

Taking photos in a locker room is never a good idea. And tweeting nude shots is always a bad decision. But tweeting out a naked picture of your star quarterback is absolutely forbidden and will now cost Colts punter Pat McAfee a little chunk of his Wild Card game earnings.

McAfee has been fined an undisclosed amount of money by the team for accidentally tweeting out a photo of Andrew Luck in almost all of his glory last weekend.

Luckily, for everyone involved, a guy strategically held a cell phone in the way; so it was more PG than X-rated.

"Yeah, I got fined," McAfee said, via the Indianapolis Star. "More than a dollar, less than $3 million, which is good news. But it was completely expected and completed warranted."

After tweeting out the picture to his 170,000 followers on Twitter, McAfee eventually realized Luck wasn't wearing any clothes and he immediately deleted the picture. 

"I didn't realize it until I was halfway home and my girlfriend got a text message," McAfee said of when he realized Luck was in his birthday suit. "I immediately started to sweat. I was disgusted. I was worried that Andrew was going to hate me because he's such a good person. The last thing you want to do is sell out a teammate. I felt like I did that."

Fortunately for McAfee, his quarterback took it all in stride.

"I called him like 400 times but his phone was off, his phone was off, his phone was off," McAfee said. "It was finally turned on and he answered. I said, 'Man, I am so sorry that happened.' He handled it so well, like the cool person he is. He said, 'No worries about it, dude.' I said, "If it means anything to you, you look good.' "

McAfee surely won't be posting any pics of Lucky's charms anytime soon, but that's only because he has moved on to tweeting out new flavors of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

“@CTCSquares: It's here! #chocolatetoastcrunch #choc #nom pic.twitter.com/jOn5IsfG9F”~ #GameChanger
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 8, 2014

[CBSSports]

Frozen Kansas City fountain dyed Chiefs red is being compared to a winter murder scene

A frozen Kansas City fountain covered with red dye to show support before the Chiefs AFC Wild Card game on Saturday is now being ridiculed for looking more like an blood-spattered arctic crime scene — after the team's shocking loss to the Colts — than a symbol of pride.

Kansas City officials eager for their home team's chance to get to the Super Bowl coated the Northland fountain, known for its beautiful winter ice formations, in blood-red dye.

Unfortunately for Chiefs fans, what started out as symbol of hope and solidarity has now taken a sinister form of murder and betrayal— just like in the film "Fargo" — and led to rounds of mockery from national media and the hometown fans alike.

"This is the first time we have attempted to dye a frozen fountain. #ChiefsKingdom," wrote the Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department on its Facebook page.

And as Facebook user Mark Frazier responded, "'Attempt' is the key word.'"

"Hope it's the first and last time," wrote another.

Photos on the city Facebook page show the steady progression of the fountain from crimson winter wonderland to an ominous shade of pink.

More than one commenter drew a cinematic comparison to the brilliant Coen Brothers film.

"Looks like the scene in Fargo were Steve Buscemi is going through the wood chipper..." wrote one woman.

National news outlets have picked up on the Kansas City fountain put-downs, as well.

USA Today wrote: "It just looks like there should be police tape around the whole thing' and said the fountain looked like 'something from a horror movie."

"It looks like something horrible happened here," wrote Deadspin.

While the widespread ridicule of its attempt at showing team pride undoubtedly hurts for the good people of Kansas City, the life-sucking loss probably cuts more.

And it sure looks like Andrew Luck holding that foot at the woodchipper.

Kansas City Star headline says it all about Chiefs loss (PHOTO)

The Indianapolis Colts beat the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday in what was the second-biggest comeback in playoffs history.

The editors at the Kansas City Star have offered their opinion on the matter. And no better place to express that opinion than on the front page of a newspaper for all of KC to see Sunday morning.

When the team you cover for a living now owns the longest postseason losing streak in NFL history — it's worthy of New York tabloid-style headline.

Oh my @romenesko RT @jeff_rosen88: The Sunday @kcstar is not a happy read for #Chiefs fans. pic.twitter.com/zlvAGu8Z86
— Jeremy Bernfeld (@jeremybernfeld) January 5, 2014

Colts fan executes ultimate pregame photobomb (PHOTO)

As you can see from this photo, a bunch of Chiefs-attired fans had gathered for a group shot in front of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis before Saturday's wild-card game against the Colts. It was, however, photobombed by an opportunistic Indy fan who happened to be walking past at just the right time.

Gotta love the shocked expressions in the whole group —  and that was before the real Andrew Luck air-bombed the real Chiefs inside.

That's quality photobombing. #NFLPlayoffs #KCvsIND pic.twitter.com/DOuGaH842I
— NFL (@nfl) January 4, 2014

Chad Johnson offers to rescue Bengals fans from blackout

As reported earlier this week, the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers still had several thousand unsold tickets for this weekend’s playoff games.

If the teams are unable to sell those tickets by a Thursday deadline, their respective playoff games will be blacked out on local television.

The Bengals still have about 8,000 tickets to sell to avoid a blackout of Sunday's playoff game against the Chargers. But on New Year's Eve, former Bengals receiver Chad Johnson made a generous offer on Twitter that could take care of everything.  In response to a story by Cincinnati Enquirer writer, Joe Reedy, about the Bengals stating, "Unless the rate of daily sales increases, we will not achieve a sellout," Chad Johnson tweeted, "I'll get the rest." After almost 300 re-tweets one fan asked if Johnson was actually going to buy the tickets.  He responded that he would be in touch with Jeff Berding, Bengals Director of Sales and Public Affairs, once back in Miami. If Johnson does purchases the remaining 8,000 tickets to Sunday's game the total bill would come to over 900,000 dollars.

That's novecientos mil to you, Ochocinco.

Steep tab for a guy who pleaded to have his child support payments lowered only last summer.

I'll get the rest RT @joereedy: Statement from #Bengals: “Unless the rate of daily sales increases -- we will not achieve a sellout.
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) December 31, 2013

The reaction from Bengals fans was mixed with everything from "I've got a bridge to sell you" to "Make him an honorary captain."

Chad Johnson played wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2001 to 2010.

LAPD busts hoaxer who prank called coaches about job openings

The LAPD busted a notorious hoaxer who punked top coaches into believing they were getting offers for high-profile gigs.

Kenneth Tarr was arrested in Hollywood on Monday on felony eavesdropping charges for recording conversations with top sports officials without their consent, NBC News reported.

The limelight-starved scam artist made phony phone calls about job openings to at least a dozen current and former NBA, NFL and college coaches, including former Colts head coach Tony Dungy.

Dungy, now an NBC football analyst, told sportscaster Dan Patrick in October he'd been offered the head coaching job at USC — but, in fact, he'd fallen for Tarr's scam.

The school later scrambled to deny they'd offered the two-time Super Bowl winner the gig.

Tarr, 32, who has a history of scamming his way onto reality shows, boasted to Deadspin in October that he'd strung along dozens of others, including Broncos interim head coach Jack Del Rio and University of Hawai'i head coach Norm Chow, whom he allegedly spoke to about a job with the Giants.

Tarr was being held in a Hollywood jail on $20,000 bail.

Vontae Davis says Colts 'prepared really hard for Tom Brady'

Unless you were hiding under a rock all week, you probably knew that Peyton Manning was coming back to play at Lucas Oil Field. Apparently cornerback Vontae Davis didn't get the memo — or did he?

After his Colts won and ruined Manning's return to Indianapolis, Davis was asked by NBC's Michelle Tafoya about limiting the Broncos offense on Sunday night and he said the Colts "prepared really hard for Tom Brady."

"We had a good week of practice," Davis said. "We prepared really hard for Tom Brady."

Davis' comment was made during the craziness  of the postgame, so it's possible he just didn't realize what he was saying.

But, because Davis' comments came on the heels of Jim Irsay's remarks before the game — the Colts owner pointed out that Brady had several Super Bowl rings — Manning fans now think Davis knew what he was saying to rub it in.

Even if Davis' verbal flub wasn't intentional, it is funny.

Colts' Andrew Luck has likeness created in Indiana cornfield maze (PHOTO)

One way you know you've made it in the mid-west is to have your image carved out in a cornfield. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is the latest middle-American star to be granted that honor.

This 12-acre corn field maze in Waterloo, Indiana with the Indianapolis QB's image gouged out of the 10-foot stalks will be open to the public on Sept. 21. According to Larry Smith, whose family runs the maze, the idea came about after a friend carved a Peyton Manning maze in Denver last year.

Smith said he got permission from Luck and the Colts to use their logo. He's also invited the second-year QB to the maze but hasn't heard anything yet.

The maze, which was tweeted out by ESPN’s Darren Rovell not only features the likeness of Luck (while in mid-pass), but has his name and a cut-out horseshoe resembling the Colts’ logo, none of which could have been easy to do. Aliens couldn't have done it any better.

Call it an amazing maize maze.

Reggie Wayne arrives at Colts training camp in helicopter

Reggie Wayne sure know how to make an entrance.

The veteran Indianapolis Colts receiver decided that coming in a high-end luxury automobile just wasn't good enough, so he arrived to camp in a helicopter.

A little over the top but this was for a good cause, as he brought a guest from Riley Children's Hospital with him to camp on the helicopter.

Here's it is, from Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star:

Reggie Wayne has arrived pic.twitter.com/ClLNTWbgIt
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) July 27, 2013

[Yahoo! Sports]

Ahmad Bradshaw signs with Colts

New York Giants fans still hoping to see Ahmad Bradshaw rumbling down the field at MetLife Stadium with an "NY" logo on his helmet saw that scenario officially end after the running back signed a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday.

They'll probably get to see Bradshaw run in the Meadowlands — when the Giants host Indy in an exhibition game August 18 — but the popular player will be wearing the Colts horseshoe on the side of his head bucket.

Bradshaw, though still only 27-years-old, was released by the Giants back in February in what was considered a cost-saving move even after gaining over 1,000 yards in a injury-plagued season. The Giants saved $2.75 million in cap space by cutting the often injured Bradshaw.

Surgeries to repair broken bones in both of his feet have been the bane of Bradshaw's stellar career with the Giants.  He underwent another procedure following the 2012 season.

The one-year deal with the Colts reportedly includes a $250,000 signing bonus, $1.1 million salary plus per-game incentives that could push his total earnings to over $2 million for the 2013 season.

The 2007 seventh-round draft pick rushed 221 times for 1,015 yards in 14 games last season. His history of injuries made him a risky proposition for the Giants. It helped that they had David Wilson, their 2012 first-round draft pick, ready and waiting on the Giants depth chart.

Wilson is expected to be the Giants' No. 1 back this season, with the emerging Andre Brown as their 1-2 punch. 

Bradshaw, meanwhile, will have a chance to compete for playing time in a crowded Colts backfield with Vick Ballard and Donald Brown.

Bradshaw's last game in Indianapolis, Big Blue fans will remember, was Super Bowl XLVI when he famously fell backwards into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in the Giants' upset of the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium.

It's an image that Bradshaw will live forever in Giants lore.