INDIANAPOLIS -- A day before one son plays in his second Super Bowl, Archie Manning also is making sure to maintain the confidence of another son, Peyton, as he endures the unresolved situation between he and the Colts.
Archie said Saturday that Peyton still remains in "a good frame of mind" despite the dramatics that have taken some of the spotlight during this week's Super Bowl.
"This week, he didn't want all of this attention," Archie told NFL.com. "But I guess maybe it was inevitable because they're playing the game here. But we're fine. I told Peyton from the get go, 'It'll work out. It will work out.' He's doing all he can to get healthy. That's all he can do. He's had a good attitude about it all."
Some might question the notion that Peyton didn't want the attention this week, since his doctor on Thursday released information to reporters that the four-time NFL MVP had been cleared to play football. Colts owner Jim Irsay tweeted early Friday morning that Peyton hadn't been specifically cleared by the team.
Asked about that exchange, Archie said: "I don't know anything about it. I don't go there. I stay away from that."
Archie did express confidence that Peyton eventually will return to football, although he didn't have any predictions for a timetable.
"I feel like he will," Archie said. "But I'm not a doctor. I know he's going to make every effort. Because he wants to play so bad, I hope it works out."
But what makes him confident?
"I'm just an optimistic kind of guy," Archie said. "I know how hard he's working, and I think more than anything, he hasn't had any setbacks."
