Peyton Manning, 35, missed the entire 2011 season after undergoing neck surgery in September. Speculation about his future as an NFL quarterback has been rife, and now actor Rob Lowe has sparked further speculation after claiming that Manning was retiring from the NFL.

Lowe claimed on his Twitter account that according to his "people", the Indianapolis Colts star would announce his retirement. Lowe, who is apparently friends with Colts owner Jim Irsay, tweeted:

"Hearing my fave, #18 Peyton Manning will not return to NFL. Wow."

"My people are saying Manning will retire today. What do you hear?
'#Coltsfans, let's hope my info is wrong. Don't like being wrong, but this time... I'm hoping #NFL #Manning."

Manning's older brother, Cooper, said he was unaware of a retirement and said that he had spoken with Peyton for an hour on Tuesday night, and that he never mentioned retirement. He said:

"That would surprise me. He's committed to working out and getting healthy - meaning getting ready to play."

Cooper Manning described Lowe's tweets as "very out of left field" and said: "I have no idea where that's coming from."

This week, the Federal Communications Commission filed a formal request for public comment on the idea to end the policy of prohibiting television broadcasts of professional football games that do not sell out prior to the start of the game.

FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell said that the rule may be obsolete due to the wide range of communication technology currently available. The rule was adopted in 1975. McDowell said:

"We now live in a world with not only local broadcast stations, but also cable, satellite, the Internet and wireless, and where television and merchandizing revenues exceed ticket sales. It is appropriate for us to re-examine the rule in light of marketplace changes."

The National Football League would be most effected by the move and has decided to take an early stance against the FCC proposal. The NFL issued a statement saying that the blackout rule supports ticket sales, which add to the overall excitement and appeal of the games:

"The policy is very important in supporting NFL stadiums and the ability of NFL clubs to sell tickets; keeping our games attractive as television programming with large crowds; and ensuring that we can continue to keep our games on free TV."

For the first time ever, the Super Bowl will be streamed online as well as to mobile phones. The NFL announced on Tuesday that NBC's broadcasts of wild card Saturday, the Pro Bowl, and the Super Bowl, would all be available on the NFL's and NBC's websites as well as through Verizon's NFL mobile app.

The streaming availability will also include additional camera angles, in-game highlights and live stats.

The Super Bowl is being held in Indianapolis on February 5.

With more and more people accessing television through their computers and phones, making these events available through alternative means was a logical next step.

Ndamukong Suh, a defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions, was ejected from the game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday after he appeared to step on an opposing offensive lineman.

Suh was ejected during the early third quarter, after the Lions thought that they had stopped the Packers on the third down near the Detroit goal line. A video replay of the incident in question shows Suh and Green Bay's Evan Dietrich-Smith having a scuffle on the ground just before Suh got up and appeared to stomp on Dietrich-Smith's right arm.

Taking advantage of the penalty, Green Bay scored a touchdown and took a 14-0 lead.

The Packers also had a player ejected during the first half of the game, when Pat Lee looked to have taken a swing at a Detroit player while covering a punt.

But for Suh, it was just another bad mark against him. In the two years that Suh has been in the NFL, he's established a reputation as not only one of the game's most athletic and strongest defensive lineman, but also one of the league's dirtiest players. He's received more than his fair share of fines during his short pro football career.

Last Thursday, Terrell Owens was rushed to a Los Angeles area hospital for a possible pill overdose. According to law enforcement sources, emergency personnel responded to a call about a possible prescription overdose when they were dispatched to the apartment T.O. was staying at last week.

Owens was transported by ambulance to a L.A. hospital on Thursday evening, and cops were dispatched to investigate as well. Police spoke with the NFL player at the hospital. Owens has since been released.

His rep has had no comment on the matter.

This would not be the first time that Owens has reportedly had too many pills. Back in 2006, he was hospitalized. He claimed he had a bad reaction to pain killers, but reports suggested that he attempted suicide by taking 35 Vicodin pills.

Al Davis, the long-time owner of the Oakland Raiders football franchise, passed away on Saturday at the age of 82. The Raiders confirmed that the legendary owner died at his home in Oakland, and their website states that they will issue a statement later on Saturday.

The team's website released news of Davis' death, posting a simple tribute with his name in large silver letters above "July 4, 1929-October 8, 2011." No cause of death was revealed.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement:

"Al Davis' passion for football and his influence on the game were extraordinary. He defined the Raiders and contributed to pro football at every level. The respect he commanded was evident in the way that people listened carefully every time he spoke. He is a true legend of the game whose impact and legacy will forever be part of the NFL."

Best known as a rebel, Davis is considered to be one of the most important figures in NFL history. He was the last commissioner of the American Football League, before it merged with the NFL.

Hank Williams Jr., the man responsible for the Monday Night Football theme song we've been forced to listen to for the past 20 years, made a major boo-boo when he was a guest on Fox & Friends and compared President Barack Obama to one of the most reviled leaders of all-time, Adolf Hitler. In the immediate aftermath, ESPN decided not to use his song as an intro to MNF this week. Williams kinda apologized, but it wasn't a very good (or sincere) one. So, on Thursday ESPN decided to can him for good.

You will never again hear "Are you ready for some football?" before Monday Night Football ever again.

Hallelujah!

ESPN announced that it "decided to part ways with Hank Williams Jr." To me ( and most others ) that equates to a firing, but not to Hank Williams Jr., who insists that he wasn't fired, he quit. Yea, right. He defiantly posted on his website:

"After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It's been a great run." — Hank Williams Jr

Good ridden. That horrible song should have been canned years ago.

Hank Williams Jr.'s song "All My Rowdy Friends" featuring the refrain "Are You Ready for some Football?" has been Monday Night Football's opening song for more than two decades. This week, however, ESPN decided to bench Williams and his intro after he used an analogy to Hitler in discussing President Barack Obama.

The network did not say whether he'd ever be back.

Williams made the controversial remarks during an appearance on Fox News' "Fox & Friends" show. He was discussing the June "golf summit" in which President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) played against Vice President Joe Biden and Ohio Governor John Kasich (R).

He said:

“It’d be like Hitler playing golf with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu."

Host Brian Kilmeade said that he did not understand the analogy. Williams responded:

“Well, I’m glad you don’t, brother, because a lot of people do. They’re the enemy.”

Asked to clarify who he meant was "the enemy", Williams replied:

“Obama! Biden!”

The son of legendary country musician Hank Williams also called the golf outing "one of the biggest political mistakes ever."

Peyton Manning, who has started in 227 consecutive games for the Indianapolis Colts, is not likely to take to the field at all this season due to injury. At this point, however, nothing has officially been announced and it's all speculation, but we do know that he will at least be out for "awhile."

Manning recently underwent his third neck procedure in 19 months.

Anders Cohen, chief of neurosurgery at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, is not treating Manning for his injury, but thinks that it is highly unlikely that he will play this season. He said:

"Surgeons initially tried a less invasive approach, but the single level anterior fusion he just underwent is a more definitive procedure that will correct the problem but requires a longer healing process. It's highly unlikely that he will play this year since this procedure requires at least a three month recovery and he would then need to get back into shape."

ESPN first reported that Manning underwent surgery on Thursday. Recovery will be at least two to three months, possibly longer, due to the nature of the injury and the surgery.

On Thursday, NFL owners voted to ratify a new, 10-year collective bargaining agreement with players. The settlement covers the players' antitrust lawsuit against the league and another legal battle over television rights money. This is an important step in ending the now four-month-long lockout, but players must still approve the agreement for it to go into effect.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said:

"We've crafted a long-term agreement that can be good for the game of football. If approved by the players, this agreement will allow the league and its players to continue to benefit from the NFL's popularity and will afford a unique opportunity to deliver to fans an even better, safer, and more competitive game in the future."

The NFL Players Association must also ratify the deal, and have scheduled a conference call for 8pm Thursday for a possible vote.

An agreement does appear imminent, but the lockout will still have an impact on the preseason schedule. Roger Goodell announced: