Peyton..Livin' Legend Moves On.
- Thread starter Old School
- Start date
Manning is damaged goods.
I dont care if he clears all medical.
Manning will not let up and put himself in bad tackle situations.
He will not continue his career and not get hurt again and go out for good this time.
If he goes to Denver, the Broncos are crazy to trade Tebow without knowing if Manning can even hold up with NFL contact again.
I dont care if he clears all medical.
Manning will not let up and put himself in bad tackle situations.
He will not continue his career and not get hurt again and go out for good this time.
If he goes to Denver, the Broncos are crazy to trade Tebow without knowing if Manning can even hold up with NFL contact again.
- Mar 19, 2006
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AP Source: Peyton Manning to meet with Tennessee
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
Peyton Manning continues to meet with teams before deciding where to sign.
(Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)?A person familiar with the situation says the Tennessee Titans will be visiting with four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning in his search for a new team.
ESPN.com first reported Titans coach Mike Munchak will meet with Manning after a session with Miami coach Joe Philbin.
The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday about Manning?s meeting with the Titans on the condition of anonymity because the location and time of that meeting remains confidential.
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Titans owner Bud Adams made it known Sunday he will do whatever it takes to sign Manning to get back to the playoffs and win his team?s first Super Bowl. Adams told The Tennessean he had talked to Manning?s agent, Tom Condon, asking for a visit with the quarterback.
Manning has plenty of connections to Tennessee.
He starred at the University of Tennessee, leading to his first name becoming a popular choice for newborns in this state. His wife is from Memphis, and Manning already knows the Titans? facility a bit, having practiced against Tennessee a few years ago when the Colts came to town for some joint practices.
Munchak also was a teammate of Archie Manning in 1982 and briefly in 1983 with the then-Houston Oilers. Munchak just hired Dennis Polian?son of former Colts general manager Bill Polian?as his assistant.
But the biggest key is Adams, the 89-year-old billionaire who wants back in the playoffs. His Titans have been only twice since 2004 with both trips in 2007 and 2008 lasting only one game each. A meeting with Manning could come in Houston where Adams still lives after relocating his Oilers to Tennessee in 1997.
?I want Manning,? Adams told The Tennessean. ?I?d love to see him in Titan blue after watching him so many years with the Colts. ? I want him. I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard, and I think he?d be the guy to get us into the playoffs.?
The Titans already have veteran Matt Hasselbeck, signed to a three-year contract last July, and Jake Locker picked with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2011 draft. But Hasselbeck is due $5.5 million in salary this year after getting a chunk of his deal last season.
So far, Manning has met only with the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals.
He was expected to be heading back to Florida, but did not show at the Dolphins? headquarters Monday despite reports he would meet with the team.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross arrived at the team complex at midmorning, and several players?including quarterback Chad Henne?showed up around the same time to work out. Henne is a free agent and not expected back this season.
A media stakeout at the complex began when a local TV station camera crew arrived at 4 a.m. Half a dozen TV cameras and a handful of reporters eventually gathered across the street. They weren?t allowed on the team?s property, but a Dolphins official brought out water, pizza and napkins.
Curious motorists occasionally pulled up to ask for an update.
Manning spent nearly 6 1/2 hours at the Arizona Cardinals? headquarters and training facility on Sunday in meetings designed to lure the superstar to the desert.
The session followed a meeting of nearly six hours Manning had at the Broncos? facility in Denver on Friday night. The two sessions were evidence that, for the time being at least, Arizona and Denver appear to be the top two contenders.
???
AP Sports Writers Steve Wine in Miami and Bob Baum in Tempe, Ariz., contributed to this report.
Follow Yahoo! Sports' NFL coverage on Twitter.
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
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(Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)?A person familiar with the situation says the Tennessee Titans will be visiting with four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning in his search for a new team.
ESPN.com first reported Titans coach Mike Munchak will meet with Manning after a session with Miami coach Joe Philbin.
The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday about Manning?s meeting with the Titans on the condition of anonymity because the location and time of that meeting remains confidential.
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Titans owner Bud Adams made it known Sunday he will do whatever it takes to sign Manning to get back to the playoffs and win his team?s first Super Bowl. Adams told The Tennessean he had talked to Manning?s agent, Tom Condon, asking for a visit with the quarterback.
Manning has plenty of connections to Tennessee.
He starred at the University of Tennessee, leading to his first name becoming a popular choice for newborns in this state. His wife is from Memphis, and Manning already knows the Titans? facility a bit, having practiced against Tennessee a few years ago when the Colts came to town for some joint practices.
Munchak also was a teammate of Archie Manning in 1982 and briefly in 1983 with the then-Houston Oilers. Munchak just hired Dennis Polian?son of former Colts general manager Bill Polian?as his assistant.
But the biggest key is Adams, the 89-year-old billionaire who wants back in the playoffs. His Titans have been only twice since 2004 with both trips in 2007 and 2008 lasting only one game each. A meeting with Manning could come in Houston where Adams still lives after relocating his Oilers to Tennessee in 1997.
?I want Manning,? Adams told The Tennessean. ?I?d love to see him in Titan blue after watching him so many years with the Colts. ? I want him. I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard, and I think he?d be the guy to get us into the playoffs.?
The Titans already have veteran Matt Hasselbeck, signed to a three-year contract last July, and Jake Locker picked with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2011 draft. But Hasselbeck is due $5.5 million in salary this year after getting a chunk of his deal last season.
So far, Manning has met only with the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals.
He was expected to be heading back to Florida, but did not show at the Dolphins? headquarters Monday despite reports he would meet with the team.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross arrived at the team complex at midmorning, and several players?including quarterback Chad Henne?showed up around the same time to work out. Henne is a free agent and not expected back this season.
A media stakeout at the complex began when a local TV station camera crew arrived at 4 a.m. Half a dozen TV cameras and a handful of reporters eventually gathered across the street. They weren?t allowed on the team?s property, but a Dolphins official brought out water, pizza and napkins.
Curious motorists occasionally pulled up to ask for an update.
Manning spent nearly 6 1/2 hours at the Arizona Cardinals? headquarters and training facility on Sunday in meetings designed to lure the superstar to the desert.
The session followed a meeting of nearly six hours Manning had at the Broncos? facility in Denver on Friday night. The two sessions were evidence that, for the time being at least, Arizona and Denver appear to be the top two contenders.
???
AP Sports Writers Steve Wine in Miami and Bob Baum in Tempe, Ariz., contributed to this report.
Follow Yahoo! Sports' NFL coverage on Twitter.
I think Peyton may be the top QB of all time & made Indy better than they were....It wasn't his fault that the Colts always had a shitty defense....
Imo you can't always use playoff records to determine how great a player is because if you did then we have to throw out players such as Peyton, Marino, & Sonny Jurgensen in talking about the greatest QB's & just pick Otto Graham as the greatest because his teams won a lot of titles....
I would take Manning over Brady or Brees any day.
Manning was the Colts, Mannings teams were haunted because of poor defenses
Manning was the Colts, Mannings teams were haunted because of poor defenses
Montana had it all. Tommy Kramer, Lynn Dickey, Dan Fouts, Archie Manning would of all won there. Montana was supported by the best offensive lines, the best receiving core, the best defenses to get him the ball back and a hell of a running back. Peyton Manning would of killed teams just as easy if he had all that.
BleedingPurple, I totally agree. Bill Walsh was so far ahead of the rest of the league at that time and ended up with talent all over the place as well as the perfect offense way before defenses could adjust to it.
Its always apples/oranges comparing players from different teams and different eras.
The reason Manning had such a bad defense is b/c he had so many weapons on offense. Brady has benefited greatly from a great defense and more of a system on offense.
So you have the salary cap involved but you also have a handful of guys who have really taken advantage of the gradual rule changes trying to put more offense into the game. Manning probably the first and best to take advantage of all this.
So many variables but I think at the end of the day, its Manning. The last few years, this Colts team is awful without him and a title contender with him.
Its always apples/oranges comparing players from different teams and different eras.
The reason Manning had such a bad defense is b/c he had so many weapons on offense. Brady has benefited greatly from a great defense and more of a system on offense.
So you have the salary cap involved but you also have a handful of guys who have really taken advantage of the gradual rule changes trying to put more offense into the game. Manning probably the first and best to take advantage of all this.
So many variables but I think at the end of the day, its Manning. The last few years, this Colts team is awful without him and a title contender with him.
- Mar 19, 2006
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4 players on offense have been or will be released 1 year after he sat out the season with injury.
2 of those were considered top of the line at their respective postions.
they are lookin' for a job now..
you can shake it out and use any criteria ya want..
but when you watch the man play the position 221 games as if he invented the position you know you have watched Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci with a football as the instrument and the defenses as his landscape.
to say otherwise is pure folly<!-- message, attachments, sig -->
A report is out today that states that Peyton has narrowed his choices to 2 teams....Denver & Tenn....
If it's true my guess is....Tenn.....
If it's true my guess is....Tenn.....
- Mar 19, 2006
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Titans wrap up meeting with Manning in Nashville
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer 7 hours, 13 minutes ago
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Agd49VSuQTi6zTlAZ6iRAs5DubYF?slug=ap-pursuingmanning
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)?Titans coach Mike Munchak had a big smile on his face when he left the team headquarters Wednesday night after daylong meetings with Peyton Manning.
The quarterback waved to fans waiting for a glimpse of him and gave a thumbs? up.
Maybe signs that Tennessee?s pitch to the four-time NFL MVP went well, though no deals were announced after Manning spent about eight hours with Titans executives on a plane and at the team?s headquarters.
Peyton Manning continues to meet with teams before deciding where to sign.
(Getty Images)
The next move is up to Manning.
Related content
Titans spokesman Robbie Bohren declined to comment. However, owner Bud Adams told Nashville station WSMV-TV late Wednesday night he thinks Manning was very pleased with what he saw from the Titans.
?He?s going to make his mind up fairly soon, hopefully we?d be in the running,? Adams said.
Manning walked out of the Titans? building with Munchak at 10:05 p.m. EDT where about 50 fans who had gathered along the fence greeted him by yelling ?Peyton, Peyton.? Manning acknowledged them with a wave before getting into Munchak?s SUV and the two driving away through a back gate.
It was unclear if Manning was on the team plane that returned Wednesday night to the Raleigh-Durham airport, where the Titans had picked him up earlier. Manning?s friend and Duke coach David Cutcliffe lives in the area. Cutcliffe was Manning?s offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee and the quarterback has worked out several times over the past six weeks at the Blue Devils? facilities.
Fans of Denver, Arizona, Miami and now Tennessee all are looking for clues on which team Manning will pick.
One sign Titans fans should possibly pay close attention to was a visit by the team doctor Burton Elrod to the facility during Manning?s visit. Elrod arrived and spent 90 minutes inside before leaving.
Offensive line coach Bruce Matthews, a Hall of Fame lineman like Munchak, also was seen leaving the facility not long after Elrod.
The Titans did just what Adams said: The 89-year old Adams instructed team executives to spend the day with Manning.
Tennessee pulled out all the stops.
Munchak, general manager Ruston Webster and chief operating officer Mike Reinfeldt landed in North Carolina just before 1:30 p.m. EDT to pick Manning up.
The quarterback, wearing a Tennessee orange shirt, arrived at the Raleigh-Durham airport riding in the backseat of black Escalade about 20 minutes later, boarded the plane and the group headed back to the Volunteer state.
The owner got plenty of help from fans of Manning and the Titans, flocking to the street in front of the team complex throughout the afternoon. They broke out in cheers at times, while Rob Shuler of Nashville brought two friends with him. They drew up posters begging Manning to sign with Tennessee.
Cars and trucks slowed to watch, honking in response to a sign asking them to let Manning know how much he?s wanted.
Even Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam called Manning during his visit, Adams told WSMV-TV.
A local radio station set up briefly and blared ?Rocky Top? over speakers alongside TV reporters busy broadcasting live during afternoon newscasts, adding to the circus atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the Titans were going about their business.
Reinfeldt left around 6 p.m. EDT talking on a cell phone, followed shortly by dinner being brought in from a nearby Italian restaurant.
Fans came and went during the day. People stayed near the fence despite a storm that had lightning slicing the sky nearby followed by a rainbow. Then a shooting star was seen, prompting two fans to instantly make a wish that Manning sign with Tennessee.
Adams has said he will do whatever it takes to sign Manning in his chase for a championship. He sees the quarterback as the missing piece. The owner remained in Houston Tuesday, which why Reinfeldt joined Webster and Munchak for this trip.
The owner promoted Reinfeldt from general manager in January to senior executive vice president and COO to act as his point man with the team in Tennessee while he lives 650 miles away.
The Titans already have veteran Matt Hasselbeck with two years left on a deal signed last July, and drafted Jake Locker with the eighth pick overall in the 2011 draft.
When he hasn?t been working out at Duke, the quarterback visited Denver and Arizona in person, while reportedly visiting with the Dolphins in Indianapolis on Monday night.
His friend and Duke coach declined to answer any questions about Manning earlier Wednesday following the Blue Devils spring practice. However, when asked how his players were handling the distraction with the new faces around, Cutcliffe laughed and said, ?you found a way, didn?t you? to get in a question about Manning.
He said having Manning at the team?s facilities has not been a problem.
?That?s always, for them (the Duke players), encouraging and fun. That?s the honest truth,? Cutcliffe said of Manning working out at Duke?s facilities. ?But they?ve done a great job of letting anybody that?s in here work and do what they?ve got to do, and they work around them.
?I think it?s always good to have examples and see the kind of work ethic it takes to succeed in football.?
???
AP Sports Writer Joedy McCreary in Durham, N.C., contributed to this report.
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer 7 hours, 13 minutes ago
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Agd49VSuQTi6zTlAZ6iRAs5DubYF?slug=ap-pursuingmanning
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)?Titans coach Mike Munchak had a big smile on his face when he left the team headquarters Wednesday night after daylong meetings with Peyton Manning.
The quarterback waved to fans waiting for a glimpse of him and gave a thumbs? up.
Maybe signs that Tennessee?s pitch to the four-time NFL MVP went well, though no deals were announced after Manning spent about eight hours with Titans executives on a plane and at the team?s headquarters.
(Getty Images)
The next move is up to Manning.
Related content
Titans spokesman Robbie Bohren declined to comment. However, owner Bud Adams told Nashville station WSMV-TV late Wednesday night he thinks Manning was very pleased with what he saw from the Titans.
?He?s going to make his mind up fairly soon, hopefully we?d be in the running,? Adams said.
Manning walked out of the Titans? building with Munchak at 10:05 p.m. EDT where about 50 fans who had gathered along the fence greeted him by yelling ?Peyton, Peyton.? Manning acknowledged them with a wave before getting into Munchak?s SUV and the two driving away through a back gate.
It was unclear if Manning was on the team plane that returned Wednesday night to the Raleigh-Durham airport, where the Titans had picked him up earlier. Manning?s friend and Duke coach David Cutcliffe lives in the area. Cutcliffe was Manning?s offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee and the quarterback has worked out several times over the past six weeks at the Blue Devils? facilities.
Fans of Denver, Arizona, Miami and now Tennessee all are looking for clues on which team Manning will pick.
One sign Titans fans should possibly pay close attention to was a visit by the team doctor Burton Elrod to the facility during Manning?s visit. Elrod arrived and spent 90 minutes inside before leaving.
Offensive line coach Bruce Matthews, a Hall of Fame lineman like Munchak, also was seen leaving the facility not long after Elrod.
The Titans did just what Adams said: The 89-year old Adams instructed team executives to spend the day with Manning.
Tennessee pulled out all the stops.
Munchak, general manager Ruston Webster and chief operating officer Mike Reinfeldt landed in North Carolina just before 1:30 p.m. EDT to pick Manning up.
The quarterback, wearing a Tennessee orange shirt, arrived at the Raleigh-Durham airport riding in the backseat of black Escalade about 20 minutes later, boarded the plane and the group headed back to the Volunteer state.
The owner got plenty of help from fans of Manning and the Titans, flocking to the street in front of the team complex throughout the afternoon. They broke out in cheers at times, while Rob Shuler of Nashville brought two friends with him. They drew up posters begging Manning to sign with Tennessee.
Cars and trucks slowed to watch, honking in response to a sign asking them to let Manning know how much he?s wanted.
Even Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam called Manning during his visit, Adams told WSMV-TV.
A local radio station set up briefly and blared ?Rocky Top? over speakers alongside TV reporters busy broadcasting live during afternoon newscasts, adding to the circus atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the Titans were going about their business.
Reinfeldt left around 6 p.m. EDT talking on a cell phone, followed shortly by dinner being brought in from a nearby Italian restaurant.
Fans came and went during the day. People stayed near the fence despite a storm that had lightning slicing the sky nearby followed by a rainbow. Then a shooting star was seen, prompting two fans to instantly make a wish that Manning sign with Tennessee.
Adams has said he will do whatever it takes to sign Manning in his chase for a championship. He sees the quarterback as the missing piece. The owner remained in Houston Tuesday, which why Reinfeldt joined Webster and Munchak for this trip.
The owner promoted Reinfeldt from general manager in January to senior executive vice president and COO to act as his point man with the team in Tennessee while he lives 650 miles away.
The Titans already have veteran Matt Hasselbeck with two years left on a deal signed last July, and drafted Jake Locker with the eighth pick overall in the 2011 draft.
When he hasn?t been working out at Duke, the quarterback visited Denver and Arizona in person, while reportedly visiting with the Dolphins in Indianapolis on Monday night.
His friend and Duke coach declined to answer any questions about Manning earlier Wednesday following the Blue Devils spring practice. However, when asked how his players were handling the distraction with the new faces around, Cutcliffe laughed and said, ?you found a way, didn?t you? to get in a question about Manning.
He said having Manning at the team?s facilities has not been a problem.
?That?s always, for them (the Duke players), encouraging and fun. That?s the honest truth,? Cutcliffe said of Manning working out at Duke?s facilities. ?But they?ve done a great job of letting anybody that?s in here work and do what they?ve got to do, and they work around them.
?I think it?s always good to have examples and see the kind of work ethic it takes to succeed in football.?
???
AP Sports Writer Joedy McCreary in Durham, N.C., contributed to this report.
- Mar 19, 2006
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- 599
- 113
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http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-pursuingmanning
Manning update: Broncos, Titans and 49ers are left
By JOEDY McCREARY, AP Sports Writer 3 hours, 34 minutes ago
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)?The stealthy 49ers are in the chase for Peyton Manning. The Dolphins and Cardinals are out. And the Broncos and Titans want to make sure the four-time NFL MVP is healthy.
Got all that?
After a brief lull, the pursuit of Manning sure got interesting in a hurry Friday.
Peyton Manning continues to meet with teams before deciding where to sign.
(Getty Images)
The year?s top free agent, who has been rehabbing in North Carolina after a string of neck surgeries, threw the football at Duke?s athletic facilities for Hall of Fame QB turned Broncos executive John Elway along with Denver coach John Fox.
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The workout lasted a little under two hours, and when it was over Elway seemed convinced that Manning is still Manning.
?We enjoyed visiting with Peyton today in N.C.,? he wrote on his Twitter account. ?He threw the ball great and looked very comfortable out there.?
A few minutes later, Elway posted: ?Watching him throw today was the next step in this important process for our team and Peyton. It was a productive visit and went well.?
Whether San Francisco executives and coaches feel the same way, they weren?t saying. But they also have shown interest in the man who led Indianapolis to a Super Bowl victory in 2007.
A person familiar with the situation said that Manning worked out for 49ers? coach Jim Harbaugh on Tuesday night at Duke. ESPN first reported on the session.
Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe was Manning?s offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee and the two remain friends.
As it became clear the 49ers were in the race, Miami and Arizona dropped out.
Another person confirmed to the AP that Manning phoned the Miami Dolphins on Thursday to advise them he?ll sign elsewhere. The team has now turned its attention to free agent quarterback Matt Flynn.
The people who spoke to the AP did so on condition of anonymity because Manning?s workouts have remained private and most teams involved have refused to comment on their free agency negotiations.
The Cardinals decided to pay quarterback Kevin Kolb the $7 million roster bonus he was due on Saturday, ending their pursuit of Manning. Arizona hosted Manning for about 6 1/2 hours at the team?s facility on Sunday, but the team?s chances faded as the week progressed.
?Acquiring Peyton Manning is no longer an option for us,? coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
After he missed the entire 2011 season, Manning?s uncertain health led the Colts to balk at the $28 million roster bonus they would have owed their 35-year-old leader on March 8. So they released him, ending his long and incredibly successful run with Indy.
Now the question is which club will land a quarterback who could make a team an instant Super Bowl contender.
Will it be San Francisco, which seemed to be out of the picture?
The 49ers had been working to re-sign quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005 who made a comeback last year under first-year coach and former NFL QB Harbaugh.
Smith has acknowledged he was happy with the three-year offer. Both he and Manning are represented by Tom Condon and CAA Sports.
?Alex is trying to figure out what he wants to do,? 49ers CEO Jed York said earlier this week. ?There have been good conversations back and forth.?
The NFC West champion 49ers on Monday signed wide receiver Randy Moss after he spent a year out of football, hoping he will be the dynamic wideout and deep threat he once was.
An email to Smith, multiple phone messages to his agency and to his father were not returned.
The 27-year-old Smith threw for 3,150 yards and 17 touchdowns with only five interceptions as San Francisco went 13-3 and made the NFC title game last season after an eight-year playoff drought.
Neither running back Frank Gore nor tight end Vernon Davis had been told by the 49ers they were pursuing Manning. Both are big fans of Smith. Asked if Smith is still the man for San Francisco, Gore said, ?I think he is.?
Manning?s whirlwind free agency tour officially kicked off soon after he bid farewell to the Colts in an emotional press conference.
The Broncos had the first crack at wooing him, rolling out the red carpet for his visit. Team officials flew him in and he spent the spent the day chatting with Elway and other Broncos brass. He also was escorted around the team?s building by Fox and general manager Brian Xanders as he listened to their sales pitch.
After that, Manning journeyed to nearby Castle Rock, Colo., and spent the evening with good friend Brandon Stokley, who played catch with Manning the next morning and spoke highly of his former teammate in an interview on a local radio show.
Manning?s next stop was Arizona and then, this week, it was Tennessee.
The QB has a big fan in 89-year-old Titans owner Bud Adams, and Manning, who spent his college days leading the Volunteers, talked for nearly eight hours with team executives on a plane and at the club?s headquarters.
The NFL Network reported that Manning was expected to work out for the Titans, but there was no immediate confirmation from the team or word on when that would happen.
???
AP Sports Writers Steve Wine in Miami and Pat Graham in Denver and Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.
Manning update: Broncos, Titans and 49ers are left
By JOEDY McCREARY, AP Sports Writer 3 hours, 34 minutes ago
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)?The stealthy 49ers are in the chase for Peyton Manning. The Dolphins and Cardinals are out. And the Broncos and Titans want to make sure the four-time NFL MVP is healthy.
Got all that?
After a brief lull, the pursuit of Manning sure got interesting in a hurry Friday.
(Getty Images)
The year?s top free agent, who has been rehabbing in North Carolina after a string of neck surgeries, threw the football at Duke?s athletic facilities for Hall of Fame QB turned Broncos executive John Elway along with Denver coach John Fox.
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The workout lasted a little under two hours, and when it was over Elway seemed convinced that Manning is still Manning.
?We enjoyed visiting with Peyton today in N.C.,? he wrote on his Twitter account. ?He threw the ball great and looked very comfortable out there.?
A few minutes later, Elway posted: ?Watching him throw today was the next step in this important process for our team and Peyton. It was a productive visit and went well.?
Whether San Francisco executives and coaches feel the same way, they weren?t saying. But they also have shown interest in the man who led Indianapolis to a Super Bowl victory in 2007.
A person familiar with the situation said that Manning worked out for 49ers? coach Jim Harbaugh on Tuesday night at Duke. ESPN first reported on the session.
Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe was Manning?s offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee and the two remain friends.
As it became clear the 49ers were in the race, Miami and Arizona dropped out.
Another person confirmed to the AP that Manning phoned the Miami Dolphins on Thursday to advise them he?ll sign elsewhere. The team has now turned its attention to free agent quarterback Matt Flynn.
The people who spoke to the AP did so on condition of anonymity because Manning?s workouts have remained private and most teams involved have refused to comment on their free agency negotiations.
The Cardinals decided to pay quarterback Kevin Kolb the $7 million roster bonus he was due on Saturday, ending their pursuit of Manning. Arizona hosted Manning for about 6 1/2 hours at the team?s facility on Sunday, but the team?s chances faded as the week progressed.
?Acquiring Peyton Manning is no longer an option for us,? coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
After he missed the entire 2011 season, Manning?s uncertain health led the Colts to balk at the $28 million roster bonus they would have owed their 35-year-old leader on March 8. So they released him, ending his long and incredibly successful run with Indy.
Now the question is which club will land a quarterback who could make a team an instant Super Bowl contender.
Will it be San Francisco, which seemed to be out of the picture?
The 49ers had been working to re-sign quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005 who made a comeback last year under first-year coach and former NFL QB Harbaugh.
Smith has acknowledged he was happy with the three-year offer. Both he and Manning are represented by Tom Condon and CAA Sports.
?Alex is trying to figure out what he wants to do,? 49ers CEO Jed York said earlier this week. ?There have been good conversations back and forth.?
The NFC West champion 49ers on Monday signed wide receiver Randy Moss after he spent a year out of football, hoping he will be the dynamic wideout and deep threat he once was.
An email to Smith, multiple phone messages to his agency and to his father were not returned.
The 27-year-old Smith threw for 3,150 yards and 17 touchdowns with only five interceptions as San Francisco went 13-3 and made the NFC title game last season after an eight-year playoff drought.
Neither running back Frank Gore nor tight end Vernon Davis had been told by the 49ers they were pursuing Manning. Both are big fans of Smith. Asked if Smith is still the man for San Francisco, Gore said, ?I think he is.?
Manning?s whirlwind free agency tour officially kicked off soon after he bid farewell to the Colts in an emotional press conference.
The Broncos had the first crack at wooing him, rolling out the red carpet for his visit. Team officials flew him in and he spent the spent the day chatting with Elway and other Broncos brass. He also was escorted around the team?s building by Fox and general manager Brian Xanders as he listened to their sales pitch.
After that, Manning journeyed to nearby Castle Rock, Colo., and spent the evening with good friend Brandon Stokley, who played catch with Manning the next morning and spoke highly of his former teammate in an interview on a local radio show.
Manning?s next stop was Arizona and then, this week, it was Tennessee.
The QB has a big fan in 89-year-old Titans owner Bud Adams, and Manning, who spent his college days leading the Volunteers, talked for nearly eight hours with team executives on a plane and at the club?s headquarters.
The NFL Network reported that Manning was expected to work out for the Titans, but there was no immediate confirmation from the team or word on when that would happen.
???
AP Sports Writers Steve Wine in Miami and Pat Graham in Denver and Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.
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Elway: Manning ?threw the ball great? at private workout for Broncos
<CITE class="byline vcard">
By Doug Farrar
By Doug Farrar | Shutdown Corner ? <ABBR title=2012-03-16T23:54:23Z>3 hours ago</ABBR></CITE>
John Elway and Peyton Manning leave Manning's Friday afternoon workout. (AP)
On Friday afternoon at Duke University, Peyton Manning got one step closer (or perhaps quite a few steps closer) to his ultimate destination. Manning welcomed all the key players from the Denver Broncos front office, including VP of Operations John Elway, head coach John Fox, and general manager Brian Xanders, to a workout in which he threw about 65 passes in a controlled indoor environment.
After the workout, Elway (perhaps the most social-media-friendly football exec this side of Jim Irsay) posted an update for fans on his Twitter account:
John Elway, getting the word out.
Duke coach David Cutcliffe, who was Manning's offensive coordinator at Tennessee, had nothing but good to say about his longtime friend's development.
"It's incredible how much progress he's made in throwing the football," Cutcliffe told the Tennessean newspaper. "He's gotten his arm strength back and his accuracy is there. I'm not an NFL coach, of course, but I think I know what it takes to complete passes in the NFL, and it's clear that Peyton can make all those throws. From what I've seen, he's right on target for [a return to the NFL in 2012]. Everybody knows what a hard worker he is, and he's dedicated himself to getting ready for the season."
Since the workout was private, the NFL Network turned to expert analyst Mike Mayock to get a sense of what teams look to see in these types of auditions.
<IFRAME height=457 marginHeight=0 src="http://nfl.cpa.delvenetworks.com/delve/player/carousel/embed_code.html?channelId=de89a8aeb3e422bac4eb48567f10ebd0&mediaId=d99bfff66b4e4bea8a577166e9045def" frameBorder=0 width=480 marginWidth=0 scrolling=no>&amp#60br /&amp#62 </IFRAME>
"If I'm the Denver Broncos and I'm going to put a significant financial investment into Peyton Manning, what I'd want to see is pretty much what I usually see at the college workouts for the top level college players," Mayock said on Friday. "At a pro day you're going to see 60-70 throws ? three-step, five, five with a hitch, seven, seven with a hitch and play-action. We all know Peyton has made all of those throws in his heyday, but the important thing to me is that when we got to throws 55-70 ? in other words, when he's had a pretty good workout, I want to see if he still has the same arm strength that he did in the first 20 throws.
"Can he throw an 18-yard comeback far hash on the 65th throw? Can he throw a go route 60 yards on the 70th throw? I've talked to some people that have seen him throw the football live and everybody has been highly impressed with what he's been able to do. My only question is, does he have the arm strength, the muscle strength and the ability to drive it when he's tired? If he had all of those things, I'd feel pretty comfortable."
So far, so good. Mayock also opined that if the Broncos do win the rights to Manning's services, that should not be the end of their offseason acquisitions.
"If I get Peyton Manning and it's a healthy Peyton Manning, I'm thinking Super Bowl," he said. "From my perspective, the first thing I would do is I would try to make Mike Wallace from the Pittsburgh Steelers a very wealthy young man. He's a restricted free agent so I would have to give up my first round pick, but my first round pick is only number 25. I would be happy to give up No. 25 and then I would get after Mike Wallace, try to put together a deal with him.
"After that, remember that [tight end] Dallas Clark ? Peyton's old teammate ? is out there as a free agent; it wouldn't cost me anything. I would be trying to augment my offensive firepower because Peyton is used to dealing with an average defense; Denver's defense is fine. I'd be really just getting everybody I could get on the offensive side of the ball and say, 'OK Peyton, it's up to you to win a Super Bowl. Let's go.'"
However, the derby is not yet done. Manning will also work out for the Tennessee Titans before this comes to a close, and we now know that the San Francisco 49ers are very much in the picture -- head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman watched Manning throw at Duke on Tuesday, and all in attendance were impressed.
Pagination
<CITE class="byline vcard">
By Doug Farrar | Shutdown Corner ? <ABBR title=2012-03-16T23:54:23Z>3 hours ago</ABBR></CITE>
John Elway and Peyton Manning leave Manning's Friday afternoon workout. (AP)On Friday afternoon at Duke University, Peyton Manning got one step closer (or perhaps quite a few steps closer) to his ultimate destination. Manning welcomed all the key players from the Denver Broncos front office, including VP of Operations John Elway, head coach John Fox, and general manager Brian Xanders, to a workout in which he threw about 65 passes in a controlled indoor environment.
After the workout, Elway (perhaps the most social-media-friendly football exec this side of Jim Irsay) posted an update for fans on his Twitter account:
John Elway, getting the word out.Duke coach David Cutcliffe, who was Manning's offensive coordinator at Tennessee, had nothing but good to say about his longtime friend's development.
"It's incredible how much progress he's made in throwing the football," Cutcliffe told the Tennessean newspaper. "He's gotten his arm strength back and his accuracy is there. I'm not an NFL coach, of course, but I think I know what it takes to complete passes in the NFL, and it's clear that Peyton can make all those throws. From what I've seen, he's right on target for [a return to the NFL in 2012]. Everybody knows what a hard worker he is, and he's dedicated himself to getting ready for the season."
Since the workout was private, the NFL Network turned to expert analyst Mike Mayock to get a sense of what teams look to see in these types of auditions.
<IFRAME height=457 marginHeight=0 src="http://nfl.cpa.delvenetworks.com/delve/player/carousel/embed_code.html?channelId=de89a8aeb3e422bac4eb48567f10ebd0&mediaId=d99bfff66b4e4bea8a577166e9045def" frameBorder=0 width=480 marginWidth=0 scrolling=no>&amp#60br /&amp#62 </IFRAME>
"If I'm the Denver Broncos and I'm going to put a significant financial investment into Peyton Manning, what I'd want to see is pretty much what I usually see at the college workouts for the top level college players," Mayock said on Friday. "At a pro day you're going to see 60-70 throws ? three-step, five, five with a hitch, seven, seven with a hitch and play-action. We all know Peyton has made all of those throws in his heyday, but the important thing to me is that when we got to throws 55-70 ? in other words, when he's had a pretty good workout, I want to see if he still has the same arm strength that he did in the first 20 throws.
"Can he throw an 18-yard comeback far hash on the 65th throw? Can he throw a go route 60 yards on the 70th throw? I've talked to some people that have seen him throw the football live and everybody has been highly impressed with what he's been able to do. My only question is, does he have the arm strength, the muscle strength and the ability to drive it when he's tired? If he had all of those things, I'd feel pretty comfortable."
So far, so good. Mayock also opined that if the Broncos do win the rights to Manning's services, that should not be the end of their offseason acquisitions.
"If I get Peyton Manning and it's a healthy Peyton Manning, I'm thinking Super Bowl," he said. "From my perspective, the first thing I would do is I would try to make Mike Wallace from the Pittsburgh Steelers a very wealthy young man. He's a restricted free agent so I would have to give up my first round pick, but my first round pick is only number 25. I would be happy to give up No. 25 and then I would get after Mike Wallace, try to put together a deal with him.
"After that, remember that [tight end] Dallas Clark ? Peyton's old teammate ? is out there as a free agent; it wouldn't cost me anything. I would be trying to augment my offensive firepower because Peyton is used to dealing with an average defense; Denver's defense is fine. I'd be really just getting everybody I could get on the offensive side of the ball and say, 'OK Peyton, it's up to you to win a Super Bowl. Let's go.'"
However, the derby is not yet done. Manning will also work out for the Tennessee Titans before this comes to a close, and we now know that the San Francisco 49ers are very much in the picture -- head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman watched Manning throw at Duke on Tuesday, and all in attendance were impressed.
Pagination
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Report: Manning will choose team early next week
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...port_manning_will_choose_team_early_next_week
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...port_manning_will_choose_team_early_next_week
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<TABLE id=yui_3_4_1_1_1332011340078_37 border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY id=yui_3_4_1_1_1332011340078_36><TR class=ysptblthbody1 align=right><TD class=yspdetailttl height=18 width="25%" align=left>West</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="4%">W</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="4%">L</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="4%">T</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="6%">Pct</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="6%">PF</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="6%">PA</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">Home</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">Road</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">Div</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="7%">Conf</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl width="9%">Streak </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left>y-San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>.812</TD><TD>380</TD><TD>229</TD><TD>7-1-0</TD><TD>6-2-0</TD><TD>5-1-0</TD><TD>10-2-0</TD><TD>Won 3 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2 align=right><TD align=left>Arizona Cardinals:facepalm: </TD><TD>8</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>.500</TD><TD>312</TD><TD>348</TD><TD>6-2-0</TD><TD>2-6-0</TD><TD>4-2-0</TD><TD>7-5-0</TD><TD>Won 1 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD align=left>Seattle Seahawks:facepalm: </TD><TD>7</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>.438</TD><TD>321</TD><TD>315</TD><TD>4-4-0</TD><TD>3-5-0</TD><TD>3-3-0</TD><TD>6-6-0</TD><TD>Lost 2 </TD></TR><TR class=ysprow2 align=right><TD align=left>St. Louis Rams:facepalm: </TD><TD>2</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>.125</TD><TD>193</TD><TD>407</TD><TD>1-7-0</TD><TD>1-7-0</TD><TD>0-6-0</TD><TD>1-11-0</TD><TD>Lost 7 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
talk about a playoff berth for the next three years..
mighty hard to turndown..
and isn't snowcovered like Denver at crunch time..
talk about a playoff berth for the next three years..
mighty hard to turndown..
and isn't snowcovered like Denver at crunch time..
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