Peyton Manning is cleared to resume his career

Peyton Manning has been medically cleared by two doctors, including the one who performed his neck fusion surgery, to resume his NFL career, unnamed people told ESPN.

The people said the Indianapolis Colts quarterback was seen recently in Los Angeles by Dr. Robert Watkins, who determined the stability in Manning’s neck would have allowed the NFL’s only four-time most valuable player to play if he had a game this Sunday.

But arm strength is apparently the issue because his ability to play depends on the nerves in Manning’s arm regenerating to a satisfactory performance level.

Watkins also reportedly told Manning to continue an aggressive rehabilitation path toward playing in 2012.

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The Green Bay Packers chose Tom Clements as their new offensive coordinator.

Clements has been the Packers’ quarterbacks coach since 2006.

ETC.

Mickelson sues over postings

Golfer Phil Mickelson filed a lawsuit against an Internet service provider in Canada to learn the identity of a person who has been posting “vexatious statements” that the four-time major champion says are a deliberate attack on his reputation.

“I’m all for freedom of speech, but I won’t tolerate defamation,” Mickelson said Thursday after his opening round in the Phoenix Open.

In his lawsuit against Videotron S.E.N.C. in Quebec Superior Court, Mickelson cited comments posted on Yahoo Sports on Nov. 11 and 12, in which one or more persons under the pseudonyms “Fogroller” and “Longtitude” made statements that alleged, among other things, that Mickelson’s wife had an affair and that he fathered an illegitimate child.

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Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano birdied his last three holes for a six-under-par 66 in the Qatar Masters at Doha, overcoming wind and blowing sand to lead John Daly by a shot after the first round.

Daly (67) was followed by K.J. Choi (68) and Jason Day (68). Paul Lawrie Nicolas Colsaerts

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The Dodgers and Chicago White Sox will play a spring training game in Tucson on March 23 to benefit the Christina-Taylor Green Foundation.

The game will be played at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, with all proceeds going to the foundation named for the daughter of Dodgers scout John Green. Christina-Taylor Green was among six people killed in the January 2011 shootings in Tucson that also wounded retired U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The youngster was the granddaughter of former major league manager Dallas Green.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, recovering from alcohol and drug addictions, had a relapse this week in his quest to remain sober, the Dallas Morning News reported.

According to people familiar with the episode, Hamilton drank alcohol on Monday night at a bar in Dallas. This was Hamilton’s second alcohol-related relapse in three years. In January 2009, he drank to excess at a bar in Tempe, Ariz.

In a statement, the Rangers said they were “aware of a situation, but we do not have further comment at this time.” Hamilton and his agent, Michael Moye, could not be reached for comment.

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Right-hander Micah Owings and the San Diego Padres agreed to a $1-million, one-year contract.

Owings was 8-0 with a career-best 3.57 earned-run average in 33 games, including four starts, for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011. The Diamondbacks didn’t tender him a contract after last season.

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Edwin Jackson agreed to a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals, a deal that gives the team seven potential starting pitchers.

Washington said the agreement is pending a physical. The deal is worth in the range of $9 million to $12 million.

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Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, who resigned in disgrace last May amid a cash-for-tattoos scandal, was hired by the University of Akron as vice president of strategic engagement, a position newly created for him.

Tressel will earn a base salary of $200,000 per year, more than $3 million less than he made during the last of 10 years guiding the Buckeyes. Tressel will begin his new job May 1.