ESPN NFL

The protocol becomes the same for nearly every freshly minted NFL draft choice, from first-round quarterbacks to seventh-round punters.

Not long after their selections, their new employers will connect them to local NFL reporters via conference call.

A surprise awaited the Arizona Cardinals after the team made Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd the 13th overall choice in the 2012 draft.

Floyd's college coach, Brian Kelly, made an unsolicited call to the Cardinals, availing himself to media questions regarding his former player.

Kelly has vouched for other players, including Minnesota Vikings first-round pick Harrison Smith. A college head coach certainly has a recruiting interest in getting his name out there in association with prominent draft choices.

But in publicly testifying for Floyd, whose draft file includes three three alcohol-related incidents and a resulting team suspension, Kelly extended himself to an extent that wasn't necessary. It was a notable early marker for the Cardinals, who have never drafted a player with such significant baggage since Ken Whisenhunt arrived as head coach in 2007.

Floyd could not have scripted Kelly's testimonial more favorably:

• On Floyd in general: "Well, a kid who got his degree in three-and-a-half years from Notre Dame. Probably in my 23 years now as a head coach, the best practice player that I've ever had. He just has a passion and a love for the football."
• On Floyd as a teammate: "Whether he is getting the football or not, he is a guy who has never complained. He certainly always wants the ball in critical situations. He has never been a diva, if you will, in terms of not getting his catches. If we're successful and we're making plays, he's on the other end making blocks. That's why it was such a pleasure to coach the kid."
• On what changed in Floyd following a suspension: "To have an opportunity to come back and play at Notre Dame and get a degree and be successful in the NFL, he had to make some choices. And he made some great choices. Now, you've got a young man who had been through some adversity, has handled it, has been humbled because of it and the best is in front of him now."

Authorities cited Floyd for underage drinking in 2009 and 2010. A DUI conviction last year made for three alcohol-related incidents in three years, raising obvious questions about judgment and the potential for a more serious problem.

College programs can become enablers for troubled star athletes. Handing millions to those troubled athletes usually doesn't help.

Those are generalities. Floyd's situation stands on its own. Whether he has a problem or carries a heightened risk cannot be known for certain.

The Cardinals' decision to draft Floyd was an organizational one, with team owner Michael Bidwill, a former federal prosecutor, participating directly in the vetting process.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the team asked tough questions, thought Floyd provided honest answers and felt Floyd made a positive statement by returning to Notre Dame for his senior season amid quarterback uncertainty that could have hurt Floyd's status.

"I just basically told them it was a bad decision," Floyd told reporters following his selection. "I learned from it and I moved on. I know I can't be like every other college student, just doing what a college student does, because the spotlight is on me. They wanted to see if I had improvements since that time, and I have."

There is less uncertainty over the Cardinals' on-field plans for Floyd. They anticipate him becoming their flanker opposite split end Larry Fitzgerald, who had been the most recent first-round wideout chosen by Arizona. With Floyd projecting as a starter, Andre Roberts becomes a candidate for additional playing time from the slot, where Early Doucet was already a factor for the team.

Fitzgerald and Floyd present matchup problems with their size alone. Both are nearly 6-foot-3. Floyd weighed 220 pounds at the scouting combine. Fitzgerald weighed 225 upon entering the league in 2004. He has preferred playing at a lighter weight recently.

Size matters for receivers in the NFC West, a division featuring punishing safeties and Pro Bowl credentials in the secondary. Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, Adrian Wilson, Patrick Peterson, Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson, Donte Whitner, Cortland Finnegan and Quintin Mikell come to mind immediately.

"You could consider Mike to be still a raw receiver in that he can get better in all the technical elements in route running and things of that nature," Kelly said of Floyd. "He is certainly a guy that attacks the football and attacks defenders and blocking -- he is an outstanding blocker."

Any rookie open to input from veteran players stands to benefit from joining a team with strong leadership at the player's position. Fitzgerald sets an impeccable standard for the Cardinals' receivers and the team in general. From that standpoint, Floyd couldn't have found a better working environment.

Breakdown: The Cardinals drew two prime-time games, both against division opponents, as part of a schedule that should let them avoid a second consecutive slow start.

Arizona, which rallied to 8-8 last season after a 1-6 start, plays three of its first four games at home, beginning with Seattle's visit to University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Seahawks and Cardinals played two close games last season, including a Week 17 matchup in Arizona that went into overtime. The 2012 season picks up where the 2011 season left off, in other words. That's a welcome early development for the division as these teams seek to close ground on the defending NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers.

Playing five of the first eight games at home sounds even better for Arizona knowing two of the road games during that stretch fall against St. Louis and Minnesota, teams coming off difficult seasons. Of course, this presumes the Cardinals will put forth a more respectable effort in the Metrodome this time around.

Kevin Kolb has to be looking forward to a Week 3 home game against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Complaint department: The Cardinals drew a division-high five games kicking off at 1 p.m. ET, the earliest possible time slot and one coach Ken Whisenhunt has lamented over the years. While the Cardinals finished strong last season in rallying to 8-8, question marks at quarterback made it tougher for Arizona to command additional prime-time games -- the surest way for a Western team to avoid the early starts. Overall, though, the Cardinals came out OK. They get a Week 10 bye between road trips to Green Bay and Atlanta, but that portion of the schedule does feature four of five games on the road.

Home sweet home: The Cardinals are opening at home for the second consecutive season and only the fourth time since the team relocated to Arizona for the 1988 season. They can thank their new stadium for providing relief from the scorching Arizona sun. More road games late in the season can be tough, but the Cardinals are home against Detroit and Chicago in Weeks 15-16, followed by their shortest road trip of the season, albeit to San Francisco, site of arguably their worst 2011 performance.

Cardinals Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, Seattle, 4:15 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at New England, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, Philadelphia, 4:05 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, Miami, 4:05 PM
Week 5: Thursday, Oct. 4, at St. Louis, 8:20 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, Buffalo, 4:05 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, at Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Week 8: Monday, Oct. 29, San Francisco, 8:30 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, St. Louis, 4:15 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at NY Jets, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, at Seattle, 4:15 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, Detroit, 4:05 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, Chicago, 4:15 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, at San Francisco, 4:15 PM

» AFC Assessments: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Arizona Cardinals

Key additions: OL Adam Snyder, CB William Gay

Key losses: CB Richard Marshall

Sando's grade so far: C-minus. Arizona gets credit for making a strong run at Peyton Manning and securing a visit with him at Cardinals headquarters. That was a bold move and one that could have instantly transformed the Cardinals into a contending team. But it did not work. Coach Ken Whisenhunt had a point when he said the Cardinals were comfortable moving forward with Kevin Kolb and John Skelton as their quarterbacks. However, it was still telling that Arizona would aggressively pursue another quarterback eight months after allocating $12.4 million per year to Kolb. Most of the other teams making big investments in quarterbacks last offseason sat out the Manning sweepstakes.

Overall, Arizona has done little to upgrade its roster. Committing $19 million in bonus money to Snyder, Levi Brown and Kolb will not make the team $19 million better. Marshall was a valued contributor and the MVP on defense last season, according to coordinator Ray Horton. He'll be missed after signing with Miami. On the other hand, the Cardinals did win seven of their final nine games last season. Perhaps they have fewer holes than conventional wisdom suggests.

What’s next: The Cardinals need help at offensive tackle and have shown interest in Buffalo Bills free agent Demetrius Bell. The team would be fortunate to address the position before the draft. Whisenhunt has consistently defended Brown, who has played both tackle spots since 2007. The team's decision to give Brown a $7 million signing bonus as part of a streamlined contract showed Whisenhunt wasn't bluffing. But another starting tackle would help.

The Cardinals have yet to reach a long-term agreement with franchise player Calais Campbell. Getting a deal done with Campbell would reduce the defensive end's salary-cap charge ($10.6 million for now). It would reward a rising young player and head off future headaches associated with using the tag a second time next offseason.

Receiver and possibly outside linebacker are also areas where the Cardinals could use reinforcements.

San Francisco 49ers

Key additions: WR Randy Moss, WR Mario Manningham, RB Brandon Jacobs

Key losses: Snyder, WR Josh Morgan, ST Blake Costanzo

Sando's grade so far: B-plus. The 49ers had relatively few holes on their roster after a 13-3 season. Pursuing Manning provided a temporary distraction without inflicting long-term damage. The 49ers needed to keep together their core, and they accomplished that goal. Alex Smith's re-signing to a three-year deal was key. Smith will return to the team, maintaining continuity and giving the 49ers' offense a chance to build on last season. But the contract terms will not limit the 49ers' options beyond this season, a plus.

The 49ers succeeded in re-signing Pro Bowl cornerback Carlos Rogers after using the franchise tag to retain Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson. Those moves solidified the secondary. Addressing the situation at wide receiver was a top priority heading into free agency. Moss and Manningham were low-risk, high-reward additions. Both have the potential to provide qualities the 49ers were lacking last season, but neither carried a high price tag. Retaining receiver Ted Ginn Jr. restored firepower to the return game.

What’s next: Using the draft to improve the long-term outlook at receiver still could be an option. But with Moss, Manningham and Ginn on the roster, the 49ers should not feel pressured to select a wideout with the 30th overall choice in the draft. The team now has flexibility. There has been no indication that the 49ers or any team will seriously pursue Pittsburgh Steelers restricted free agent Mike Wallace, who reportedly wants Larry Fitzgerald money.

The 49ers could use a veteran right guard for insurance in case Daniel Kilgore isn't ready for the starting job. They have visited with Leonard Davis and Deuce Lutui, both former Cardinals. Keeping Snyder would have been nice, but the Cardinals paid a $5 million signing bonus to get him. That price was too high for the 49ers, who similarly balked last offseason when the New York Giants gave center David Baas an $8.5 million bonus.

St. Louis Rams

Key additions: CB Cortland Finnegan, C Scott Wells, DT Kendall Langford, WR Steve Smith

Key losses: WR Brandon Lloyd, P Donnie Jones, OLB Chris Chamberlain

Sando's grade so far: B. The Rams would get a higher grade for their offseason in general, but this item focuses on free agency. That excludes from consideration Jeff Fisher's hiring as head coach, and general manager Les Snead's ability to maximize value for the second overall pick in the draft. The Finnegan and Wells signings give the Rams welcome leadership while upgrading important positions. Langford should help the run defense.

The Rams have yet to address their playmaking deficiencies. They did not land any of the high-profile wide receivers in free agency. There's a chance Smith will recapture old form in his second season back from microfracture knee surgery, but the Rams are not counting on that. They will almost certainly emerge from free agency without even marginally upgrading the weaponry for quarterback Sam Bradford. That is a disappointment.

What’s next: The outlook remains bright for St. Louis. The team owns the sixth, 33rd and 39th choices in the 2012 draft, plus two first-rounders in each of the following two drafts. There will be time and opportunity for the Rams to add the offensive firepower they need so badly, perhaps with Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon or Alabama running back Trent Richardson at No. 6 overall.

Much work lies ahead. The Rams emerged from this week with eight fewer players on their roster than the average for the other 31 teams. Using free agency to address holes at outside linebacker and left guard would provide flexibility heading into the draft. The Rams still need a backup quarterback as well. Bradford is the only QB on the roster. It's looking like the team is serious about bringing back right tackle Jason Smith despite injury concerns and a fat contract that will presumably require adjustment.

Seattle Seahawks

Key additions: QB Matt Flynn, DT Jason Jones

Key losses: TE John Carlson, DT Anthony Hargrove

Sando's grade so far: B-plus: The Seahawks knew for months that Manning would probably hit the market and still could not secure a meeting with him. Their pursuit included a flight by coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider to Denver in a desperation move that failed to impress Manning. That was a rare disappointment for Seattle in free agency.

Re-signing Marshawn Lynch before the signing period took off much of the pressure. Re-signing Red Bryant without using the franchise tag rewarded the Seahawks for a disciplined approach to the market. That approach paid off again when the Seahawks landed Flynn without rushing into an imprudent contract. Flynn spent five days on the market before signing with Seattle. The Seahawks got him for about half as much per season as Kolb cost a year ago, without even promising him the starting job. That was impressive.

What’s next: Quarterback and pass-rusher were Seattle's top two needs heading into free agency. Flynn solved one of them for now, at least. Jones, an inside pass-rusher signed from Tennessee, should help the other area. But the need for outside pass-rush help persists. The team could use the 12th overall choice in the draft for a defensive end.

Linebacker is another obvious position of need for Seattle. Market conditions favor Seattle's re-signing veterans David Hawthorne and Leroy Hill at reasonable rates. Both were starters last season. Hawthorne visited Detroit and New Orleans in free agency, but those teams subsequently signed other linebackers. Hill turns 30 in September, has had some off-field issues in the past and should have more value to Seattle than to another team. Still, it's an upset if the Seahawks do not address linebacker in the draft.

Peter King has the play-by-play from Peyton Manning's wild tour through free agency.

I'll mix in some color commentary for portions reaching into the NFC West.

King notes that the teams Manning considered the strongest featured former NFL players as point men. That included John Elway in Denver, Mike Munchak in Tennessee, Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco, and Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona.

Wait, Manning didn't know Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was an all-conference safety at University of the Pacific? He didn't know Seahawks GM John Schneider played a year at University of St. Thomas? Ha. Ha.

King says Manning was thrown off when Carroll and Schneider flew to Denver "unannounced" for a shot at meeting before Manning left for Arizona.

"Peyton Manning does not like surprises," King writes. "He said no thanks. Carroll flew home."

The decade Carroll spent away from the NFL made him even more of a Manning outsider. Neither was there sufficient connection between Seattle and Manning's former teammate, Brandon Stokley, for that relationship to work for Seattle. Stokley played for Carroll in 2010, but King pointed to Stokely's connections to Manning and Denver as helping make Manning more comfortable with the Broncos.

And so Manning was off to Arizona for a meeting with the Cardinals. What happened there? What did Manning think of Arizona? How serious was he about the Cardinals? Those questions remain unanswered.

Within a couple days, Harbaugh and 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman were scouting a Manning workout in North Carolina.

"First they watched from a car by the side of the field, then, to get a better view, they came onto the field, hoodies pulled over their heads so as not to be recognized by some nosy iPhoner," King writes.

The 49ers' interest in Manning had not yet become known publicly. Still, the drama and secrecy seems silly. Manning and Stokley took similar precautions while throwing together in Denver.

Manning's tour was all about Manning and what made him comfortable. As Carroll found out, if you had to ask what made Manning comfortable, you didn't have a chance.

Like clockwork, another Arizona Cardinals top-10 draft choice has reached a point in his rookie contract when the salary-cap figure became untenable.

Larry Fitzgerald and Antrel Rolle got there first. Levi Brown arrived Tuesday, leading to his release as the Cardinals sought to comply with salary-cap limits.

The manner in which the Cardinals structured contracts before the rookie wage scale took effect forced them into tough spots with all three players. Fitzgerald used the leverage to broker the first of two trend-setting contracts. Rolle and Brown used the leverage to force their release, with Rolle joining the New York Giants and Brown hitting the market Tuesday.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt has said the Cardinals would like to bring back Brown. That could still happen.

The Cardinals shouldn't encounter problems along these lines in the future. For one, they've fared well enough to avoid picking at the very top of the draft. The rookie wage scale also dramatically reduces payouts, sparing teams from structuring contracts the way Arizona has done previously.

The team announced Brown's release Tuesday.

Suzy and Mort discuss the latest developments on Peyton Manning's search for a new home and the 32 crew lends its thoughts on the NFL's discipline on the Cowboys and Redskins

Ken Whisenhunt's willingness to adapt his offense often comes up as a potential Arizona Cardinals selling point for free-agent quarterback Peyton Manning.

There is truth to the reasoning. Whisenhunt and his offensive staff did make changes to maximize what Kurt Warner could offer the Cardinals. But the increasingly forgotten reality, in my view, is that Warner had to change his approach before Whisenhunt would even name him the starter.

Warner still had the aggressive Mike Martz mindset that worked so well during his Greatest Show on Turf days with the St. Louis Rams. The Cardinals had a different type of team. They wanted Warner to reduce turnovers and play within the framework of their offense. They held firm on the subject and made Warner compete with Matt Leinart.

"Kurt, to his credit, worked very hard on some of the things that we asked him to do: ball security, moving in the pocket, decisions on his reads," Whisenhunt said during the days before Arizona's Super Bowl appearance against Pittsburgh following the 2008 season.

The Cardinals would presumably tailor their offense for Manning, probably to a larger degree than they did for Warner. The career detour Warner took after leaving the Rams created a different set of circumstances for him when the Cardinals signed Warner in 2005, two years before Whisenhunt's arrival.

Warner, upon his retirement following the 2009 season, reflected upon the give and take than went on between him and the coaching staff. Theirs was not a one-way relationship.

First, Warner singled out Whisenhunt for giving him an opportunity perhaps no other coach would have extended. He also pointed to a "meshing" of skills.

"That's a huge part of the reward, that you just didn’t step into this place and everything was set up, and you just rode it to the Super Bowl," Warner said during his retirement news conference. "There was a lot of work. There was a lot of effort. There was a lot of give and take. Sometimes it was screaming matches. Sometimes it was each of us trying to beat into the other one what we believed in and what we wanted to do. But to me, that was fun. That was an awesome part of the process."

The Seattle Seahawks owned the NFC West for years because their owner, Paul Allen, was so clearly superior to his peers in the division.

It was Allen who pushed through a stadium referendum precipitating his purchase of the team in the late 1990s. It was Allen's ownership that enabled the team to hire Mike Holmgren in 1999, another watershed moment for the franchise.

Those two owner-driven events set up the team for seven division titles during a 12-year period, including five in a row beginning in 2003.

Visions of Allen's Seahawks squirming while Peyton Manning visited the Arizona Cardinals over the weekend might not mean much if Manning signs outside the NFC West or agrees to visit Seattle after all. But with Arizona holding a clear edge over the Seahawks at this point in the process, the shrinking ownership gap in the division is worth our attention.

Allen hasn't necessarily slipped even though his fortune, once estimated to exceed $30 billion, has reportedly shrunk to less than half that amount. He remains the wealthiest NFL owner by a wide margin. He helped finance a state-of-the-art waterfront facility that opened in 2008. He gives football decision makers wide latitude and ample resources.

But with the Cardinals' Michael Bidwill and the San Francisco 49ers' Jed York securing new stadiums and winning division titles recently, the Seahawks' competitors have gained ground. Stan Kroenke's ascent in St. Louis has brightened the Rams' outlook as well.

For Arizona, getting Manning to visit was nice. Getting him to sign with the team would more emphatically validate the the Cardinals' progress as an organization.

Bidwill, like York, has a familial reputation to live down.

"(Bidwill) is hugely aware of our fan base and how his dad is viewed," a team source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter over the weekend. "He came to work with this team to get the stadium built. It took him a long time to get that done, but he did. He is a driven young owner that wants to totally change this franchise's image."

Winning back-to-back division titles while making a Super Bowl appearance affirmed Bidwill's long-held stance that stadium revenue would change how the team could operate. But the Cardinals' 13-19 record over the past two seasons has lent credence to the idea that the team basically lucked into Kurt Warner's career revival.

Beating out John Elway and others for Manning would be another game-changer, comparable to the day Seattle landed Holmgren and, to an extent, when the 49ers secured Jim Harbaugh. Holmgren and Harbaugh were the hottest coaching candidates at the time. Manning, though coming off neck surgeries that might still threaten his career, outranks both in NFL history.

The Cardinals need him. They bet big on Kevin Kolb last offseason, and are running a fat deficit on the investment, with few promising signs. John Clayton's recent report about the team losing confidence in Kolb sounded ominous. Coach Ken Whisenhunt might still need to win the bet on Kolb, but the cost of losing it would disappear if Manning signed with the team.

Finding a quarterback requires taking chances. Manning would be the safest bet in NFL history without the neck surgeries. He still appears to be a safer gamble than putting down another $7 million to continue the relationship with Kolb, a payment that comes due at week's end. Paying Kolb in the absence of Manning would not necessarily prevent John Skelton from winning the starting job.

A year ago, the Kolb experiment gave the Cardinals an opportunity to find out whether Whisenhunt could identify and develop quarterbacks. To what degree had he shaped Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh and, later, Warner in Arizona? That question becomes far less relevant if the Cardinals can close a deal with Manning.

Bidwill's father made a run at Joe Montana in 1993. This time, the Cardinals appear to have a legitimate chance. Times have changed, but by how much? Manning's decision will provide one measure.

The latest report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter points to the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos as favorites for landing Peyton Manning.

"The Seattle Seahawks continue to try to arrange a meeting with Manning," the report reads, citing sources, "but so far they have been unable to do so."

The report also indicates that the Miami Dolphins do not appear as high on Manning's list as the Cardinals and Broncos.

This would be fantastic news for Arizona and consistent with what the agent for Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt indicated last week.

"I think they have a tremendous shot," agent Eric Metz said, "and I'd be very surprised if they didn’t pull it off."

The Cardinals might have also positioned themselves favorably when they hired Manning's former position coach in Indianapolis, Frank Reich, to coach their receivers. They can also offer Larry Fitzgerald, arguably the NFL's top receiver and a player known for the all-out commitment to excellence that has set apart Manning over the years.

Seattle obviously feels as though it could make a compelling case for Manning if given the chance. But the team doesn't have the connections to Manning that Denver and Arizona can offer. The Broncos' executive vice president, John Elway, can connect with Manning on a quarterback-to-quarterback level. The Cardinals have Reich and Fitzgerald.

Seattle has ... what?

Losing out on Manning would hurt the Seahawks on its own. Watching him sign with a division rival would hurt quite a bit more.

A few thoughts as Peyton Manning prepares to visit the Denver Broncos:

• Manning would serve as the perfect Tim Tebow exit strategy for a Broncos leadership that has been skeptical about the team's ability to win over time without better quarterback play from the pocket.
• A Denver Post report says Manning wants to make a decision by Tuesday, and that he also plans to visit the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. Getting a deal done so quickly would limit the number of trips Manning could realistically make before signing. That timetable and list of teams suggests Manning has no plans to visit Seattle or other teams expressing interest.
• The Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams have to be rooting for Miami or Denver to prevail over Arizona if those are indeed the three favorites for Manning.
• ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen say their sources are "adamant" that Manning's visit to Denver is only a visit, not a negotiating session, and that the timing does not identify Denver as the favorite to land Manning; they also indicate Manning is expected to visit Arizona.
• The Cardinals have made significant progress as an organization since 1993, when Joe Montana met with them before accepting a trade to Kansas City. Montana was never considered to be serious about the Cardinals back then, but with a new stadium and recent success with Kurt Warner, Arizona should have a much better shot at landing Manning.
• Missing out on Manning would not necessarily force Arizona to pay a $7 million bonus to Kevin Kolb by March 17, unless the Cardinals felt strongly about Kolb as a vastly superior option over John Skelton.
• The fact that Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has promised Skelton a chance to start raises at least some questions over the Cardinals' commitment to Kolb, although Whisenhunt has long been against anointing anyone.
• If the Cardinals are not sold on Kolb, they have extra incentive to land Manning.
• Having Manning land in Arizona would focus additional attention on the 49ers' understandable (but nonetheless debatable) decision to stick with Alex Smith, and on whatever decision the Seahawks wind up making at the position.
• The Rams want to keep Cleveland and Washington in play for the No. 2 overall pick, so they should be fine with Manning landing in Denver or Miami; Manning to Arizona wouldn't devalue the second overall pick, but it would make life in the NFC West tougher for St. Louis.
• Manning's health is still a big variable here, introducing risk for any team deciding to sign him.

Those hoping to escape the all-Manning news cycle could be in for a rough weekend.

The Peyton Manning speculation will continue until Manning signs with another team, health permitting.

Longtime NFL agent Eric Metz, who represents Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and top assistant Russ Grimm, weighed in Wednesday with comments strongly suggesting Manning could be throwing passes to Larry Fitzgerald in 2012.

Metz, speaking on XTRA Sports 910, punctuated his interview this way: "I think they have a tremendous shot and I’d be very surprised if they didn’t pull it off."

Metz does not represent Manning. Tom Condon does. But longtime NFC West observers might recall Metz representing high-profile players in the division, including former Seattle Seahawks receiver Joey Galloway. Metz is putting Arizona and Miami atop the list of most likely destinations, giving the Cardinals an edge.

"He is going to win quicker in Arizona and they know how to do it, and that whole staff has been there before, so they know how to get right back there, and so does Peyton," Metz said.

Metz said he expects a resolution quickly, within a week. He says the Dolphins will want to have a resolution before Green Bay's Matt Flynn hits the market, and that the demand for Manning will be strong enough to accelerate the process. He discounted Seattle for geography and Kansas City for the fit.

Metz obviously has an interest in where Manning winds up. Whisenhunt and Grimm stand to benefit from Manning signing with Arizona.

"Only he is going to know for sure," Metz said, "but I would think it comes down to Miami and Arizona, and I think Arizona wins out."

What kind of scheme will fit Peyton Manning best?

One that’s a lot like what he ran while he was with Indianapolis.

We can do a lot of speculating about what’s most important to Manning going forward. My belief is a guy who is a creature of habit and loves routine and repetition will be most inclined to go somewhere where he gains a good measure of control. Where the coach and offensive coordinator will be willing to bend things to him. Where he can continue to do the things he's been honing for years.

That’s why I don’t see Washington as a good fit at all.

Mike Shanahan is a control freak and his son and offensive coordinator, Kyle, is a chip off the old block. Toss Manning into that mix and there isn’t enough control to go around.

Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona has shown a willingness to fit a scheme to a signal-caller. Joe Philbin in Miami is just starting out and would surely be willing to tilt things. Pete Carroll in Seattle seems to be a flexible guy when dealing with big personalities and stars. Romeo Crennel in Kansas City is a defensive guy.

John Fox is intense, but he and John Elway wouldn’t jump in unless they would mold things for Manning. And we certainly know they are willing to move away from the offense Tim Tebow was running.

“In the end, the chances are that whichever team Manning lands with will incorporate its present offensive system intertwined with what Manning did with the Colts,” writes Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc . “Manning's offense in Indy included a zone run-blocking scheme that featured athletic, movement-based linemen, limited personnel groupings and formations, a ton of pre-snap reads, and a timing-based passing attack that thrived after hours and hours of practice time.”

I can’t give away the store of the Insider piece, so I won’t share the order Williamson lists the matches in. We’ll go alphabetical as we share some snippets. As a bonus, my blog network brethren have chimed in with a flexibility rating for the coach/staff/scheme. A "10" means the team would hand over the keys to Manning and a "1" means he’d be expected to run precisely what the coaching staff wanted.

Arizona

Williamson: “This is the offense I would expect to change the most for Manning. Ken Whisenhunt is a very good offensive mind, but his philosophies have changed dramatically in his tenure as head coach, depending on the quarterback he's had at his disposal.”

Flexibility index from Mike Sando: 7

Denver

Not on Williamson’s list.

Flexibility index from Bill Williamson: 10

Kansas City

Williamson: “Adding Manning should make the team the clear favorite to win the AFC West, if not more. But, without a quarterback of the future on the roster, if Kansas City swings and misses on this acquisition, it could cost it dearly. Cassel is mediocre, and probably always will be, which could make the Chiefs too complacent in terms of finding a replacement or successor. It's time for them to be aggressive.”

Flexibility index from Bill Williamson: 10

Miami

Williamson: "With Joe Philbin taking over in Miami, the team will be installing an offense very similar to the one in Green Bay, which would fit Manning with all the pre-snap reads it requires. Also, limiting some of the injury risk of signing Manning and putting all the eggs in that basket is that Miami has Matt Moore returning. Although Moore is far from elite, you could do much worse as backups go."

Flexibility index from James Walker: 7

New York Jets

Williamson: "I don't think Manning would put New York over the top because it has problems at right tackle, No. 2 wide receiver and possibly at running back on offense. On defense, the Jets have a hole at safety, at outside pass-rusher and with an inside linebacker who excels in coverage."

Flexibility index from Walker: 10

San Francisco

Williamson: “Manning wouldn't have to put the entire team on his shoulders in San Francisco. The wide receiver position certainly needs upgrading, but Manning could have a reduced role from his time in Indianapolis -- which might be best for him now -- and consistently get his team into strong play choices at the line of scrimmage.”

Flexibility index from Sando: 3.5

Seattle

Williamson: "With a power ground game, an improving offensive line and some young receiving weapons to work with, Manning might be able to accomplish quite a bit with this offense. If Seattle signs Manning, it definitely could make a run."

Flexibility index from Sando: 8

Washington

Williamson: I also have some concerns about how well Mike Shanahan would be able to -- and how willing he would be to -- alter his offense, which stresses a move-oriented quarterback, to fit Manning's cerebral skill set.

Flexibility index from Dan Graziano: 3

INDIANAPOLIS -- Four quick notes, one from each NFC West team, to cap a Thursday from the NFL scouting combine:

• Arizona Cardinals: Coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves made it clear they'd like to bring back tackle Levi Brown. Whisenhunt has backed Brown publicly, so this was not exactly a revelation. Brown would return under a reduced contract. Graves: "Yes, we would love to have Levi back. Those discussions with his agent are ongoing and I hope to pick up the intensity of those discussions in the next few days and into next week. Obviously, our objective is to try get a deal in place with him to have him with us for an extended period." Brown could move back to right tackle if the Cardinals drafted a superior option for the left side.
• Seattle Seahawks: GM John Schneider expressed strong appreciation for what defensive end Red Bryant adds in the locker room. He pointed to Bryant as a core player. Bryant could still consider opportunities elsewhere, but the fit is perfect in Seattle. Bryant should have more value to the Seahawks than to other teams, in my view. Schneider also said the franchise tag is an option for running back Marshawn Lynch in the absence of a long-term agreement. I considered that a given and arguably more appealing to the team than committing longer-term money at a position where durability can be fleeting.
• St. Louis Rams: Coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead are on the media schedule for Friday. Fisher is set for 11 a.m. ET, with Snead three hours later. USC tackle Matt Kalil, a possibility for the Rams and other teams picking near the top of the draft, weighed 306 pounds Thursday. That was 11 pounds above his listed college weight. He appeared lean and indicated that would remain the case even if he put on additional weight. Fisher's teams have never drafted an offensive lineman in the first round, but the Rams do have obvious needs on their line.
• San Francisco 49ers: Those hoping the 49ers will dive hard into the free-agent market for receivers might be disappointed. None of the unrestricted free agents the team signed from other teams last offseason earned more than $4.25 million per season. I asked GM Trent Baalke when the right time would be for the 49ers or any team to invest heavily in a free agent from the outside. Baalke: "There's reasons why we don't do it and I'm not going to get into those reasons of why we operate the way we do. It's just our own philosophy. But if you are asking me when is the right time, I don't know that there is a right time. It is really an individual question for the 32 people making the decisions across the NFL for their own team. ... The model that we use isn't much different than certain other people in the National Football League that have been successful. Does it guarantee us that we are going to have success? Each year is a new year. But we're going to be very consistent with how we operate."

Thanks for following along. NFL officials are about to close the media room at Lucas Oil Stadium. I'm going to find a meal.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ken Whisenhunt and Rod Graves just passed through. Jim Harbaugh is within minutes of hitting the podium.

It's an NFC West free-for-all, with no time to catch up -- at least yet.

Graves, the Arizona Cardinals' general manager, said he thought the team would get a long-term deal with defensive end Calais Campbell. Graves chooses his words with care and tends to speak broadly. He called discussions "fruitful" and struck an optimistic tone, I thought.

Graves, mindful of speculation that the Cardinals could pursue Peyton Manning, said he thought the Cardinals were pretty much set at quarterback with Kevin Kolb and John Skelton.

"I think we are," he said.

Graves added the usual disclaimers about always wanting to upgrade at all positions. But he did not go out of his way to suggest the status quo could change.

Whisenhunt, now entering his sixth season as the Cardinals' head coach, said the team had not even discussed the $7 million bonus payment due Kolb on March 17. The overall tone from Whisenhunt and Graves did nothing to fuel Manning speculation.

According to Whisenhunt, Skelton would be competing to unseat Kolb as the starter.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Imagine the scene if Peyton Manning lingered around the Indianapolis airport baggage carousel waiting for his luggage.

Fans would swarm the Colts legend within seconds.

Manning's potential successor, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, created no stir Wednesday upon arriving for the NFL scouting combine. He stood in plain view for 10-15 minutes without drawing a crowd, or even much notice.

Luck, presumed to be the Colts' choice with the first pick in the 2012 draft, left baggage claim the same way he had arrived: not yet the face of an NFL franchise. Luck carried a large duffel bag on each shoulder, plus a backpack, as he departed.

That was one visual to file away on the eve of the combine.

Bill Williamson, Kevin Seifert, Paul Kuharsky and I are the ESPN.com bloggers staffing this one. We'll be here through at least Sunday, with access to various team officials and the top college prospects in attendance.

Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves are scheduled for a media session beginning Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed at 2:45 by Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider. San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Trent Baalke are also expected to make appearances Thursday. St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead are scheduled for Friday at 1 and 2, respectively.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is not on the schedule at this time. I'll update if that changes.