INDIANAPOLIS — Two days after Peyton Manning publicly complained about the dour atmosphere at team headquarters following a 2-14 season and a rash of firings, Colts owner Jim Irsay introduced new head coach Chuck Pagano and then stunned everyone by calling his franchise player a “politician” who had decided to air dirty laundry.

“I don't think it's in the best interest to paint the horseshoe in a negative light, I really don't,” Irsay told reporters, referring to the team's longtime logo. “The horseshoe always comes first, and I think one thing he's always known, because he's been around it so long, is that, you know, you keep it in the family.”

The sign of a rift between Manning and Irsay comes six weeks before a deadline to pay the four-time league MVP a $28 million bonus or risk losing him as a free agent.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England tight end Rob Gronkowski missed the team's first practice for the Super Bowl with a left ankle injury.The Patriots have given no details on the extent of Gronkowski's injury and he was not available during the period when reporters had locker room access.

AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas regents agreed to extend football coach Mack Brown's contract by four years to 2020.Brown, who is paid $5.2 million a year, won't get any more money out of the new deal, but he will continue getting annual raises of $100,000 per his current contract.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy outplayed Tiger Woods in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, shooting a 5-under 67 for a share of the lead with Robert Karlsson.Woods shot a 70 in a threesome with McIlroy.