An anxious silence blanketed the NFL world Saturday after two huge tremors rattled the landscape for teams contending to sign former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
The Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins remained contenders to land the NFL’s only four-time most valuable player. The Kansas City Chiefs also have declared their intention to pursue Manning.
Manning was headed to Arizona on Saturday night to meet with the Cardinals, according to FoxSports.com. He had spent most of Saturday in Denver. The Denver Post reported that Manning’s visit was productive, and that the Broncos were encouraged by the meeting.
Manning had flown to Denver on Friday from South Florida, where he has a condo and had been staying since his final Colts press conference Wednesday to announce his break from Indianapolis after 14 seasons.
The Washington Redskins pulled off one of the league’s all-time biggest blockbuster trades Friday, which still must meet league approval. Washington would send three first-round draft picks and one second-rounder to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for the No. 2 pick in next month’s draft.
Most observers think the Colts, with the No. 1 pick, will take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. The Redskins are expected to take Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.
Also late Friday, the New York Jets signed quarterback Mark Sanchez to a three-year contract extension, ending their pursuit of Manning.
Washington’s bid to secure the No. 2 pick cost it the No. 6 pick this year and first-rounders in 2013 and 2014. Most significant for Dolphins fans, it narrows the field of quarterbacks Miami can target.
Denver, which has $43 million in salary cap space, appeared to be Miami’s stiffest competition for Manning. The Broncos can basically offer Manning anything he wants in terms of signing free agents, such as former teammates Reggie Wayne, Jeff Saturday or Dallas Clark, in addition to his personal asking price.
Arizona is $10.8 million over the cap, a number that would rise by $8 million should the Cardinals decide to dump Kevin Kolb after one season.
Miami has $15 million in cap space to sign free agents.
If the Dolphins fail to sign Manning, their focus likely will shift immediately to chasing Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn, who can sign a contract once free agency begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Dolphins coach Joe Philbin worked with Flynn in Green Bay before he was hired in January by Miami. Signing Flynn, or Manning, as a free agent would enable Miami to use its draft pick on other needs. The Cleveland Browns are thought to be considering Flynn to save their first-round draft pick to sign Alabama running back Trent Richardson.
If the Dolphins do not sign a free-agent quarterback, they could use the eighth pick of the draft to select Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden or another player.
Manning, who led the Colts to a Super Bowl victory in 2006, has thrown for 54,828 yards, 399 touchdowns and 198 interceptions in his career. He is expected to travel to Miami in the next day or two to meet with the Dolphins before picking a team.
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