It doesn't appear that newly-minted free agent Peyton Manning will drag out his decision. Manning hopes to make a choice within the next week, ESPN Insider Adam Schefter is reporting.

The timetable is important to a team like the Jets, one of 12 teams to contact Manning's representatives, according to Schefter's report. The reason is because free agency begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday, and the Jets would like to have clarity by then because they will be shopping for a quarterback in the free-agent market.

Assuming they don't get Manning, the Jets would like to acquire a No. 2 quarterback and they have interest in former Dolphins starter Chad Henne, sources said. They also could consider Jason Campbell (Raiders), although that seems less likely at this point.

Despite an up-and-down career, Henne will draw interest from teams not in the Manning sweepstakes and it would put the Jets at a disadvantage if they're waiting on a decision from Manning. Actually, they'd be paralyzed in terms of their overall free-agent plan, as would every other team chasing after Peyton, who will command a blockbuster contract.

The Jets have $8.3 million in salary-cap room, with holes to fill at safety, outside linebacker, wide receiver and, possibly, inside linebacker.

Manning prefers to sign with an AFC team, although he hasn't ruled out the NFC, per Schefter's report. (The reason, of course, is that he'd like to avoid direct competition with his brother, Eli.) The four AFC teams in the hunt, all of whom have contact Manning's reps, are the Jets, Dolphins, Broncos and Chiefs. The NFC teams are the Redskins, Cards and Seahawks.