Manning: Tom sent an apology

Peyton Manning says Tom Brady apologized to him — unnecessarily — after taking a shot at him in recently released emails.

Brady’s exchange with a childhood friend last November was contained in documents released as part of the NFLPA’s lawsuit on behalf of Brady seeking to quash his fourgame suspension.

In it, Brady, wrote: “I’ve got another 7 or 8 years. He has 2.”

Manning said after yesterday’s practice that Brady was just joining the public conversation predicting when he’ll retire.

“Everybody’s been speculating on that for a long time, so I guess he’s joining the list,” Manning said in his first public comments since the emails were published last week.

Manning, a five-time MVP, is 39, a year older than Brady, who owns four Super Bowl rings to Manning’s one.

In another email exchange, this one coming after the Patriots’ rout of the Broncos in a November game, a different friend of Brady’s took his own shot at Manning, saying Denver’s QB “needs things to be perfect to succeed, weather, his system, etc.” The friend also noted how well Brady was moving around.

“We are some hard working grinders beav,” Brady responded. “That’s what our team is all about. Our best is still ahead of us.”

Manning shrugged it all off.

“Hey, Tom sent me an apology text that was unnecessary,” Manning said. “The fact that his emails got revealed doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. So, no harm, no foul. And (I) didn’t think a lot of it.”

Bills claim puncher

Rex Ryan won’t excuse linebacker Ikemefuna Enemkpali for a sucker punch that broke quarterback Geno Smith’s jaw in the New York Jets locker room.

That doesn’t mean Ryan — the former Jets coach who’s now coaching Buffalo — isn’t willing to provide Enemkpali a second chance with the Bills.

With new owner Terry Pegula’s blessing, the Bills claimed Enemkpali off waivers a day after he punched Smith and was released by the Jets.

“I think it’s clear it was a mistake. Nothing justifies hitting somebody and all that stuff. And I’m not trying to say that it wasn’t a mistake,” Ryan said before the Bills opened an evening practice. “But I also believe that he’s going to learn from this. And we’ll give him a chance to compete.”

Ryan said he recalled Enemkpali being a “good teammate” in New York, and is confident he will be accepted by Bills players.

“Look at every person in that locker room, not anybody’s perfect,” Ryan said. “But they know that I feel in my heart that this young man will be successful for us.”

Kaepernick responds

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick shot down rumors that he and the recently released Aldon Smith had a confrontation at Levi’s Stadium last week.

Kaepernick, speaking at his weekly news conference, called the rumor “embarrassing” and pointed out disparities.

He said Smith was a good friend and that the defensive lineman attended a golf tournament and a football camp he hosted.

Smith was released by the 49ers on Friday, the day after he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.