Shalise Manza Young explores the possibility of Peyton Manning signing with either the Miami Dolphins or NY Jets.
Manning's offseason home is in South Florida, and his Super Bowl title came in Miami. The Dolphins have around $17 million in salary cap space currently, have some good offensive weapons already in place (Brandon Marshall, Reggie Bush, Davone Bess, Brian Hartline, Anthony Fasano) and a good offensive line.
Upping the Miami appeal for Manning? Receiver Reggie Wayne, set to become a free agent on Tuesday, would be open to signing with the Dolphins.
One other big factor: Miami desperately needs something - someone - to consistently put behinds in the seats at Sun Life Stadium. Owner Stephen Ross has made a couple of missteps in recent years, but if he's able to land Manning, he'll have a draw to get fans to the games and the hope that his team will be a real threat in the division.
As for the Jets, Newsday reported this morning that New York is prepared to make a "serious run" at Manning, and the Daily News was more succinct, with today's back page screaming "GET HIM!"
But the Jets have Mark Sanchez in place and aren't in a great position salary-cap wise, so they're likely a longer shot to land Manning, though playing with Gang Green would put Peyton in the same stadium as younger brother Eli.
TEAM TALK
- Andy Hart thinks free agent DE Mario Williams would be a perfect schematic fit for the Patriots, but not a financial one.
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Andy Hart posts a clip of Aaron Hernandez being questioned by TMZ about the Saints' bounty scandal. Yep, it's the offseason.
LOCAL LINKS
- Tom E. Curran writes around here, Peyton Manning’s been a punchline, a punching bag, a nemesis and – finally and most appropriately – appreciated.
- Jim Donaldson says it won't matter if Peyton Manning ends up in the AFC East because, even if healthy, he won't be enough to push the Dolphins ahead of the Pats.
- Tony Massarotti writes that Peyton Manning's release is a reminder for Patriots fans that every moment with Tom Brady as quarterback needs to be maximized.
- Kirk Minihane tells us why Brady-Manning is a better rivalry than Bird-Magic.
- Jeff Howe doesn't think Wes Welker will hold out if his contract extension isn't reached immediately.
- Mike Reiss reviews the Patriots at the running back position, and which free agents available might be a fit for New England.
- Mike Reiss looks at the latest mock draft selections for the Patriots from Todd McShay: DE Whitney Mercilus (Illinois) and DL Devon Still (Penn State).
- Mike Reiss shares his thoughts on the mock draft of Dane Brugler (CBS Sports) and his first-round picks for the Patriots.
- WEEI profiles DE Andre Branch (Clemson) as a potential draft pick for the Patriots.
- Mike Reiss offers some soundbites from former Patriots TE coach Brian Ferentz in his news conference as the new University of Iowa O-Line coach.
- Greg A. Bedard posts the transcript of his weekly online chat.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Omar Kelly (Sun-Sentinel) Reggie Wayne eyeing reunion with Peyton Manning in Miami.
- Manish Mehta (NY Daily News) NY Jets reach out to gauge Peyton Manning's interest in joining Gang Green.
- Report (NFL.com) Tomlinson: Sanchez wouldn't stay if Manning joined Jets.
- Mark Gaughan (Buffalo News) A Manning return to AFC East? Bills fans hope not.
- Kerry J. Byrne (Cold Hard Football Facts) Peyton Manning's match made in heaven: Baltimore Ravens.
- Kerry J. Byrne (SI) It's 'buyer-beware' for the teams lining up to add Manning.
- Dane Brugler (CBS Sports) NFL Mock Draft. Patriots select DT Kendall Reyes (Connecticut) and SS Mark Barron (Alabama).
- Jack Bechta (Nat'l Football Post) Are signs pointing to a soft free agent market?
- Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) Where will these six high-profile free agents end up?
- Chris Burke (SI) Best of the Firsts: No. 20 Jack Youngblood (1971, Rams).
- Steve Rushin (SI) Co-opted military words like 'bounty' have no place in sports.