Indianaoplis ? Peyton Manning underwent more neck surgery Thursday, the third time in 19 months, and will miss not only the opening game but possibly the entire season.

Losing Manning for any stretch of time is a huge blow to the Colts and throws the race for the AFC South wide open. The four-time NFL MVP hasn’t missed a game in 14 NFL seasons, with 227 consecutive starts, including postseason.

“Rehabilitation from such surgery is typically an involved process,” the team said in a statement, calling the procedure “uneventful.”

The Colts said there would be “no estimation of a return date at this time. We will keep Peyton on the active roster until we have a clear picture of his recovery process.”

Team owner Jim Irsay tweeted that the 35-year-old Manning would be out “awhile.”

The Colts could have put Manning on injured reserve to open a roster spot, but it would have meant not playing at all during a season that ends with a Super Bowl at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.

‘MNF’ on ESPN through 2021

ESPN is betting nearly $2 billion a year that fans are ready for even more football on even more platforms.

The network agreed with the league on an eight-year contract extension that keeps “Monday Night Football” on ESPN through the 2021 season, brings the games to some tablets and boosts the amount of programming shown on the already football-saturated family of networks.

The deal is worth $1.9 billion a year for a total of $15.2 billion over the length of the contract, two people with knowledge of the agreement told the Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no money figures were officially announced.

Miami signs Larry Johnson

Davie, Fla. — Two-time Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson has become a bottom-of-the-roster player struggling to prolong his career, which he did Thursday by re-signing with the Miami Dolphins.

The move came five days after the Dolphins cut Johnson.

Miami needed a reinforcement because rookie running back Daniel Thomas hurt his hamstring Wednesday and sat out practice Thursday. He is day to day, coach Tony Sparano said.

Johnson originally joined the Dolphins on Aug. 23 and scored on a 22-yard run in their final exhibition game — his first TD since 2008 with Kansas City. He sat out most of last season after his career was derailed by a series of off-the-field missteps.

College football

OSU says players took $200

Columbus, Ohio — Records released by Ohio State University say three football players suspended for the opening game against Akron violated NCAA rules by taking $200 at a Cleveland charity event earlier this year.

All three — starting tailback Jordan Hall and cornerback Travis Howard and backup safety Corey Brown — have been cleared to play in the 15th-ranked Buckeyes’ game against Toledo on Saturday.

UTSA on Longhorn Network

Austin, Texas — The Longhorn Network, which is struggling to pick up national distribution on cable, has agreed to broadcast five games for the new University of Texas-San Antonio football program.

Network officials announced the deal Thursday. The first Roadrunners game on the Longhorn Network will be Saturday’s matchup against McMurray.

The network that showcases University of Texas sports broadcast the Longhorns’ season-opening win against Rice, and is scheduled to have the Texas-Kansas game on Oct. 29.

UF’s Floyd to sit again

Gainesville, Fla. — Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd must sit out another game and make arrangements to pay about $2,700 to charity before he is eligible to compete again.

The NCAA’s student-athlete reinstatement staff handed down its decision Thursday. Floyd sat out Florida’s season opener last week and will do the same Saturday night against UAB.

UNLV extends Hauck

Las Vegas — UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck has been awarded a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the Rebels through the 2014 season at his current annual salary of $350,000. Hauck is in his second year with the Rebels, who went 2-11 last year and lost their season opener last week at No. 8 Wisconsin, 51-17.

Tennis

Roddick, Federer advance

New York — At one point, Andy Roddick looked up and saw a fan scaling a chain-link fence behind tiny Court 13, hoping to catch a peek of the 2003 U.S. Open champion’s victory Thursday.

At another point, a baby’s loud cries provided a distraction at the 584-seat venue.

“At least,” Roddick deadpanned later, “there wasn’t a baby crying on the fence.”

Because of showers earlier this week, the U.S. Tennis Association extended the tournament, delaying the men’s final by 24 hours to 3 p.m. Monday. The women’s final was shifted from Saturday night to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Roddick, defending champion Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and John Isner all won to reach the quarterfinals. On the other side of the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer set up a semifinal showdown; it’s the fifth consecutive year they’ll meet at the U.S. Open and a rematch from this year’s French Open, where Federer handed Djokovic one of his two losses in 2011. Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Sam Stosur and Angelique Kerber filled the four spots in the women’s semifinals.