INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning still holds Indianapolis in a special place. Ryan Leaf Jersey . Even if Denver is opening the season against his former team. Two days after Manning found out his rematch with the Colts would be the first Sunday night game of the NFLs season, the reigning MVP returned to town for a very different reason -- to help host an annual fundraiser for the Peyton Manning Childrens Hospital at St. Vincent. Its the first time Manning has been back since his emotional October homecoming ended with Denvers first loss of the season. "I had a pretty good feeling that game (Colts-Broncos) would be on TV," Manning said as reporters laughed. "Its a tough schedule with three playoff teams (Indy, Kansas City and Seattle) right off the bat and we play the Colts right at the start. Theyre a good team, they were right there at the end and we know theyll be an excellent opponent." Manning expects the Colts to be so good, in fact, that after taking a quick peek at the schedule Thursday, the record-breaking quarterback changed his plans and immediately returned to the weight room. His teammates soon followed. What else are players to do when they see the only five-time MVP in league history going in for another overtime session? For Manning, theres plenty at stake this season. Hes coming off a year in which he proved he was back to his old ways by breaking NFL records for yards passing and TD passes and then won a third AFC title before a devastating blowout loss to Seattle in the Super Bowl. He wasnt even sure hed be back this year until doctors examined his surgically-repaired neck. Now, the 38-year-old Manning says, he intends to keep playing as long as his body allows it and as long as the Broncos want to keep him. But this weekend is one of those rare times Manning pushes football to the back burner. Following Thursdays workouts in Denver, Manning flew to Indianapolis and spent Friday with patients and their families at the hospital that bears his name. On Saturday night, he planned to add to the $7 million-plus total he helped raise over the last six years at the Celebration of Caring Gala. This is the third straight year hes come from Denver to attend the event. "Its one of the best teams that Ive ever been part of," Manning said, referring to the people hes met at the hospital. "Im not sure who are the bigger heroes -- the patients or the staff. Its truly inspiring." Reporters were not allowed inside the FedEx Aircraft Hangar where the event was held because of security reasons, but Manning has traditionally raised money by auctioning off a vast array of autographed items from some of the biggest names in sports and beyond. Two years ago, the prizes included an autographed item from Mother Theresa and a clipping from a contract signed by Marilyn Monroe. Manning became such an ingrained part of the Indianapolis community that its still hard for some Colts fans to accept he plays for Denver. Its not any easier for Manning. Before his first career game against the Colts, Manning interrupted his pregame warm-ups to mouth the words "thank you" after a two-minute video tribute played on the stadiums large video boards. Denver wound up losing 39-33. A couple of weeks ago, Manning and some of his ex-Colts teammates got together for a golf trip and they started texting some of their former teammates who werent there. And when team owner Jim Irsay was arrested last month on suspicion of intoxicated driving and other charges, Manning said he contacted Irsay though he wouldnt elaborate on what the message was. "Thats a private topic," Manning said. "Its very private and very personal." So it wouldnt be surprising if Mannings emotions come rushing back again when he faces Andrew Lucks Colts again on Sept. 7, this time in Denver. And to the surprise of nobody, hes already working on a solution. "Its nice that the schedule comes out during our off-season workouts," he said, "because its a reminder of how hard you have to work to get where you want to go." Robert Quinn Jersey . Johan Franzen had two goals and two assists, Gustav Nyquist a goal and three assists and David Legwand a goal and two assists in the Red Wings 7-4 win over the New Jersey Devils. Troy Aikman Jersey . The matchup will be made up in Minnesota at a later date. The arena was evacuated about 45 minutes before the scheduled 9:30 p.m. EST tipoff when a generator malfunction outside the arena sent smoke pouring into the building, according to NBA spokeswoman Sharon Lima. https://www.cowboysjerseysale.com/565p-dixon-edwards-jersey-cowboys.html . - Defensive end-linebacker Mike Neal apparently is returning to the Packers.ARLINGTON, Texas - Yu Darvish gave the injury-riddled Texas Rangers a nice send-off on an important road trip that includes all three teams above them in the AL West standings. The Japanese aces first complete game in the major leagues — a shutout, no less — still cant hide a sobering reality. The Rangers are eight games behind Oakland and dangerously close to last-place Houston, a 100-loss team for three years running. Texas just made its 20th move on the disabled list. Four first basemen are on the DL. Left-handed starter Martin Perez wont be back until sometime during the 2015 season. Matt Harrison, another lefty that was supposed to be in the rotation, may be finished for good. Somehow the Rangers will try to find a way to gain ground starting Friday night in visits to Seattle, division-leading Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels. "At some point, weve got to start getting blessed by the baseball gods," manager Ron Washington said. "But we have to make that happen. Theyre not just going to come down and say, OK, you all have been through enough misery. Im going to take you out of it. No, youve got to pull yourself out of your misery." The Rangers have actually done it once already. They started a challenging 11-game trip last month on the biggest downer of the season: news that first baseman Prince Fielder needed neck surgery and was finished for the year. Texas took three of four from AL Central-leading Detroit and ended up winning seven games, capped by Daarvishs eight shutout innings in a 2-0 win at Washington. Jackie Smith Jersey. Fielders replacement is the problem this time, with Mitch Moreland finally giving in to the need for surgery on an ailing left ankle. The first report was he would miss three months, but now theres a chance he could opt for a procedure that will reduce his absence to four weeks. Regardless, the Rangers had to give Brad Snyder a crash course on playing first at Triple-A Round Rock, and he started the final two games of the last homestand. Jim Adduci figured to follow Moreland, but he rebroke his left pinkie finger near the end of a rehab assignment and will probably miss another month. The Rangers have used 40 players, and 10 are rookies. They have a majors-leading 14 players on the DL. "I think for a little while, the training staff was like hesitant to deliver some of this news to Wash or myself," general manager Jon Daniels said. "But I think theyve gotten over that unfortunately." With the rotation crumbling around him and the Rangers carrying an AL-worst 4.53 ERA, Darvish is on the best run of his three seasons in the majors. In his last six starts, he is 5-1 with a 1.51 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 47 2-3 innings. "Of course I get comfort with Darvish out there," Washington said before the right-hander ended a four-game losing streak in a 6-0 win over Miami. "Its not just Darvish. Darvish can go out there and pitch real well and if we dont score any runs, it wont matter." ' ' '