Peyton Manning will not be playing for the Miami Dolphins, according to reports.
Manning contacted the Dolphins on Thursday to personally advise them that he would not sign. Now, the team will have to continue to build without him with its next target most likely quarterback Matt Flynn, who, as per Jeff Darlington of NFL Network, is expected to
Of the four teams Manning met-Miami, Arizona, Denver and Tennessee-the Dolphins are the only one that didn't host him on their turf. However, Darlington also reports that owner Stephen Ross actually did get a chance to personally make a pitch to Manning on Monday after he chartered a flight with the accompaniment of coach Joe Philbin and general manager Jeff Ireland.
The Arizona Cardinals may also be out of the Manning sweepstakes more so now than ever before. Arizona must pay quarterback Kevin Kolb's $7 million bonus by 4 p.m. ET on Friday in order to keep him on the roster. If Manning is still undecided by that time, the Cardinals' hands could be forced.
As a result, the Broncos and Titans seem to be the top two teams vying for the four-time MVP's services.
The Broncos have sent their own private team jet to Raleigh, N.C., where Manning has been working out at Duke University in Durham. According to the NFL Network's Albert Breer, that flight included vice president of football operations John Elway, coach John Fox, general manager Brian Xanders, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and quarterbacks coach Adam Gase. Per ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Manning will work out for all of them at the Blue Devils' facilities.
As for the Titans, owner Bud Adams said to KHOU in Houston that he was ready to make Manning a Titan "for life" after he met with team executives and coaches nearly all of Wednesday. Manning spent nearly seven hours at team headquarters after getting picked up by chief operating officer Mike Reinfeldt, general manager Ruston Webster and coach Mike Munchak in Adams' private jet in Raleigh, N.C.
