The Facts: Speculation about potential suitors for Manning continued to swirl Sunday, with ESPN reporting that Arizona will join the Dolphins, Jets and Redskins as teams interested in the star quarterback if the Colts set him free. Manning sits atop the Dolphins’ quarterback wish list this offseason, and they will aggressively pursue him if he’s a free agent and if he’s cleared medically, two people with direct knowledge of Miami’s plans said in the past week.
Diehards Line:So wrote Herald staffer Barry Jackson before adding if Manning-to-Miami does not materialize, the Dolphins will turn to other options, including Packers impending free agent Matt Flynn or an attempt to trade up to draft Baylor’s Robert Griffin III. The Colts must decide by March 8 whether to pay a $28 million roster bonus to Manning, who is still rehabilitating from neck surgery. Because of the size of his contract, it’s highly unlikely Manning would be traded. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said Sunday there’s “nothing certain on Manning’s future. ...’’ We'll also suggest the fact Manning sits atop anybody's "wish list" comes as no surprise -- and we'll note that it's a huge leap to go from "wish" to "realistic possibility. ..." We will, however, continue to watch for more.