TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Peyton Manning had another marathon session during the second stop in his search for a new team.
The free-agent quarterback spent nearly 6 1/2 hours at the Arizona Cardinals' headquarters and training facility on Sunday in meetings designed to lure the superstar to the desert. The session was even longer than the nearly six hours Manning spent at the Broncos' facility in Denver on Friday night.
Manning waved and smiled at cheering fans as he walked from the building to coach Ken Whisenhunt's white SUV. With the coach at the wheel, Manning waved again as the SUV pulled through the security gate and past the loud supporters.
He was expected to return to his home in Florida. It was unclear whether the four-time MVP planned to meet with the Dolphins.
Titans owner Bud Adams told The Tennessean on Sunday that he has contacted Manning's agent, Tom Condon, to express his interest and ask for the quarterback to visit the Titans. The 89-year-old Adams said he will be upset if he doesn't get land the former Indianapolis Colts star.
Cardinals president Michael Bidwill left immediately after Manning and Whisenhunt did. No one involved in the session spoke to reporters.
Larry Fitzgerald, one of the best receivers in the game and considered a prime reason why Manning might choose Arizona, arrived a few minutes ahead of Manning, then left after about three hours. He had a scheduled flight to Australia for a vacation later in the day.
General manager Rod Graves and most of the members of Whisenhunt's staff, including offensive coordinator Larry Miller, offensive line and assistant head coach Russ Grimm and defensive coordinator Ray Horton also were there. Wide receiver Andre Roberts spent several hours there, as did Lisa Manning (no relation), the Cardinals' vice president for marketing.
Bidwill arrived about an hour and a half after Manning did.
"Get it done, Michael," a fan yelled. "Come on, buddy."
Among the earliest fans to arrive was 26-year-old Jarred Light, a Colts fan who moved to the Phoenix area 1½ years ago.
"I pretty much grew up around him," he said. "When I was 12 is when he came to Indy. Now I'm 26, so pretty much ever since I've been interested in football he was my favorite everything. I've seen him a couple of times in Indy from living there so many years, and now I just wanted to come out here and see if he will come to the Cardinals."
A couple of fans wore Broncos jerseys and were loudly booed when they were interviewed by television crews.
Manning, who turns 36 on March 24, reportedly wants to make a decision in the next few days. Time is of the essence for the Cardinals, who are scheduled to pay quarterback Kevin Kolb $7 million if he is on the roster Thursday.
Manning was released by the Colts as the lead move in the team's massive restructuring of its roster. With Manning out the entire season while undergoing a series of neck surgeries, Indianapolis had the worst record in the NFL and is expected to select quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Manning has reported good progress as he works to regenerate nerves in his neck and regain his throwing form.
In addition to Fitzgerald as bait to lure the quarterback, the Cardinals have a coach who is flexible in his approach to the game. He built a team around Kurt Warner and gave the veteran quarterback free rein to change the plays at the line of scrimmage. As a result, the long-suffering Cardinals franchise made a surprise run to the Super Bowl in the 2008 season and captured the NFC West title again the next year.
Manning is familiar with Whisenhunt from the coach's work as offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Cardinals also have a state-of-the-art stadium with a retractable roof and a natural grass field. The addition of Manning might prompt the franchise to follow through on earlier plans to build a practice bubble so players can escape the stifling heat during summer mini-camps and early season practices.
A concern could be Arizona's inconsistent offensive line that could lose left tackle Levi Brown, who is expected to be released because he is due a big payday and wouldn't return unless he signed a new contract.
Less than a year ago, shortly after the lockout ended, Arizona traded cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick to Philadelphia for Kolb, then signed the quarterback to a big contract. But Kolb had trouble adjusting to the new offense and missed eight starts with injuries. Second-year pro John Skelton wound up starting half the games and having more success than Kolb did.
If Manning doesn't come to Arizona, the Cardinals will be faced with assuring Kolb that his services are still coveted, that the pursuit of the star was nothing personal.
Titans owner tells paper he wants to sign Manning
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Titans owner Bud Adams wants to sign Peyton Manning and says he will do whatever is necessary to convince the four-time NFL MVP to come to Tennessee, even offering up a job in the front office once his playing career ends.
Adams told The Tennessean on Sunday that he has contacted Manning's agent, Tom Condon, to express his interest and ask for the quarterback to visit the Titans. Manning visited Denver on Friday and spent more than six hours in Arizona on Sunday.
"I want Manning," Adams said. "I'd love to see him in Titan blue after watching him so many years with the Colts. ... I want him. I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard, and I think he'd be the guy to get us into the playoffs."
The 89-year-old owner has watched his franchise miss the playoffs six times in the last eight seasons, with one-and-done postseason appearances in 2007 and 2008.
The last time Adams wanted to add a quarterback, the Titans drafted Vince Young in 2006. The Titans cut Young after the 2010 season in a move team officials convinced Adams had to be made.
New general manager Ruston Webster said twice in the past month that the Titans were happy with their quarterbacks. Tennessee signed Matt Hasselbeck to a three-year deal in July 2011 and used the eighth overall pick in last year's draft on Jake Locker.
But the Titans went 9-7 in Mike Munchak's first season as coach, just missing a playoff berth. They also have plenty of salary-cap space, with about $30 million to spend. And Adams said Manning is the quarterback he wants.
"And the people that work for me understand that," Adams told the newspaper. "They know who I want. I want Mr. Manning with the Titans, and I will be disappointed if it doesn't happen."
Adams said he hopes Manning looks at the Titans, since the team plays in the same state where the quarterback played in college.
Adams said he believes Manning can play for two or three more years and turn around the Titans for him, and the owner is willing to sweeten the deal by offering the chance for Manning to stay with the team for the rest of his "working life."
"That's why I am so anxious to get him to come visit with us and I want him on my team," Adams said.
Adams said Condon is all for having Manning visit the Titans — if the front office is in agreement with the owner. The Titans owner may live in Houston, but he said the general manager and other top officials will do what he tells them to do.
''That's the guy I want, and I am going to make the decision," Adams said.
AP source: WR Moss to work out for 49ers
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Wide receiver Randy Moss was set to work out Monday for the San Francisco 49ers, a person with knowledge of the situation said.
Moss is attempting to make an NFL comeback after a year out of pro football. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday night because it wasn't made public that the veteran wideout would hold a session for the NFC West champion Niners a day before the start of the free agency period.
The 49ers also are working to re-sign quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005, and have reportedly made him an offer. ESPN first reported Moss' scheduled workout on Sunday.
The 35-year-old Moss, who worked out last Tuesday with the New Orleans Saints, played for New England, Minnesota and Tennessee in a rocky 2010 season. He could help fill a big void after 49ers receivers managed just one catch for 3 yards in a 20-17 loss in the NFC championship game to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants at Candlestick Park on Jan. 22.
San Francisco cut ties with Braylon Edwards in December and already was without Joshua Morgan, who broke a bone in his lower leg Oct. 9 against Tampa Bay, had surgery to have screws inserted and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Morgan is expected to generate his share of interest in free agency.
Michael Crabtree, San Francisco's 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft, had 72 receptions for 874 yards and four touchdowns.
Moss' best season came for the Patriots in 2007, when he caught 98 passes for 1,493 yards and single-season record 23 touchdowns in helping New England to a 16-0 regular-season record.
Moss has 954 catches for 14,858 yards and 153 TDs in his 13-year career, which included a stint in the Bay Area with the Oakland Raiders in 2005 and '06.
Moss has had more than 1,000 yards receiving in a season 10 times, second only to Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who did that 14 times.
-- Janie McCauley
NFL sets 2012 salary cap at $120.6 million
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL salary cap for 2012 is $120.6 million, barely above last year's figure. The league informed the 32 teams Sunday that the cap has gone up by $225,000. All teams must be under the cap by Tuesday, when free agency begins.
If a club has salary cap room remaining at the end of the season, it can carry it over to 2013 as long as it notifies the NFL by the day before the 2012 season ends.
Unrestricted free agents can sign with a team beginning Tuesday through July 22 or the opening day of the first training camp, whichever is later.
Restricted free agents can sign until April 20. Franchise players have until Nov. 13 to sign — if he hasn't he must sit out the season.
Peyton Manning is the biggest unrestricted free agent on the market. The four-time league MVP released by the Colts has already met with Denver Broncos officials, and was meeting with Arizona Cardinals officials on Sunday.
Among other top free agents are wide receiver Marques Colston and All-Pro guard Carl Nicks of the Saints, quarterback Matt Flynn of the Packers, and defensive end/linebacker Mario Williams of the Texans
For franchise-tagged players, the salary for a one-year contract for quarterbacks is $14.436 million. Next highest is defensive end at $10,605,000, with cornerback at $10,281,000. Wide receiver is at $9,515,000 and running back is at $7,742,000.
Among the 21 franchise players this season — the most ever — are wide receiver Wes Welker and running backs Ray Rice and Matt Forte.
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