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Denver second-year linebacker Von Miller has joined in on the recent spate of criticism of Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

After Griffin defended himself about comments made by an unnamed scout that he was selfish, Pro Football Weekly printed quotes from Miller about Griffin. This is what Miller had to say: “He can throw the ball pretty well, and he’s fast. But if you hit him enough times, he’s going to wear down. He can run and throw, but I wouldn’t put him in that same class as [Michael] Vick, Cam [Newton] or [Josh] Freeman.”

Miller played at Texas A&M and he has been pounding the drum for college teammate Ryan Tannehill. Miller did admit his bias and said he hopes Griffin performs well in the NFL, so I wouldn’t put too much into the comments.

Griffin is fully expected to be taken by Washington with the No. 2 pick Thursday. By the way, the Redskins and Broncos will play in 2013. In addition to the Miller-Griffin angle, it would be the first time Denver faces former coach Mike Shanahan, who was fired after the 2008 season.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Washington Redskins have landed safety Brandon Meriweather.

Denver is looking for a veteran safety with Brian Dawkins considering retirement. Meriweather did visit with Denver. The Broncos also visited with Cleveland’s Mike Adams.

Schefter reports former Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant will visit the Broncos on Friday.

The Broncos have otherwise been quiet in free agency -- despite having $38 million in cap room -- as they wait for Peyton Manning to make a decision.

Meanwhile, San Diego's four-year deal with left tackle Jared Gaither includes an $8 million signing bonus. His 2012 contract is fully guaranteed.

Here are some thoughts on the San Diego Chargers signing former Kansas City Chiefs' fullback Le'Ron McClain to three-year deal and on the team setting up a visit with Denver Broncos free agent receiver Eddie Royal:

• The McClain addition could be a sign that the Chargers are out of the Mike Tolbert talks. He is visiting in Kansas City. Tolbert wouldn’t necessarily be replacing McClain in Kansas City and the same could be true with McClain in San Diego. UT San Diego reported this week that practice squader Frank Summers would replace free agent fullback Jacob Hester. If Hester is brought back it would be as a backup and as a special teamer.
• McClain, who is a cousin of Oakland middle linebacker Rolando McClain, is a tough leader and a good blocker. He played in all 16 games last season as a Chief. He had 15 carries and 14 catches. The former Raven had 902 yards on 232 carries in Baltimore in 2008. But he has had a total of 89 carries in the past three seasons combined.
• Either way, McClain is a solid, tough addition to San Diego’s offense.
• As for Royal, I can see why San Diego is interested. It needs another receiver and the pickings are getting slim. Royal, who was reportedly close to signing with Washington to reunite with former Denver coach Mike Shanahan earlier in free agency, can help as a slot player and as a returner.
• Royal excelled under Shanahan as a rookie and I think Norv Turner would find a way to make him useful. A rotation of Malcom Floyd, Robert Meachem, Vincent Brown and Royal would be a pretty nice group for Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers to work with.

As the Denver Broncos wait to hear from Peyton Manning, the Tennessee Titans have emerged as a strong competitor for the superstar quarterback.

Manning, who is also considering the Cardinals and Dolphins, is meeting with the Titans’ brass and then he is expected to make a decision on his future. There has been recent chatter that Manning may be swayed to stay in the AFC South and play for the Titans. Wednesday, Manning’s former boss didn’t do anything to end that talk.

Former Indianapolis general manager and current ESPN analyst Bill Polian said on "SportsCenter" that he thinks the Titans are the most logical landing spot for Manning. Polian cited that Manning and his wife, Ashley, have ties to the state. Manning was a legendary quarterback at the University of Tennessee.

So, location could be a big stumbling block for John Elway. This doesn’t mean Manning won’t be a Bronco, but the Titans may have an emotional edge. Whatever happens, I’m sure the Broncos want a resolution so they can proceed with the rest of their free-agency plan, regardless of the outcome of the Manning sweepstakes.

In other AFC West news:

ESPN Boston is reporting key San Diego backup safety Steve Gregory will visit New England on Wednesday. If Gregory gets a starting job, he will likely leave San Diego. Denver has also been linked to Gregory. The Chargers will likely look for help at safety in the draft.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. believes the Chargers’ re-signing of center Nick Hardwick is a top under-the-radar signing.

Robert Meacham’s deal with the Chargers includes $100,000 in bonuses if he makes the Pro Bowl for each of the next two seasons.

The word is Oakland, Washington and New Orleans may be the early favorites to land Matt Leinart as a backup quarterback. Oakland’s connection is Leinart played for new Oakland offensive coordinator Greg Knapp in Houston. The Raiders are looking for a new backup.

Seattle tight end John Carlson decided to cut his trip to Kansas City short and head to Minnesota. He will likely sign with the Vikings on the trip.

The Chiefs were hoping to pair Carlson, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, with Tony Moeaki, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. The Chiefs are expected to host right tackle Eric Winston and running backs Mike Tolbert and Peyton Hillis on Wednesday.

In other AFC West news:

Tennessee owner Bud Adams told a local television station that the team will meet with quarterback Peyton Manning and he expects Manning to make a quick decision. The Broncos are one of the teams interested in Manning. The Broncos have been very quiet in free agency despite having $38 million in salary-cap room. It is clear the Broncos are waiting to see what Manning will do.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Chicago safety Brandon Meriweather was planning to visit Denver, but will now first visit Washington. The Broncos want a veteran safety.

The Kansas City Chiefs might be ready to spend some big money in free agency. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting the Chiefs are one of three teams that have a visit set up with standout right tackle Eric Winston who was a surprise salary-cap dump in Houston

Schefter reports Miami and St. Louis are also looking to visit with Winston. He would be a terrific fit in Kansas City. He’d be a major upgrade over Barry Richardson, who was the weak link of Kansas City’s offensive line. Winston would solidify a unit that has been in flux the past few years. The University of Miami product started every game for the past five years in Houston.

Signing Winston would also likely allow the Chiefs to concentrate on signing either a defensive tackle or linebacker in the first round of the draft.

The Chiefs -- who have franchise receiver Dwayne Bowe and who have added cornerback Stanford Routt -- have a lot of salary cap room and should be able to sign Winston if they chose to. The Chiefs are entertaining Seattle tight end John Carlson on Tuesday.

In other AFC West news:

• Oakland free agent Michael Bush bashed folks for reporting that he is visiting the Cardinals. Bush earlier tweeted that he was in Arizona, but said nothing about visiting the Cardinals.
• Schefter is reporting that Denver free agent Eddie Royal does not yet have a deal done with the Redskins. It has been reported elsewhere that the deal is done. Yet, Schefter said both sides are working to finalize a deal. It makes sense. Royal performed well for Washington coach Mike Shanahan as a rookie in Denver in 2008.
• The Raiders have officially announced they have cut tight end Kevin Boss. His release was first reported Monday. His agent tweeted earlier Tuesday he expected his client to be cut Wednesday.
• Schefter reported that the Broncos were one of a few teams to opt to take the extra $1.6 million in salary cap room next year instead of this year. Most teams were given the extra cap room because cap money was taken away from the Redskins and the Cowboys because of cap infractions. The Raiders were one of two teams not to be rewarded extra cap room because of a lesser infraction. The Raiders didn’t face any more penalties.
• Yet another veteran guard is available. Carolina cut Travelle Wharton. If the Chargers want a veteran to replace the recently retired Kris Dielman, they’ll have their choice. However, the team will likely put Tyronne Green at the spot.
• Former Oakland starter Jason Campbell has agreed to a one-year deal with Chicago, according to Schefter. I will have more thoughts on this deal later Wednesday.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting San Francisco is battling Dallas for Kansas City cornerback Brandon Carr. There is little chance Carr will return to Kansas City. The Chiefs chose instead to sign former Oakland cornerback Stanford Routt last month.

If Carr goes to San Francisco, perhaps Oakland could get in on 49ers’ free agent cornerback Carlos Rogers. The Rams are talking to Saints cornerback Tracy Porter. He has been considered a possible candidate for Oakland, because he played for new Raiders coach Dennis Allen in New Orleans.

In other AFC West news:

Oakland free-agent Michael Bush tweeted that he has just arrived in Arizona. He did not indicate whether he is visiting with the Cardinals. However, with free agency open, it’s a possibility. UPDATE: Bush later tweeted that he is in Arizona to train.

NFL.com is reporting Kansas City quarterback Kyle Orton is getting interest from Washington and Dallas. The Redskins are expected to draft Robert Griffin III, so Orton would likely be a backup in both spots. Kansas City has said it would like to see Orton return and compete with Matt Cassel. If Orton doesn’t opt to stay, perhaps it is because he thinks Cassel will be the starter in Kansas City.

NFL.com is reporting Oakland receiver Chaz Schilens will visit Arizona and the Jets. Schilens is from the Phoenix area.

ESPN's John Clayton is reporting Washington is talking to Denver receiver Eddie Royal. That makes total sense. Washington coach Mike Shanahan drafted Royal in 2008, and Royal excelled under Shanahan as a rookie.

Don’t be surprised if the Denver Broncos make a push for safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, who was released by the Washington Redskins on Monday.

The Broncos were in the mix for him last year and they want to add a veteran safety in free agency. He is represented by the former agency firm of new Denver salary-cap man Mike Sullivan, so Denver could have an advantage.

In other AFC West news:

— The Chiefs announced they have re-signed defensive lineman Amon Gordon. Terms were not disclosed. Gordon is a rotational player. A career journeyman, Gordon found a role in Romeo Crennel’s defense in 2011, netting 20 tackles and two sacks.

— Brandon Stokley — a former teammate of Peyton Manning — has worked out with Manning and believes he is, indeed, the same old Manning. Manning worked out with Stokley on Saturday after his visit with the Broncos. Manning missed all of last season following multiple neck surgeries.

— UT-San Diego believes the Chargers may be priced out of the Vincent Jackson talks when free agency starts Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

— In an Insider piece, Gary Horton thinks the Chargers and the Raiders could take a big hit in free agency.

— The Cowboys’ pursuit of Chiefs’ cornerback Brandon Carr and the Redskins’ pursuit of Jackson perhaps will be affected by the sudden loss of significant salary-cap room. The Raiders are one of two teams who will not benefit from Dallas and Washington’s losses because of minor infractions.

— The Vikings cut guard Steve Hutchinson during the weekend. While the Chargers seem prepared to go with Tyronne Green as Kris Dielman’s replacement, Hutchinson provides another option.

UPDATE: The Raiders announced they extended one-year contract tenders to restricted free agent Desmond Bryant and exclusive rights free agents, Mason Brodine, Bryan McCann and Marcel Reece.

Peyton Manning's visit to Denver is complete, but the pursuit of Manning continues. He is expected to head to Arizona. The Chiefs have also expressed interest, though Miami, where Manning owns a home, is considered the favorite to land the mega-star quarterback in some league circles.

"There is absolutely no preferred choice at this time,” a source told ESPN. “This is typical [Manning] doing his own research because it's a first-time and only-time process from a free-agent vantage point. Physically seeing facilities and the geography of cities that he is not acquainted with is part of his own research."

The Broncos and Chiefs have less competition for Manning after Friday night.

The blockbuster trade between St. Louis and Washington -- the Redskins will send three No. 1 picks and a 2012 second-round pick to the Rams for the No. 2 overall pick in April's draft -- means the Redskins are all but out of the Manning chase.

The Jets have extended the contract of quarterback Mark Sanchez, thus they too are no longer in the hunt for Manning.

I think the fact that the Redskins won the right to draft whichever quarterback the Colts do not at No. 1 may make Denver push for Manning even harder. The Broncos liked Baylor's Robert Griffin III and they could have been tempted to make a move for him. (They could never have beaten Washington’s offer, though).

Meanwhile, does the Redskins’ move mean they will make a huge push for San Diego free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson on Tuesday?

San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson will be one of the most sought after free agents. Here is what to expect from the process:

Quiet until Tuesday: It would be a surprise if Jackson signs an extension with the Chargers before free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Jackson has been looking forward to testing the open market for a long time. The only way he’d sign with the Chargers is if they gave him a deal that is much higher than expected. The team has no plans to do so. The Chargers are resigned to letting Jackson shop himself before making their pitch.

Are the Chargers out of the running? Not at all. If Jackson had his choice, he’d stay in San Diego. While he will likely not accept a hometown discount, but he’ll listen to what San Diego has to say.

How much will Jackson get? He is expected to average between $10-12 million a season. His contract will be in the five year, $50-million plus range.

Will the three other AFC West teams get involved? I don’t think so. There has been talk the Raiders could show interest, but I Oakland have cap limitations and other needs.

Who are the favorites to land Jackson? Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, New England and Buffalo could all make a play for Jackson.

Will it be a long process? I wouldn’t be shocked if Jackson is signed within the first 24 hours of free agency. There will be a race for his services. Don’t expect Jackson to conduct a tour of the league. If you hear Jackson is going on a visit, it will likely mean a deal is imminent.

The Peyton Manning saga will surely be the story of the NFL offseason. The question in the AFC West is, will the Kansas City Chiefs be the story along with the legendary Indianapolis Colts quarterback?

As of now, we have to think it is a real possibility that the Chiefs will heavily pursue Manning -- who may be cut by the Colts as soon as next week -- if he becomes a free agent. Manning, who will turn 36 on March 24, missed all of last season with a neck injury and there is no certain date when he will be 100 percent, although there have been reports he will be ready to play in 2012.

If the Chiefs end up signing Manning, it won’t be the first time the organization brought in a living legend at the end of his career after he suffered a serious injury. The Chiefs traded for San Francisco’s Joe Montana in 1993.

The Chiefs have been connected to Manning in recent weeks. A Kansas City radio station has even reported that the team has had multiple conversations with Manning’s agent about finances and that the Chiefs feel comfortable about what Manning may want. That would constitute tampering and it is highly unlikely any team would talk finances with Manning before giving him a physical and knowing more about his recovery timetable. Still, the Chiefs have a load of salary-cap room and they can easily construct a deal for Manning in addition to making other improvements.

Of course, Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel did nothing to take the scent off a potential Chiefs-Manning pairing when he said this at the NFL combine last Saturday: “With a talent like that, I would be crazy not to consider it if he’s available. I’ll leave it at that.”

The Chiefs are not necessarily looking for a new starting quarterback. At the combine, Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli wouldn’t say the job is open. He said the starter is Matt Cassel. However, there will be competition at every position. The translation is the Chiefs expect Cassel to be the starter, but if a better option comes along, they will consider it. There’s no doubt a healthy Manning would be a better option.

If the Chiefs do want to go deep into the Manning sweepstakes, they will have competition, likely beginning with Miami and Washington. There will surely be other teams that show interest in the player who many consider one of the greatest NFL players of all time.

In addition to their interest and financial means, here’s another reason the Chiefs could be favorites to land Manning: They may be the best team interested in him. That would surely appeal to Manning when he is making his choice. I’m not sure many of the interested teams can offer Manning a better supporting cast.

The Chiefs have a strong running game and Manning would have plenty of receiving options. No. 1 receiver Dwayne Bowe is expected to be franchised, 2011 first-round pick Jonathan Baldwin is a potential game-changing deep threat and Steve Breaston is a solid possession receiver. Tight end Tony Moeaki is expected to be healthy after missing the 2011 season with a knee injury. He was terrific as a rookie in 2010.

In addition to appealing offensive weapons, the Chiefs have the makings of a strong defense. A healthy Manning would immensely help any team. But Manning could be a difference-maker in Kansas City. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said adding Manning would make the Chiefs -- who finished 7-9 in 2011 despite major injury issues -- “the clear favorite to win the AFC West” in 2012.

Putting Manning in the Heartland would make many teams in the AFC nervous.

I would think Manning would also be fine with working with Crennel and Pioli. He is close with New England quarterback Tom Brady and Brady won Super Bowls with both men. I’m sure Brady would give Manning glowing reports on both of his potential bosses. And don’t think Manning would have trouble working with a defensive-minded coach like Crennel. Remember, the man Manning won his Super Bowl ring with, Tony Dungy, was a defensive-minded coach.

Cassel is also a factor in this scenario. Because Manning will be signed before there are any guarantees he’ll be ready to play, any team that signs him must have a good fallback plan. There are fewer better fallbacks than Cassel.

If Manning is signed and he has a setback, the Chiefs can rely on Cassel, who shined as Brady’s injury replacement in 2008. While Cassel wouldn’t be thrilled with the idea of backing up Manning, I’m sure he’d understand the Chiefs taking advantage of a rare opportunity to pick up a future Hall of Fame player.

There are a lot of reasons this pairing makes sense. If it happens, the Chiefs will be at the center of the NFL universe.

The Washington Post reports the Redskins might make a run at San Diego Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson in free agency.

I can see this happening. The Redskins were one of the teams that considered trading for Jackson while he held out in the 2010 season. Washington coach Mike Shanahan has long been an admirer of Jackson, as the Broncos nearly drafted Jackson at No. 56 in the 2005 draft when Shanahan was at the helm in Denver. However, the Broncos took cornerback Darrent Williams. San Diego selected Jackson five picks later.

If the Redskins are, indeed in on Jackson, that could be problematic for the Chargers. San Diego would like to sign Jackson even though the team expects him to get to free agency. There's still a remote chance the Chargers could give Jackson the franchise tag (for the second straight year) by Monday’s deadline, but the more likely scenario is him getting to the open market.

The Redskins have been known to throw around wild money, so if they really are going to offer Jackson, it could be out of the Chargers’ range. If Jackson does leave, San Diego will look for a replacement in free agency. The Colts’ Reggie Wayne could be an option if that scenario develops.

In other AFC West news:

— Denver receiver Demaryius Thomas is testifying in the sexual assault trial of former Denver cornerback Perrish Cox.

— In an Insider piece , Todd McShay has a new rankings list of first-round picks to reflect combine performances.

— Here is a portion of an interview Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer conducted Wednesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio with hosts Adam Schein and Rich Gannon.

Our blog network looked at the possibilities for where Peyton Manning can land after the legendary Indianapolis quarterback is cut.

Each divisional blogger was in charge of forecasting the chances of each team in their division signing Manning. We put Kansas City, Miami and Washington as the teams with the best chances of signing Manning.

I’m not confident the Chiefs will be the team that ends up signing Manning, but I do believe they will show interest once he is available. I put Denver as having “medium” interest in Manning. The Broncos are probably a dark horse, but I can’t see a scenario where Manning is on the market and John Elway doesn't at least consider signing a fellow legendary quarterback.

In other AFC West news:

In an Insider piece, ESPN analyst Todd McShay believes Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe might have put himself in position to be taken by the Chiefs with the No. 11 overall pick. Poe is emerging in a fairly strong group of defensive tackles. The Chiefs and the Broncos (who pick No. 25) are in the market for a defensive tackle early in the draft.

New Oakland offensive coordinator Greg Knapp believes quarterback Carson Palmer and running back Darren McFadden are perfect fits for his offense.

Here are a few notes from around the AFC West:

• The Boston Globe reports former Kansas City guard Brian Waters will take a few weeks to decide whether he will retire. Waters was an anchor on New England’s offensive line this season after being cut by the Chiefs during the summer.
• ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Washington will consider signing Kansas City quarterback Kyle Orton in free agency. The Chiefs have expressed interest in re-signing Orton and allowing him to compete with Matt Cassel for the starting job.
• A Kansas City columnist is not sold on the Chiefs’ decision to hire Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator.

UPDATE: The Chiefs have formally announced the hiring of Daboll. Here are my thoughts on the hire when it was first reported.

• A Denver columnist likes the idea of Peyton Manning playing in Denver.

The Denver Broncos are bringing back a familiar name for the playoffs.

Denver has signed tackle Ryan Harris after putting guard Chris Kuper on the injured reserve with a broken leg. Denver believes Kuper will definitely be ready for training camp.

Harris signed with Philadelphia as a free agent and he was later cut by the Eagles. Harris will provide depth Sunday against Pittsburgh in a wild-card game.

In other Denver playoff notes:

• Injured Denver safety Brian Dawkins spoke to the team on Monday to let them know the importance of being in the playoffs. Dawkins’ availability Sunday is in question because of a nagging neck injury.
• Denver fullback Spencer Larsen suffered a sprained MCL in his knee and he is likely out for Sunday’s game.
• Denver signed defensive tackle Jeremy Jarmon to a future contract for the 2012 season. He was acquired in a trade with Washington for receiver Jabar Gaffney. He was later cut.
• Denver coach John Fox implored Denver fans not to sell their tickets to Pittsburgh fans on Sunday. This is what Fox said Monday: “We’ve got unique fans here. I would encourage all of them to keep their seats, so to speak, and not sell them to Pittsburgh fans, so our stadium remains as active and loud as it’s been -- more blue and orange as opposed to yellow and gold.” When the Steelers beat Denver in the AFC title game in the 2005 season, the stadium was teeming with Terrible Towels. It did not sit well inside the Denver organization.