The Peyton Manning interview in South Florida

Peyton Manning landed in Miami around 4 p.m. today, returning home from his emotional day in Indianapolis on Colts owner Jim Irsay's private plane.

And after a White Bronco-like chase from Opa-Locka in North Miami-Dade to Miami Beach, the now free agent quarterback stopped for reporters following the van that picked him up. He got out, waited for all the reporters and cameramen to gather and then had an impromptu news conference.

Awesome!

Earlier today he dismissed a previous erroneous report that the Dolphins were first or high on a priority list of teams he's interested in when he said, "I haven't thought about what team I'm going to play for." And in the afternoon he repeated the sentiment and added he has to figure out where he's wanted.

"I have no idea who wants me what team wants me," he said. "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."

Manning, who can sign with any team he wants at any time he wants without having to wait until the start of free agency March 13, also said he isn't sure if he'll begin to take visits with clubs or they'll come to him or it'll simply be a situation where his agent begins negotiations and a deal with his new team is struck.

"I don't know if it's like college recruiting where you take visits," Manning said. "It's all new to me."

Oh, and perhaps the most important thing?

Manning has had at least three and perhaps four procedures on his neck to repair damage to nerves that caused numbness and atrophy in his throwing arm. The arm lost much of its much-heralded strength. But Manning has since regained much of that strength and he had a message for anyone wondering about his physical status.

"My neck is fine," Manning said. "The doctors have cleared me. That's been a relief to me. I've continued to work hard and the best part about it is being out there throwing again."

Comments

[jordan]

PEYTON MANNING IS TAKING HIS TALENTS TO SOUTH BEACH :)

[Tracy474]

Manning to Miami makes the most sense! Both for him and the franchise! No other team can give him what he wants and needs. Provided he's motivated by football and not money. And, I think that's what means the most to him.

[sean37]

Dolphins will find a way to mess this up and lose out on Manning. We always do.

[NY "G"]

He will be a Dolphin by Thursday or the latest next week. He will be united with his #18 in Miami.

Wayne is going to play a big part with this as he wants to be a Dolphin and wants Manning in Miami.

Manning, Wayne, Marshall, Bush and draft WR Blackmon. Draft a righty for the O line or a lefty who can play righty which will be a security blanket in case Long goes down. Use the rest of the draft to fix the D and look for a QB in FA.

I said my piece or opinion and I'm out of here so go ahead and post all you want about me while I'm gone.

[DP]

This will be like Favre to Minnesota, two years of glory then back to craptacular.

[tony in miami]

Bread for today ...hungry for tomorrow

[FLH]

Drink the Kool Aid, Trolls. If we say it enough, he will come!

[FLH]

Not!

[dusty bottoms]

exactly dp, thats why we need griffin instead. drafting blackmon would be a horrible move if we got manning and wayne. dont need him. u need a rt and pass rusher to start, also a te

[Poldawg12]

Unfortunately as a longtime Dolfan, we can only hope that this organization gets it right for once. If not, another year of, "we will get them next year"' talk, but if we get it right this year, ooooooo man, watch out because we do have the pieces to make a serious run in the playoffs.

[dusty bottoms]

this will play out hilarious i can already tell. this board is gonna explode with either insane super bowl predictions or explode with hate mail and how everyone is done with this franchise

[Professor Lou]

dusty,
You forgot death threats and suicides.

[SIGN HIM]

Manning is BETTER then Marino!

[dusty bottoms]

lol yeah lou, it will be worse than dec 21 this year. marino def better than anyone!

[Professor Lou]

It will be like the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Dolphin fans will be throwing themselves out of windows.

[dusty bottoms]

ross should of never hyped this up by leaking out interested he is in manning. if he fails to get him he could go bankrupt

[Dolfanbg]

An injured, 36 yr-old Manning coming to Miami... I think I just threw-up a little in my mouth.

What amazes me most (even more than Ross seemingly being hell-bent to sign him), are all the fans who think that this is a good idea. Just say 'NO' to the drugs folks, your judgment is obviously clouded.

[Samantha]

Sorry, but I have a hard time buying that he hasn't even thought about what team wants him, or where he might land. Especially since he has a home here, and we should come to mind immediately. And he has an agent, who talks to him, so he's claiming his agent hasn't said anything, either? And he releases a covert video to tempt whoever is interested? I call shenanigans on that. Especially since Big O said he had inside sources in Indy and said Miami is a lock.

[Reality]

This is a desperate attempt by Ross to stop the financial losses.

[dusty bottoms]

well course he has thought about it. everything from "sources" say its kc,miami, or zona in that order

[dusty bottoms]

not a bad attempt if he gets it done, but its suicide if he doesnt

[CoyoteGuy]

Last QB Dolphins passed on because of health questions..... Drew Brees !!! Take a shot, RGIII is too expensive in needed draft picks, we can't get him. Flynn will cost way too much for an unproven commodity and screw up the cap. Peyton does not need/want a huge contract. We can keep Henne and Moore as backups and maybe they can learn from Peyton. Or draft a project QB in late rounds and let him learn from the master.

[Reality]

Ross figures if he gets Manning and has one good season, he can get the taxpayers to pay for a dome for him.

[dusty bottoms]

well griffin would be worth the price. flynn who we dont want but he wont cost much. no team is really wanting flynn from what everything has said. and manning will get a huge incentive deal. henne is longgggggggg gone. moore will be the backup yes

[dusty bottoms]

and to think just a couple days ago people were in here getting excited about some safety from cincy

[JR]

Manning at 50% is still better than anything we have had for the past 10 + years. I don't know if I can stand another 0-7 start and think back to what if?

[Professor Lou]

Best comment so far

"Leave Peyton in Miami, I need him for my radio show" - Michael Irvin.

I love it.

[Professor Lou]

and to think just a couple days ago people were in here getting excited about some safety from cincy
Posted by: dusty bottoms | March 07, 2012 at 07:33 PM

Or that backup quarterback from Green Bay.

[dusty bottoms]

hilarious stuff lou, changes daily

[BB]

Hey DP.....at this point, I'll take the 2 years of glory......and hope for a 3rd--you got a better idea?

[Professor Lou]

If Manning could give the Dolphins at least 3 solid years it should give them enough time to have a new quarterback ready to step in when he is finished.

[oscar canosa]

A healthy P. Manning represents instant Playoff contention for Miami. Not too many People are going to cry over if he's signed.

[SEPTUM]

If they get Manning this team better go looking for some bluechipers or all will be wasted

[BB]

Reality.....no its not--even an 80% Manning is a top 10 QB in the league, and if he gets injured, then we start over--again, lots of folks are acting like there are so many other better QB options......there aren't--trading up for RG3 is not realistic, given that we'd need to get past 2 teams (at least), and Flynn could be ok but he's unproven, so who knows? At this point its hard to say that Flynn is even a significant upgrade over Moore.

[mike@me.com]

With all the bad things that have happened to the Dolphins in the last 15 years I gotta think we're due for something good......................... Right????

[BB]

dusty--sadly, I'm still excited over the safety from cincy--hope they sign him but not sure they'll have the dough if going after manning and maybe r. wayne--but signing the cincy safety fills a big need, and frees up a draft pick for another position

[B bottoms]

Ever notice how dusty bottoms and BB show up at the same time?

Hmmmmmmmm.........

[tingle]

BACK to CRAPTACULAR?! Peyton has NEVER been craptacular! Peyton is a great talent with integrity and heart. There is nothing better to find in a professional athlete. I am concerned about his safety but if he feels safe then go for it. I will always be a fan and wish him nothing but the best.

[oscar canosa]

Rookies are cheaper now. Go for that safety/CB of Alabama, that OT/G from Stanford, that DE from South Carolina + 4 more.

[BB]

geez B bottoms, are you back, in cognito this time? are you gonna join in with some intelligent comments this go around?

[CanadaMike]

If we get manning... we already have a tight end. I spoke to Oronde Gadsden a few years back, and was stroking him about his spectacular catches... but he reminded me... "did you ever notice that I never made a spectacular catch from Marino?"... cuz' he never needed to. Fassano will work just fine with Manny tossing' the pill... and I think... has the physical tools to be a go to TE with accurate throws coming his way. O-line, Safety, D-tackle in the draft... and we'll see you in the playoffs!!! at least we better... cuz' the Manning gravy train has a short shelf life. GO FINS!

[oscar canosa]

Where is odin?

[BB]

canada.....if we sign the cincy safety, don't need a safety in the draft--so could use a pick to upgrade TE, or for TE depth (Fasano's ok but not dynamic)--and need more of a DE or OLB, instead of a D tackle, no?

[Dr. Nerveoux]

Peyton is done. He will at best play another half season.

[oscar canosa]

Dr. Nerveoux better take some Xanax.

[CanadaMike]

Agreed Oscar. But my point is that Fassano MIGHT already BE the TE we're looking for... we just never knew it. Do you think Duper or Clayton would have been as dominant with Steve Grogan throwing to them. Probably not. Even Fassano is not our guy, I think the needs at the other positions you noted deserve the draft picks. And yes... I like that safety from Cincy too. GO FINS!!! woot woot!

[Tampa Fin Fan for Life]

We have to go all in for Peyton even if you want RGIiI or Flynn.
We need one and we have to play the game.
Relax and wait this out.
We will be a better team.
We could be in much worse shape.
Say again, just play the hand.

[CanadaMike]

I have to say... I've always been for going ALL IN for RGIII to ensure a longer future at the position... but just being in the conversation at this point is kinda fun - don't you agree? GO FINS! plarnft!@

[Scotty]

Nobody minds Ross mettleing when ya have Ireland as a GM.

[indiana jones]

14 years and only super bowl victory. Really gonna miss ya (not

)yours truly indianajones

[oscar canosa]

I never contested you Canada. Of course. Even on the Manning gravy train that has a short shelf-life.

[Tampa Fin Fan for Life]

RGIII would be great but at this second he is not in play for fins.
We have to play the game to win.
Fins could do much worse than Manning and Wayne,, think?
Just relax and enjoy.
It is Mr. Ross's money.

[CanadaMike]

Yeah... it's the short shelf life (2 years? 2 months? 2 weeks? 2 days?) that has me worried... and settling into the idea that we'll be right back here in (pick one) time. what's worse, after he plays for (pick one) and then breaks down, we'll be committed to "manning's" offense, will likely have a 10-6 record, worthless draft pick... AND will have to rework the entire offensive system to accommodate (?... pick one). So long term... this could set us BACK! But like I said, I'm just happy to be in the conversation at this point. If my team can't make headlines ON the field, they can OFF! LOL! GO FINS! ffffwap!

[oscar canosa]

I am pretty sure that Ross meddled, at some point. But, he's not a billionaire for nothing, isn't he?

[Dr. Nerveoux]

Oscar, reality is difficult for most. But you will come around, and survive.

[CanadaMike]

I don't mind the Ross meddles... I mind that he's a buffoon and knows nothing about football operations or talent. That coaching fiasco last year should have told HIM to sit down, shut up, and write checks. I fear that our fish stinks from the head down, and that as long as he's the 'head', we're doomed. But that's just me... STILL - hope springs eternal... even though I've been PRAYING we don't pick up Manning, and go ALL IN for RGIII... I find myself a little 'giddy' when Peter King says, "Miami is the front runner for Manning".... go figure. Life as a fan is... well... perplexing at best. GO FINS!! ssssnarf!

[oscar canosa]

EVERYBODY is nervous, Dr. Nerveoux, about the Manning signing(including me). But, is there a better option for Fans and Owners?

[Dr. Nerveoux]

I would recommend an option with no nerve damage and long term potential to help this Team. RG3. Yes, pay the price and be done with it.

[Kris Kardashian]

Was that Manning or OJ in the white bronco ?

[Tampa Fin Fan for Life]

It is time to play the game.
If, you want any of the desired 3, we have to play all in on each one.
We have to force Skins and Browns to play.
You just have to love the possible outcome.
Watch as this plays out.
Breathe and enjoy.