MIAMI — The Dolphins are getting a forum to make a pitch to Peyton Manning, just as they had been told they would.
The team was informed that Manning had arranged to meet with coach Joe Philbin either Monday evening, Tuesday morning or both, according to a source. Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman and general manager Jeff Ireland also are expected to attend.
Manning also plans to meet with Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak, according to ESPN. He visited Denver on Friday and Arizona on Sunday before taking a Sunday night flight to South Florida, where he has a residence.
The San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans, two teams that always deeply worried the Dolphins as competition for Manning, also have inquired and remain in contention for his services, according to The Denver Post. The Texans had said previously that they were not pursuing Manning, and the 49ers continue to negotiate a multiyear contract with free agent Alex Smith.
After watching Manning visit first with Denver and Arizona, the Dolphins are relieved Manning will meet with them for a football-intensive discussion, without bells and whistles.
The Dolphins are hopeful Philbin can make a connection with Manning because of Philbin’s offensive expertise and cerebral, pleasant demeanor. Philbin’s personality reminds some of Tony Dungy, Manning’s former coach in Indianapolis.
Manning has received positive feedback about Philbin and also is believed to have a positive impression of Sherman, though he doesn’t have a longstanding relationship with either man.
Manning apparently feels no urgency to see the Dolphins’ facility because he has been there during preparations for the Colts’ two Super Bowl appearances at Sun Life Stadium.
Though the Dolphins do not have reason to feel as confident as they did at the start of the process, they still believe they are very much in the running for Manning, two sources said.
The Broncos are considered the favorite by some people in the league and are very optimistic about their chances, according to an official who has spoken with their front office.
ESPN reported that Manning would not make a decision by the start of free agency at 4 p.m. Tuesday and might not pick a team until next week.
Though Manning has not had any throwing sessions in front of team officials, he reportedly authorized sending some teams a tape with portions of his recent workouts at Duke.
During his visit to Denver, Manning threw to former Colts teammate Brandon Stokley, without Broncos officials present. Stokley said Manning has “looked to me like he did when I was there six years ago.”
The Dolphins are expected to pursue Green Bay Packers free agent Matt Flynn if they cannot sign Manning. Though it would seem that the Dolphins would risk losing Flynn by waiting for a decision from Manning, the Flynn camp realizes that the number of offers, and the value of those offers, for Flynn likely will increase if Manning is off the market, according to a source.
So unless Flynn receives a mind-blowing offer at the start of free agency, he might wait a few days for Manning to make a decision.
While much of the Dolphins’ focus is on Manning, they also must attend to other matters with free agency starting Tuesday. The Dolphins, who have $15.4 million in cap space, put all of their prominent free agents in a holding pattern last week because of the Manning situation. But this week they renewed attempts to re-sign defensive lineman Kendall Langford, who is their priority among the team’s own free agents.
The sides have been talking, on and off, since last summer, and it’s unclear if anything will get done before the start of free agency.
Paul Soliai is expected to sign elsewhere. Vernon Carey is still hopeful of getting an offer from the Dolphins, but it’s uncertain if that will happen.
Among the Dolphins’ other unrestricted free agents, Chad Henne, Marc Colombo and J.P. Losman are not expected back, and the Dolphins also will look to upgrade over Will Allen and Ikaika Alama Francis. Linebacker Marvin Mitchell might return. Running back Steve Slaton is also unrestricted.
The Dolphins must make decisions on what tenders to place on four restricted free agents: right tackle Lydon Murtha, running back Lex Hilliard, and defensive linemen Philip Merling and Ryan Baker. Murtha is expected to be tendered, and there’s a good chance Merling will, too. Baker will not be tendered but likely will be asked to return at the league minimum if he’s interested.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
