Before the Broncos solidify their final contract proposal to Peyton Manning, they wanted to see the free-agent quarterback throw and medically check him out.
A large Broncos contingent that includes front office boss John Elway, coach John Fox and trainer Steve Antonopulos landed in Durham, N.C. at 11:07 a.m., where they watched Manning throw and work out today.
“We enjoyed visiting with Peyton today in N.C.,” Elway tweeted this afternoon. “He threw the ball great and looked very comfortable out there.
“Watching him throw today was the next step in this important process for our team and Peyton. It was a productive visit and went well.”
The Broncos have a return flight scheduled to leave Raleigh/Durham this evening.
An NFL source said Manning and his camp have narrowed their choices to the Broncos, Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers. Another NFL source said the Titans are wanting to watch Manning throw either Saturday or Monday.
A third NFL source indicated that all involved teams are comfortable working off Manning’s previous contract with the Indianapolis Colts, which was five years for $90 million, or an average of $18 million per year. Additionally, Manning was to receive $61.8 million through the first two years of his contract with the Colts.
Both the Broncos and Tennessee Titans are working off the general framework of that contract.
Manning’s previous deal, which was negotiated on July 31, 2011, paid him $26.4 million last season, which he collected even though he didn’t play a snap because of a neck injury.
Manning was then to receive $35.4 million this year in option bonus and salary. He was released in lieu of the Colts paying him a $28 million bonus that came due last week, voiding the contract.
The rest of contract had Manning making an $8.4 million salary in 2013, $9.4 million in 2012 and $10.4 million in 2015.
ESPN reported, according to league sources, the 49ers watched Manning throw on Tuesday. The 49ers did a physical exam of Manning on Wednesday.
In a nod to its interest in Manning, San Francisco has yet to re-sign starting quarterback Alex Smith, a free agent who led the 49ers to the NFC title game last season. Free agency opened Tuesday.
The Arizona Cardinals are out of the running for Manning, annoucing that this afternoon. According to a league source, the Dophins are out, too. The Dolphins are pursuing another free-agent quarterback, Matt Flynn.
Although there has been speculation that no team could outbid Titans’ owner Bud Adams, who said he offered Manning “a contract for life,” the truth is there can only be a handshake agreement on any post-playing career deals.
The Broncos can do more with their contract proposal because they have roughly $15 million more salary cap room than the Titans.
There are two key components to a contract for a player of Manning’s magnitude: One, the guarantee and two the total value.
Manning is coming off a four neck surgeries that forced him to miss the entire 2011 season so the guarantee figures to be the key to his contract terms.
At least one former Bronco and former Manning teammate predicted the Denver group would come away satisfied with what they saw today. Brandon Stokley, a free-agent slot receiver, worked out with Manning two weeks ago at Duke University.
“He had thrown for two days prior to me getting there; he threw 80-some balls a day,” Stokley said. “When I got there they were watching film on him and I didn’t want to watch any film. I wanted to go in there with an open mind and get a feel for myself. And he looked great. He looked like the Peyton I had been with six years ago.”
If the Broncos land Manning, San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers would immediately become his top adversary. The Chargers and Broncos likely would be considered the teams to beat in the AFC West.
Rivers was 4-1 lifetime against Manning’s Indianapolis Colts, including playoff victories in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
“It would make it that much tougher to win the West,” Rivers said this week on San Diego’s XX 1090 radio. “All the sudden, at least from a media’s perspective, it would become a division that’s not lost in the shuffle like it’s been in years past. I kind of hope that that’s the case just because it’s always fun to play a Peyton Manning-led football team. To play him twice a year that would be a battle like crazy to win the division. I hope it happens. One thing you know about him, he’s going to be thorough and make the best decision for him that gives him the best chance to go win. And if that ends up being Denver then it will be exciting.”
Manning’s first free agent visit was with the Broncos in Dove Valley on March 9. He toured the facility and met with the Broncos brass at Dove Valley until 7:15 p.m. when the group departed with a police car leading their way.
He visited Tennessee on Wednesday, and also has made trips to Arizona and Miami.
Arguably the most decorated free agent in NFL history, the long-time Indianapolis Colts quarterback was released last week amid concerns about four neck surgeries that forced him to miss the entire 2011 season, a $26 million bonus payment that was due and the team’s opportunity to select highly prized quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
Manning, who turns 36 on March 24, has been cleared to throw by his neck specialist, Dr. Robert Watkins.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com. Additional reporting by Jeff Legwold.
