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1C Sports Manning 'had concerns' about comeback NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — When Peyton Manning returned to the NFL after a series of neck operations that sidelined him for the entire 2011 season, there was plenty of talk about when — and even whether — he would return to the level of play that earned four MVP awards and two Super Bowl appearances. He ignored others' voices. He couldn't ignore his own questions. ''I certainly had my concerns that entire time,'' Manning said Tuesday at Super Bowl media day, less than a week before he'll lead the Denver Broncos against the Seattle Seahawks. ''I had my concerns, because the doctors just couldn't tell me anything definite. They wouldn't say, 'You're going to be back at this time, at 100 percent strength level.' They couldn't tell me,'' he continued. ''So when the doctors can't tell you that, how do you really know? It was a matter of a lot of faith and trust.'' Manning scoffed as he recalled what some said as he prepared to move to the Broncos from the Indianapolis Colts. ''There was a lot of 'narrative' out there. That's kind of my new word for the year,'' he said with a smile. ''There was a lot of 'narrative' out there on what I couldn't do: 'He can't throw to the left.' And, 'He really struggles throwing to the right.' I'm like, 'How do they know? I've been throwing in private the entire time.' ... At the time, throwing to the left was about the only thing I could do well,'' Manning said. ''So there was a lot of misinformation out there.'' As it turned out, Manning would be just fine. Last season, he led the Broncos to the playoffs, earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. ''I kind of joked, 'I never wanted to be eligible for that award.' When you're injured and you're out for a year, I guess that's kind of what it gets labeled,'' Manning said. ''I've got to call it more of a second chance, second opportunity.'' Broncos coach John Fox called Manning's immediate success in Denver ''truly remarkable.'' ''To build on that,'' Fox added, ''and to have the kind of season he's had to this point this year, I think is unprecedented.'' From the very moment it began in September — on opening night, Manning threw a record-tying seven touchdown passes in a victory over the reigning champion Baltimore Ravens — this season has been all about Peyton. In Year 2 of his second act, Manning threw for 55 touchdowns and 5,477 yards, both records. If the Broncos win Sunday, Manning will become the first starting quarterback to lead two franchises to Super Bowl titles. Still, he has zero interest in discussing where his career stands. As collected and measured as he is while scanning the field from the pocket, Manning coasted through the circus that is media day, opining on his family's favorite beer, politely evading silly questions about reality TV — and avoiding any wild pronouncements. He deflected questions about his accomplishments by talking about the ''team'' and ''organization.'' He praised the Seahawks. He talked about how ''excited'' he is, how ''exciting'' this all is. Others were less shy about characterizing Manning's place in the game. Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas: ''I was nervous the first day I met him. ... He's definitely the best.'' Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson: ''He's one of the best — if not the best — quarterbacks to ever play the game. One day, I want to be like him, in terms of the way he thinks. He's just a master of the game.'' Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor: ''In my book, he ranks No. 1 at quarterback. I have tons of respect for that guy.'' When reporters repeatedly raised the word ''legacy'' to the 37-year-old Manning, he never took the bait. Hardly surprising. ''I've been being asked about my legacy since I was about 25 years old. I'm not sure you can have a legacy when you're 25 years old. Even 37,'' Manning said in response to the first such query. ''I'd like to have to be, like, 70 to have a legacy. I'm not even 100 percent sure what the word even means.'' Then, in about the closest thing to a stumble, Manning continued: ''I'm still in the middle of my career.'' At least one of the dozens of assembled media members gasped, ''Middle?!'' Realizing his miscue, Manning chuckled and went on. ''Let me rephrase that,'' he resumed. ''I'm down the homestretch of my career, but I'm still in it. It's not over yet. And so it's still playing out.'' Tehama Tracker Today's schedule BOYS SOCCER West Valley at Red Bluff, 4:30 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Red Bluff at West Valley, 6 p.m. WRESTLING Foothill at Red Bluff, 6 a.m. Lassen at Corning, 6 p.m. NBA Memphis at Sacramento, 7 p.m. NHL San Jose at Edmonton, 6:30 p.m. Sports on TV AUTO RACING 4 p.m. FS1 — NASCAR, Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, at Charlotte, N.C. GOLF 7:30 p.m. TGC — European PGA Tour, Dubai Desert Classic, first round, part I, at Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2:30 a.m. TGC — European PGA Tour, Dubai Desert Classic, first round, part II, at Dubai, United Arab Emirates MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 4 p.m. ESPN2 — North Carolina at Georgia Tech ESPNU — Memphis at Central Florida 6 p.m. ESPN2 — Arizona at Stanford ESPNU — Iowa St. at Kansas FS1 — Butler at Seton Hall 8 p.m. ESPNU — Arizona St. at California NBA 4 p.m. ESPN — Oklahoma City at Miami 6:30 p.m. ESPN — Chicago at San Antonio NHL 4:30 p.m. NBCSN — N.Y. Rangers vs. N.Y. Islanders, at Yankee Stadium SOCCER 11:40 a.m. NBCSN — Premier League, Manchester City at Tottenham WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 5 p.m. FSN — Texas Tech at Baylor Wednesday January 29, 2014 Sacred Heart finishes 1st Courtesy photo The Sacred Heart "B" Team accomplished its goal of winning the 2014 "B" Girl's Jr. High Kiwanis Basketball Tourney.The team is 15-3 in league and tournament play. Pictured from back left are Coach Ray Flores, Rosalie Mitchell, Taylor McKerras (all tourney), Kennady Sandow (all tourney), Megan Bullert, Kristin Helser, Coach Brad Helser, Claire Tobin, Aubrey Bell, Monique Espinoza and Eva Flynn (all tourney). Not pictured is Danielle Kirchem. Woods says he's not far off his game DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Tiger Woods doesn't sound too worried over matching his worst score in America on a course where he had won eight times. ''I wouldn't read anything into what happened Saturday at Torrey Pines,'' Woods said Tuesday after an 18hole exhibition for past winners of the Dubai Desert Classic. Woods was the defending champion at the Farmers Insurance Open when he sent seven straight holes making bogey or worse - including consecutive double bogeys for the first time in more than two years, on his way to a 79 as he missed the 54-hole cut. ''It was just one of those days that happens, and it was one of the trains I just couldn't get off,'' said Woods, who was speaking for the first time since the third round in San Diego on Saturday. ''There was nothing different with my ball-striking today (Tuesday) compared to last Saturday.'' Woods had three early birdies in the ''Former Champions Challenge,'' but lost momentum and finished with a shot into the water for double bogey on the par-5 18th hole. He shot 71 and tied for AP photo Tiger Woods tees off on the 11th hole of the North Course at Torrey Pines during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament Jan. 24. eighth. Henrik Stenson, who won the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai last year, and Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain, each had 66. They tied for first and each earned $250,000. Rory McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros tied for third at 68. Woods said he spent Sunday at home in Florida working on his putting before heading to Dubai. He is a two-time champion of this event and has finished no worse than fifth all but one time in six appearances. That was in 2011, his worst year as a pro. ''I went home and had a nice day off,'' Woods said. ''Worked on putting a bit in the backyard and that was it. I am not that far off. It's just that I had one bad day, and that happens.'' Woods will play the opening two rounds with McIlroy and defending champion Stephen Gallacher. Woods played the Tuesday exhibition with Gallacher and Fred Couples. He said he hasn't played with Gallacher since the 1995 Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl. Woods and John Harris defeated Gallacher and Gordon Sherry in a foursomes match. Woods and McIlroy also played together a year ago in Abu Dhabi, where both of them missed the cut. Woods was one shot inside the cut until being assessed a two-shot penalty for taking what he thought was a free drop from an embedded lie in a sandy area. McIlroy began his season two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi and finished one shot behind. He was penalized in the third round for not taking full relief from an area marked ground under repair. Davis Cup captain impressed with setting SAN DIEGO (AP) — U.S. captain Jim Courier is impressed by the setting where his team will face a British team highlighted by Wimbledon champion Andy Murray in the first round of the Davis Cup. A clay court has been set up in left field of the San Diego Padres' ballpark for this weekend's matches. It's the first time Davis Cup matches will be played in an open-air baseball stadium. ''This is one of the most unique and beautiful tennis settings I think we'll experience in our lifetime,'' Courier said Tuesday at Petco Park. ''This is spectacular to be able to be in this ballpark and just have an incredible tennis facility pop up out of nowhere. ''It's going to be special not only for us playing, but I think for the spectators that get to come and experience it, too. It's going to be one that we'll all look back on hopefully fondly because we'll have won, but certainly the experience of playing here in San Diego will be a special one.'' Courier won a pair of French Open titles on the Roland Garros clay. But that's not why the Americans chose the surface. ''It's these four guys right here,'' Courier said, indicating singles players John Isner and Sam Querrey and the doubles team of twins Bob and Mike Bryan. It's also a surface Great Britain's top player, Murray, is less comfortable on. Murray, who's ranked No. 4, prefers the quicker grass and hard courts. His teammates are James Ward, Kyle Edmund and Colin Fleming. ''We obviously know a lot about Andy Murray on our side; these guys have seen a lot of him,'' Courier said. ''We don't know as much about the rest of singles players and we'll learn more as we go over the weekend. ''But it is going to be a challenge for us because even if you don't recognize too many of the guys other than Murray on their team, we all know what Davis Cup means to people and what it brings out in other teams. We've experienced some heartbreak at the hands of some people that most tennis fans don't know a lot about. So we can't underestimate anything or anyone in this setting. We know they are going to be tough.'' The best-of-five matches are Friday through Sunday. Thursday's draw will determine the order of singles play. Britain and the U.S. played the first Davis Cup match in 1900. They have met 18 times, with the Americans leading 11-7.