Reports: Cardinals among 6 in Manning chase

Reports: Cardinals among 6 in Manning chase

Published Mar. 8, 2012 10:43 a.m. ET

NewsCore

LeBron James wants him to play for the Dolphins, an Arizona mattress company has already put up billboards pushing him to join the Cardinals and fans from most teams around the NFL have taken to social media to do their own bidding.

Former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is a wanted man, and the chase for his signature began in earnest Thursday, with at least six teams already making moves to initiate talks.

Citing league sources, the NFL Network reported that the Cardinals, Dolphins, Redskins, Broncos and Seahawks have already begun pursuing the four-time league MVP, who was released Wednesday after 14 seasons in Indianapolis.

The Jets also reached out to Manning on Wednesday, the New York Post reported, while the Chiefs are also thought to be in the running.

After touching down in Miami on Wednesday afternoon, however, Manning claimed that he did not know which teams were interested in securing his services, the Miami Herald reported.

"I have no idea who wants me, what team wants me," he said at an impromptu news conference. "I literally have not had one conversation with anyone about these teams. It's been so hard to try to figure out some closure with my situation with the Colts that I haven't really concerned myself with that."

Regardless, Miami Heat star James already has started pitching for Manning to take his talents to South Beach, telling FOX Sports that the "Dolphins need a quarterback, and Peyton's available," after a win against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

"Peyton Manning is a great player," James told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel later. "No matter what happened this past year, his resume speaks for itself and it would be great to have him down here."

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