"Surgery in early March alleviated a persistent pain in Peyton Manning's neck.

"I feel good," the four-time NFL MVP quarterback said Friday on the first day of the Indianapolis Colts' mandatory minicamp. "All of my symptoms and issues I've been dealing with the past four years have subsided."

So much for the day's good news.

Two other players -- wide receiver Reggie Wayne and defensive end Robert Mathis -- proved to be a pain in the team's posterior with their unexcused absences.

Each is a multiple Pro Bowl selection. Each has two years remaining on his contract. And each wants the Colts to address that contract. Wayne is due base salaries of $5.47 million this season and $5.95 million in 2011. Mathis has bases of $2.31 million this year and $2.4 million in '11.

Agents for Wayne and Mathis could not be reached for comment Friday. Coach Jim Caldwell, in keeping with team policy, refused to be drawn into the financial dispute."