TEMPE, Ariz. — There were plenty of impressive quarterbacks on hand for the Kurt Warner Ultimate Football Experience on Saturday at the Cardinals practice complex. Some might even be termed free agents.
There was the host himself. There was Hall of Famer Steve Young, rising star Josh Freeman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and even former Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler.
Unfortunately for the media throng assembled, there were no Peyton Manning sightings. However, Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reported later in the day that Manning was expected to meet Saturday night with Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt, as Manning was believed to be flying to Phoenix on Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill's private plane. The Arizona Republic reported that Manning arrived late Saturday night.
Cards receiver Larry Fitzgerald insisted he was out of the loop and that there were no clandestine workouts planned at Arizona State University, as Fitzgerald organized last summer with Kevin Kolb.
"I'm not saying I don't have his phone number," Fitzgerald told a large media contingent. "But I haven't heard anything."
As one local scribe put it: "There's a lot of manpower being wasted here today."
The Cardinals were predictably mum on Manning's whereabouts. Was he still in Denver, imprisoned by John Elway until he signs on the dotted line? Was he back in Miami? Was he somewhere in Arizona, waiting for the watchful eyes of the press to give up? Was he kissing babies in a Third World nation?
With no answers forthcoming, all that was left was speculation, so we turned to the guys on the field for their thoughts on Manning mania.
"With the exception of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, every other team has to look into a Peyton Manning. You don't get guys like this loose much on the market," said the always-loquacious Michael Irvin, a former star receiver with Dallas. "This is a coach who calls plays on the line of scrimmage. I can't tell you the advantage that is. And what he does, he's the only man in the world that does it."
Several teams remain in the hunt to land Manning, although that number might have dwindled by two when the Washington Redskins acquired the St. Louis Rams' No. 2 pick, presumably to draft Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, while the New York Jets rewarded embattled QB Mark Sanchez with a three-year, $40.5 million extension.
Unless a dark horse emerges, the three perceived leaders are the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and the Cardinals, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks also on the radar. Each has its own set of advantages being touted by the organization and even the local media.
The Dolphins and Broncos have lots to spend and solid offensive lines. The Cardinals have Fitzgerald and that domed stadium.
"I think Miami still has the upper hand," Warner said. "Since Day One, they've made it known, 'We want him to be our guy and we'll do whatever we have to to get him.' If you're a guy in that situation, at that stage of your career, that's what you want to hear.
"You want to go some place where they're saying, 'We're going to roll out the red carpet. Whatever you need, we're willing to make those moves. Bring your receiver with you, sign you to whatever kind of deal you want.'"
Young believes there's a factor analysts are overlooking in Manning's decision.
"I think the most important thing he has to do is come down here and interview the receivers," Young said, stressing that in Arizona's case, Manning must measure the aptitude of the receivers beyond Fitzgerald. "'Are these a group of guys where I can get them up to speed and go dominate the NFL?'"
Warner said he told Manning at the Super Bowl that he'd be willing to pass along any intelligence he possessed from his time playing for the Cards. But as of Saturday morning, Manning had not taken him up on that offer.
"I don't think there's any question Coach (Whisenhunt) is going to be flexible," Warner said. "But the bottom line is the pieces to the puzzle. What's Peyton looking for from that standpoint? He's going to make that decision where he feels the pieces are best in place for him and that team to succeed."
