Reports have surfaced that Texas Rangers superstar talent Josh Hamilton was seen drinking alcohol at a Dallas-area bar on Monday.

If true, it’s Hamilton’s second-known alcohol relapse since 2009.

The outfielder missed the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons when he was suspended for drug and alcohol abuse while with the Tampa Bay Rays’ organization. In all, he sat out more than three years because of his addictions.

Given up on by the Rays and Cincinnati Reds, the former No. 1 pick came to Texas in December 2007. Since then he has helped the Rangers reach the World Series in 2010 and 2011 and was voted the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 2010.

Hamilton is tested for drug use three times a week. He is also assigned an “accountability partner” whose job is to keep the troubled superstar clean. And to help keep the ballplayer honest, Hamilton does not carry money with him. No stopping at the bar on the way home from the park for this athlete.

The Rangers say they are “aware of a situation, but we don’t have further comment at this time.”

But hitting coach Johnny Narron, Hamilton’s accountability partner since arriving in Texas, left the club in November to join the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s important to note that Narron also shadowed Hamilton while the pair were in Cincinnati. He came to the Rangers along with Hamilton to help protect the team’s investment. And now he’s gone.

With the job vacant, Texas announced last month that it hired Hamilton’s father-in-law to be his new accountability partner. But Michael Dean Chadwick has since decided not to accept the position due to “family considerations.”

I think that’s one job that the Rangers may want to fill ASAP. Even if they only offer a one-year contract. Hamilton will be a free agent at the end of the 2012 season. He probably wants a long-term contract, although his actions suggest otherwise.

I hope Hamilton wins this battle and I will continue to root for him. There have been few athletes who can match his talent on a baseball field.

But it will be very interesting to see which major league club is willing to invest millions and millions in a 30-year-old man who needs around-the-clock protection from himself.

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Peyton Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay said last week that they were done talking about each other’s future because they didn’t want to disrupt Super Bowl preparations any further.

Since that announcement, rumors were floated that Manning would retire because of his neck and nerve injuries. Then the quarterback gave an interview in which he said he had no intention of retiring. He said he felt fine and was on schedule with his rehab.

Now, to help support his argument, a spokesman for Manning’s surgeon sent an e-mail that reported Manning has been cleared to play football next season.  

Irsay responded by tweeting, “Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts.”

And he promised to say more in a team statement later today.

It’s a good thing these two have stopped talking about Manning’s future, isn’t it?