Per NFL Network: Cardinals Manning Last Visit?

[TJ]

It also says he thinks Miami is where he'll end up... Not that i take Woody Paige seriously in the first place.

Woody often goes against the grain of the mainstream media and wants to be in the spotlight, so take this article with a grain of salt.

Nothing in that article suggested to me that Denver wasn't still a viable option for Manning.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

This is a better quote from the article,
Manning, who will be 36 on March 24, wants to play for an immediate Super Bowl contender; in a domed stadium (where he has won more than 70 percent of his games) or a warm-weather city; on a team with a quality defense and superior receivers, linemen and running backs; in a system that allows him freedom and influence; for an organization that doesn't have drama; and in a locale where Manning is the man.

Sounds like he's gonna have to retire, then.

 

[Totally_Red]

Miami's interest is obviously owner-driven to sell season tickets. We all know how up and down the Dolphins game attendance has been. If the Cardinals drop the ball I'm sure Peyton would play there.

I'm sure Elway really, really wants Peyton Manning. But as others [Holian] have said, the climate would likely to shorten Peyton's career if he played there.

Barring a dramatic last-second intervention by the Texans, the Cardinals have a good chance at closing this deal inspite of the largely clueless national media. Stadium with a top, climate, not a major market, flexible coach, and the best wide receiver in football. GO CARDINALS!!

 

[JeffGollin]

The exuberance on this board is overwhelming (& neat). Better he's here than not.

But all that's happened is that the field of play remains level.

He still may be merely going thru the process and it's still a 3-way tie odds-wise (with at least a couple of wildcards waiting in the weekends).

Let's just hope that the Cardinal FO continues to play things just right...and that Peyton appreciates that

(Note - there is Jewish saying about not putting the "Kenna Hora" (or jinx) on seemingly good news).

That's all I got.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

Good ESPN video here:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7...on-manning-arizona-meet-cardinals-reports-say

 

[JeffGollin]

Good ESPN video here:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7...on-manning-arizona-meet-cardinals-reports-say

The ESPN video and write-up is the most comprehensive and logical piece on the current Manning situation. No doubt there may be a few things in question (like whether or not the fly-back to Miami would wind up with a meeting with the Dolphs).

One other point of interest was a repetition of the comment that "Peyton had no favoring interest going into the trips to Denver or Phoenix, but was simply being thorough in his "research."

The way I see it - it's better he's in AZ than not. It's better he hasn't made a decision to sign with another team than not. It's better he hasn't left AZ yet than not. But other than that, we can speculate all we want, but we don't know nuthin'.

 

[FlaCardFan]

Sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN's Adam Schefter the Broncos and Cardinals are considered free agent Peyton Manning's "two likeliest landing spots."

According to Schefter, "indications" are that the Dolphins aren't as high on Manning's list as the Cardinals and Broncos. A source who spoke with Manning prior to his trip to Arizona says his "gut" is that Manning is "leaning toward Denver." Schefter also reports the Seahawks have been working to arrange a meeting with Manning, but have been unable to do so.

Rotoworld


I just don't understand Denver. The weather should be enough to drive him away and they have no receivers.

 

[Mitch]

Sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN's Adam Schefter the Broncos and Cardinals are considered free agent Peyton Manning's "two likeliest landing spots."

According to Schefter, "indications" are that the Dolphins aren't as high on Manning's list as the Cardinals and Broncos. A source who spoke with Manning prior to his trip to Arizona says his "gut" is that Manning is "leaning toward Denver." Schefter also reports the Seahawks have been working to arrange a meeting with Manning, but have been unable to do so.

Rotoworld


I just don't understand Denver. The weather should be enough to drive him away and they have no receivers.

Denver has the cap space, FlaCardFan, to sign Manning, Wayne, Garcon, Clark, Saturday and Diem (if he doesn't choose to retire)....and a couple more FAs if necessary.

A hot topic in Arizona today will be what assurances the FO can give Manning about signing Manning's choice FAs (which is precisely why Manning wants to sign by Tuesday). What the Cardinals are going to have to do is convince Manning that they have a cap salary plan that would give them the opportunity to sign Manning, strengthen the offensive line and bolster the WR core.

The decision, imo, will come down to whether Arizona can give Manning the same assurances the Broncos did.

 

[ajcardfan]

Denver has the cap space, FlaCardFan, to sign Manning, Wayne, Garcon, Clark, Saturday and Diem (if he doesn't choose to retire)....and a couple more FAs if necessary.

A hot topic in Arizona today will be what assurances the FO can give Manning about signing Manning's choice FAs (which is precisely why Manning wants to sign by Tuesday). What the Cardinals are going to have to do is convince Manning that they have a cap salary plan that would give them the opportunity to sign Manning, strengthen the offensive line and bolster the WR core.

The decision, imo, will come down to whether Arizona can give Manning the same assurances the Broncos did.

To pull all of that off, we will have to go into cap shenanigans, Redskins-style. It would be worth a Lombardi trophy, but free agent extravagance has an extermely poor record on delivering on those types of hopes.

More likely than the Bidwills doing a Dan Snyder imitation, is that we will try to sell him on many of the young players we already have on the roster.

IMHO

 

[Mitch]

To pull all of that off, we will have to go into cap shenanigans, Redskins-style. It would be worth a Lombardi trophy, but free agent extravagance has an extermely poor record on delivering on those types of hopes.

More likely than the Bidwills doing a Dan Snyder imitation, is that we will try to sell him on many of the young players we already have on the roster.

IMHO

I think a number of the veterans like Wilson and Rhodes, for example, would be willing to redo their contracts to make them cap friendly. Fitz will do it for sure.

 

[AsUdUdE]

To pull all of that off, we will have to go into cap shenanigans, Redskins-style. It would be worth a Lombardi trophy, but free agent extravagance has an extermely poor record on delivering on those types of hopes.

More likely than the Bidwills doing a Dan Snyder imitation, is that we will try to sell him on many of the young players we already have on the roster.

IMHO

see I completely disagree, and this seems to be the theory that everyone in the media is running with...

It is such a lazy argument to look at the overall number and say "hey they don't have any flexibility", but those who actually LOOK at the cap hits, will see

A. 14.2 million saved from cutting Levi
B. 6-8 million by cutting Kolb
c. 5.5 million by cutting Porter
d. Larry 14 or so million spread out over 6 years to save another 8 million or so
e. Campbell signing a long term deal should lower his number by 2-3 million
f. Could look at cutting Stewart Bradley to save 5 million

So without having to mortgage our future by creating cap hell in years to come (other than potentially deferring Kolbs 6-8 million to next year and possibly adding 2 million a year to Fitz over the next 6) we can go from having about 3 million in cap room to having 30-38 million in cap room...

Which while not a ton like Denver, is PLENTY to sign appropriate players for Manning... Hopefully the Cards explain this to him and show him the media are once again fools..

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Denver has the cap space, FlaCardFan, to sign Manning, Wayne, Garcon, Clark, Saturday and Diem (if he doesn't choose to retire)....and a couple more FAs if necessary.

A hot topic in Arizona today will be what assurances the FO can give Manning about signing Manning's choice FAs (which is precisely why Manning wants to sign by Tuesday). What the Cardinals are going to have to do is convince Manning that they have a cap salary plan that would give them the opportunity to sign Manning, strengthen the offensive line and bolster the WR core.

The decision, imo, will come down to whether Arizona can give Manning the same assurances the Broncos did.

I have a hard time believing Manning will dictate to any front office that they sign that many, if any, FA's. These are professionals and they realize teammates change constantly. The other guys may want to play with Manning but Peyton will look at the current rosters and decide the best fit. The Cards will need to show a good OL plan and maybe the unwarranted respect Grimm has around the league will be peceived as a plus.

With the following Tebow has in Denver, I don't see why he would chose them over the Cards.

Another good thing is the clocks don't change in Arizona. I can't imagine Rod Graves having to deal with the clocks jumping forward an hour .

 

[Dr. Jones]

How would it look if Peyton takes 20 million per and then everyone else has to restructure? If Peyton wants his boys with him, then he should be willing to take 10 to 12 mill IMO.

But..... I would find a way to make it work regardless.

 

[ajcardfan]

see I completely disagree, and this seems to be the theory that everyone in the media is running with...

It is such a lazy argument to look at the overall number and say "hey they don't have any flexibility", but those who actually LOOK at the cap hits, will see

A. 14.2 million saved from cutting Levi
B. 6-8 million by cutting Kolb
c. 5.5 million by cutting Porter
d. Larry 14 or so million spread out over 6 years to save another 8 million or so
e. Campbell signing a long term deal should lower his number by 2-3 million
f. Could look at cutting Stewart Bradley to save 5 million

So without having to mortgage our future by creating cap hell in years to come (other than potentially deferring Kolbs 6-8 million to next year and possibly adding 2 million a year to Fitz over the next 6) we can go from having about 3 million in cap room to having 30-38 million in cap room...

Which while not a ton like Denver, is PLENTY to sign appropriate players for Manning... Hopefully the Cards explain this to him and show him the media are once again fools..

They can easily sign Manning and Wayne, for example. But Mitch listed SEVEN additional free agents to Manning. All stars and Pro Bowlers in their own right, who are not going to take major discounts to play anywhere, Manning or no Manning.

Yes, we have flexibility. But we'd have to do things we've never remotely even attempted to pull that off.

 

[Early]

The key is going to be the Superbowl. The team that gives him the chance to win a couple of championships, is the team he will play for. He is the best QB to ever play the game, and some people/experts/fans still question that based on the number of rings he does not have. Looking at the tape and performance, there should be no doubt he is the best ever. He is both the executor and the system and the playcaller in one person. Brady, Rodgers, Brees etc, none of them come close to him, because he is much more than a QB. He is a signal caller. The best one. I think he wants to change that opinion of him. He wants to win more. There must be no doubt. And there shouldn't be any.

The key to winning will not be the recievers. He is not playing for his own stats. He has plenty of amazing stats, but not enough rings. Recievers are only one factor. He will need to factor in the defense. The Offensive Line. The coaching.

Both Denver's and Cards defense has been playing really well last year. Cards defense is as promising as any defense in the league for the coming season. Cardinals have better recievers. Worse O-Line, but instead can offer to upgrade it this offseason with picks and FA signings.

In the end, it will be close. I think he plays for the Cardinals this season. I see some similarity between Indy and Phoenix. I think he will feel more comfortable as a Cardinal. He will have more control. It will come down to that, control. Because he knows he is more than a QB. He runs the offense.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

How would it look if Peyton takes 20 million per and then everyone else has to restructure? If Peyton wants his boys with him, then he should be willing to take 10 to 12 mill IMO.

But..... I would find a way to make it work regardless.

"Restructure" has nothing to do with losing money.