It seems the heat, specifically in the Twittersphere, that Bob Kravitz was taking after calling Peyton Manning's right arm a "noodle", was just a little too much for the Indy Star journalist.

On Friday, Kravitz did his best to clarify the comment, stating that he "misspoke":

"I do that sometimes on radio, especially when I haven't had my coffee. I was trying to be funny, flippant, basically saying you don't spend 35 million bucks on a quarterback with a noodle arm. In my head, I was thinking, 'He used to have a laser rocket arm, now it's closer to a noodle arm.' "

I can understand a harmless mistake and we've all had our fair share of bonehead comments. However, I think it's rather surprising that a respected journalist could use such a descriptive term (everyone knows what a friggin' "noodle arm" is...) only to later claim that he was basically messing around. Under these circumstances, that's not exactly a harmless mistake. We are kind of talking about a man's career here. So when you write in a town that currently has a ginormous media magnifying glass hovering above it, you really should try to practice some self-restraint and avoid such "funny" comments. Especially if they aren't, you know, totally accurate...

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Yes, the Manning face.

Before there was Tebowing or Bradying, there was Manning face. No, this is not the face Peyton Manning makes while having sex. At least, we hope it isn't. It's the face Peyton makes when he's really, really, REALLY pissed off after a Colts loss.

Well, it turns out, a very gifted, enterprising, and obviously unemployed artist named David Rappoccio has taken the Manning face and placed it onto every single NFL team logo.

Every. Single. One.

The results are nothing less than pure genius.Here are my personal five six favorite, but you can view all of them at Dave's Art Locker. Special thanks to Deadspin for letting us know of this lovely Friday treat.

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The influence of Tony Dungy's coaching tree is still not lost in Indianapolis. Though Jim Caldwell was sent packing last month, the Colts did retain former Dungy assistant Clyde Christensen, demoting him from offensive coordinator to quarterbacks coach. However, Christensen isn't the only former Dungy coach that will work in Indy next season.

According to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports, Chuck Pagano has tapped Charlie Williams as his new receivers coach. Williams was part of Dungy's original staff in Tampa Bay back in 1996, when Herm Edwards, Rod Marinelli, and Lovie Smith were also assistants under Dungy.

Williams' connection to Pagano is through Butch Davis, the former head head coach for the Cleveland Browns, U. of Miami Hurricanes, and North Carolina Tar Heels. Interestingly, Davis' coaching tree has been blossoming of late. Pagano worked with Davis in Miami and Cleveland, and newly hired Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano also worked with Davis at Miami. In fact, Schiano recently hired Davis to be a 'Senior Defensive Assistant' with the Bucs.

Kind of funny how it all comes full circle.

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The man who once pulled the strings in Indy for over a decade is now providing us with some encouraging words regarding the return of Peyton Manning.

In a sit down with ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, Polian spoke on his own experiences of watching Manning throw from back in late December [emphasis mine]:

"It’s marked [improvement] from where he was back in September," Polian said regarding Peyton’s arm strength in December, when Polian last observed Manning. "He threw it accurately, he threw it with a good, tight spiral, and he threw it with velocity. Generally, he looked like a pretty confident quarterback out there."

We've heard that Peyton basically has a "noodle arm" and we've heard that he's been on the cusp of retirement for quite some time. Manning has practically killed off any retirement reports, along with his agent. Now? We're getting more and more good news about his ability to be, well, Peyton Manning again.

If Manning was making this kind of progress back in late December, it's hard not to be optimistic about his eventual return. In fact, Manning's confidence in his progression might have added some fuel to re-fire the "I'm cleared" media circus that was propelled into the spotlight during the week of Indy's Super Bowl.

As for Polian, he also believes that Manning is on path to show everyone that he will overcome "another obstacle" and return at a "high level".

And it turns out that Polian isn't the only one who is confident about Manning's ability to successfully return.

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One report says Peyton Manning has a "noodle arm."

Another one says Jim Irsay has seen him throw, and is "pleased."

Now, Mike Lombardi of the NFL Network says that he's talked to people who have caught balls from Peyton recently, and the prognosis of his arm strength is not good.

Lombardi told Bill Simmons of ESPN and Grantland that Manning is having trouble throwing the ball to his left and across his body, and receivers he's been working with know it.

He can't throw the ball. I've talked to people who've caught the ball for him. He can't throw the ball to his left. He can't throw the ball across his body because he doesn't feel it. People that catch the ball for him say that he doesn't really have the velocity on the ball yet.

The "he can't feel it" part is likely in reference to Peyton's triceps muscle in his throwing arm, which is a direct result of the nerve regeneration issue he has been experiencing since before he had the third neck surgery in August 2011.

It's interesting to speculate who has been blabbing this kind of stuff to Lombardi. We know Peyton was working with Anthony Gonzalez and Blair White prior to him heading down to Carolina this week to rehab with Duke head coach David Cutcliffe, his former coordinator at the University of Tennessee.

Maybe that's the reason why Peyton left Indy to workout in Carolina, because people were talking. It's within Peyton's interests to convince people he is OK, even if he isn't. If any team has concerns about his arm strength, he's not going to get the offers he wants when the Colts cut him.

Brock Huard might have been the best back-up quarterback Indianapolis ever had during the Peyton Manning era. He was smart, had a good arm, and had experience starting in NFL games prior coming to Indy. His career as a Colt lasted just one season: 2003. An ailing back injury forced him into early retirement. He now does color commentary for PAC-10 football.

Brock played college ball was Washington, and was drafted by Seahawks in 1999, 77th overall. He views Seattle as his home. So, naturally, with the prospect of Peyton Manning's career in Indianapolis coming to an end soon, Brock decided to pen an open letter to his friend and former teammate, essentially begging him to sign with the Seahawks.

So here's the deal -- I think Seattle may just be the best fit of all and when you weigh the final grouping, simply consider this:

1. After your Irsay experience, ownership matters. Paul Allen is the best in the business. He won't meddle, he has unlimited resources and wants to win a championship in the worst way.

2. Seattle is the most removed geographical outpost in the league. The perception is that you need the masses and crave attention; the reality is that you want to win and winning will bring the only attention at this stage of your career that you really desire.

3. Pete Carroll is as committed to football as you are, and he is willing to cut anyone not as demanding and dedicated to that task.

Brock provides four more reasons why Seattle is Peyton's best option. The open letter is very well-written, and it provides an extremely compelling case for a Seahawks-Peyton marriage.

There's also some interesting little insights into how Peyton is, and how much power he wielded within the Colts organization during the Polian years.

Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz said Tuesday on the Tony Kornheiser Show that Peyton Manning currently has a "noodle arm."

"They say he’s not throwing like an NFL quarterback yet. That doesn’t mean he never will. This thing is going to take time. Structurally, he’s sound. Structurally, he can take a hit."

Today, Dave Furst, Sports Director at WRTV-6 (ABC) in Indianapolis, says he has spoken to Jim Irsay, and that Irsay is "pleased" with how well Manning is throwing.

Fresh #JimIrsay on #Peyton coming up at 5 @rtv6. Says moving March 8th deadline being discussed. Saw 18 workout and is pleased. #Colts

— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) February 1, 2012

Now, my initial skepticism of Furst's tweet was in regards to the word 'workout.' A 'workout' is very different than 'throwing.' Peyton can run, do jump jacks, and all that sort of stuff now that his neck is stable. The issue is his arm.

Later on Furst, got some clarification on what the 'workout' might have entailed:

@LovinBlue Peyton's agent confirmed today that moving date was possible. Irsay says hes seen him throw...

— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) February 3, 2012

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Another potential sign that Peyton Manning and the Colts are breaking up: Peyton is no longer working out at the team facility.

According to Duke Blue Devils’ offensive lineman Matt Skura, Peyton Manning is working out in Durham on Duke’s campus. Duke head coach David Cutcliffe was Manning’s offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee.

He has remained close to the Manning family for nearly 20 years, also coaching two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli at Ole Miss.

This news comes to us from Duke Hoop Blog, via PFT.

Now, with Manning no longer throwing and working out at the Colts facility, this is going to bring up the question, why?

Why leave Indianapolis to workout somewhere else when Indy has been the place Peyton's been rehabbing for months? Is it because of the Super Bowl week fallout with Jim Irsay? Is it because an impending divorce is imminent? Does this confirm that Peyton and Irsay have already spoken with this week (which Peyton said he expected), and that we should be hearing something soon regarding Peyton's future?

Questions, questions, and questions galore!

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