Colts pay their man: Manning agrees to five-year, $90M pact

Peyton Manning has a new long-term deal in time to report to training camp, but he hasn't been cleared to practice.

Nonetheless, Colts owner Jim Irsay said Saturday that he was "thrilled" to give the only four-time MVP in league history a deal that likely will keep him in Indianapolis for the rest of his career.

Brooks: Manning puts his team first

Manning agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal that, according to Irsay, will pay his quarterback $69 million during the first three years.

Irsay described the contract as "cap friendly" on his Twitter page, and sources told NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi that the owner assured Manning that the Colts would be aggressive in free agency.

"Signing Peyton was a top priority for this organization and we are thrilled that the deal is complete," Irsay said in a statement released by the team Saturday. "We feel that it is a salary-cap friendly deal and it allows us more flexibility."

Irsay and Colts president Bill Polian are scheduled to discuss Manning's contract at a Sunday afternoon news conference.

The deal comes nearly five months after the team used the exclusive franchise tag to prevent Manning from negotiating with any other teams. Had Manning signed the one-year offer, he would have made $23.1 million this season.

By having the long-term deal done, Manning's salary-cap number will be reduced, allowing the team to sign more of its own free agents. The Colts already have re-signed two key veterans -- safety Melvin Bullitt and kicker Adam Vinatieri -- this week. They also lost linebacker Clint Session to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.

Other key players the Colts are trying to work out deals with include running back Joseph Addai and left tackle Charlie Johnson. They still haven't signed first-round pick Anthony Castonzo.

The Colts report to training camp Sunday at Anderson University, about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Colts coach Jim Caldwell said Friday he expected Manning to be at camp if he was signed.

However, Manning will not practice because he's continuing to rehabilitate from neck surgery he had in May. It was the second time since March 2010 that he had neck surgery.

The Colts announced Saturday that it will put the quarterback on the physically unable to perform list, preventing him from practicing until he is removed from it. Because it is the preseason, he could be removed from the list at any time and return to practice.

"There is every medical indication that he is progressing steadily," team neurosurgeon Dr. Hank Feuer said in a statement. "While he looks fine, he still has some rehabilitation to go. Recovery from disc surgery is unpredictable and it is not a medical concern that he is not ready at this time."

Manning has started all 227 regular-season and playoff games in his 14-year career, and the Colts repeatedly have said they expect the quarterback to be ready to start in the season opener against the Houston Texans.

Manning has completed 64.9 percent of his passes in his career, throwing for nearly 55,000 yards and 399 touchdowns. He has led the Colts to the playoffs 12 times, reaching two Super Bowls and winning one.

But as the contract negotiations dragged, Manning became more irritated with the pace.

On Friday night, Manning told The Indianapolis Star that he had instructed agent Tom Condon to complete the deal by Sunday at the latest.

And after months of Irsay promising to make Manning the highest-paid player in league history, surpassing the annual average salary of $18 million that Tom Brady agreed to in September, the quarterback said he didn't have to own that title.

On Saturday, the two sides finally came to terms on a deal that will continue to make Manning the highest-paid player in franchise with a caveat -- that the team can hopefully keep some of his teammates under contract, too.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Jets receivers' salary grab could include some cash from their QB

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez is willing to put his money where his mouth is.

The New York Jets quarterback said Tuesday he has already spoken to his agent about looking into possibly restructuring his contract to help the team re-sign players, such as wide receivers Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards, as well as other free agents.

"Whatever we need to do to win, it's on," Sanchez said.

He is entering his third year and is due to make $14.75 million in base salary this season, but could make as much as $17.75 million with bonuses. Restructuring his deal could help relieve the Jets' salary cap with teams operating at a cap of $120 million this year.

"I think our whole team feels that way," Sanchez said, "(Darrelle) Revis, me, whoever, it doesn't matter."

Sanchez, who has helped lead Rex Ryan's Jets to the AFC championship game in each of his first two seasons, would love to have both Holmes and Edwards back after connecting with them on and off the field.

"It was such a luxury to have both of them last year," Sanchez said. "It's almost unrealistic to have that kind of a receiving corps again. Whichever guys we get back, it's going to be them playing really well, and me getting even better."

Holmes, who had 52 catches for 746 yards and six touchdowns last season after being acquired from Pittsburgh, was the go-to guy he established himself to be while with the Steelers. He appears to be the Jets' top priority in free agency and has received an offer from the team, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. He's also likely to get plenty of interest from several others teams, including the Washington Redskins.

Edwards caught 53 passes for 904 yards and seven touchdowns, and has said he wants to stay in New York but he is also dealing with some legal issues. Edwards recently pleaded guilty to drunken driving in New York, and a hearing in Cleveland Municipal Court initially set for Aug. 8 was moved up to Wednesday. He will find out whether he'll face a probation violation or possible jail time in Cleveland.

"We love them both," owner Woody Johnson said of Holmes and Edwards as Jets players arrived at their facility Tuesday. "We're going to have good wide receivers. I can promise you that, and obviously we want our guys back if we can get them."

Sanchez said he has spoken to both Holmes and Edwards, but preferred to keep those conversations private.

"No doubt, they're not the only ones who want to be here," he said. "There's plenty of free agents who would love to play here, and are probably calling Rex right now."

Sanchez said letting the team know he's willing to renegotiate his deal could be used as a selling point to help entice other free agents.

"Absolutely," he said. "I'll tell the guys upstairs this, too. They know that. Whatever it takes to win. If it's throwing the ball left-handed, I'll throw left-handed. It doesn't matter. We need to win and we'll get the right players."

In a 40-second recorded voice message left for all Jets season ticket holders, Ryan told fans the team plans to have Sanchez let the football "fly a little more than we have in the past." That declaration comes despite the fact Sanchez doesn't really know who he'll be throwing to just yet, other than veterans such as Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller.

"We better," Sanchez said with a big grin. "No ... it could mean a million things, I have no idea. I think, for us to win, and take the next step, it's going to require me improving. That's a part of this whole learning process.

"That's Rex's deal: Just put a little more pressure on the quarterback."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Henning: Dolphins will give Henne chance to be their QB

Some Miami Dolphins fans are crying for the Chad Henne era to end. But Henne's former offensive coordinator, Dan Henning, has some bad news for those folks.

"I feel like Chad will get the opportunity to turn it around, I really do," Henning told The Palm Beach Post last week. "He's always ready to do what you ask him to do, very studious about the game. Good questions, aware of personalities and idiosyncrasies with player personnel that he has to deal with. No problem working with Chad Henne."

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Henne struggled last season, his second as the Dolphins' starting quarterback, going 6-8 and throwing 15 touchdown passes with 19 interceptions. Henning wasn't interested in dissecting Henne's performance during his interview with The Post, saying he'll leave that to the team's current staff, including new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

"As I used to tell (coach) Tony (Sparano), 'I don’t tell anybody but you how I feel about player personnel,' " Henning said. “Because then you have so many different layers of opinions running around there, and they get carried off the reservation. That should all come from Tony.

"I don't want to expend any brain power or observations on what could or should or would have been," he added. "The people that are there, they have an on-going obligation to get things turned around."

Henning also didn't want to discuss wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who didn't exactly back the coordinator or Henne as Miami's offense faltered last season, ranking 30th in the 32-team NFL.

"I'd rather not comment on that," Henning said.

For those people who believe the Dolphins' struggles cost Henning his job, think again. Henning told The Post that he always planned to retire in January, after Sparano asked him to return for the 2010 season.

"It was understood between (Sparano) and I that I was going to be moving on, regardless of whether he stayed or they won the Super Bowl or were 1-15 again," said Henning, who's 69. "So I knew it (leaving the team) was coming from January 2010."

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49ers reportedly told to stop talking about their free agents

No more talk about quarterback Alex Smith, or any of your other free agents, please.

That is the message the league has sent to the San Francisco 49ers and new coach Jim Harbaugh, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported Tuesday.

Harbaugh has stated several times, including two weeks ago on "NFL Total Access," that he would like the 49ers to re-sign Smith. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft has struggled with injuries and inconsistency during his first six pro seasons with the team.

Harbaugh speculated after April's draft -- when San Francisco selected quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round -- that he thought Smith would return.

"I think he's going to come back to the team," Harbaugh said on April 30. "He has not signed a contract."

Harbaugh changed his strategy during an interview with the newspaper last week.

"I'm not answering any questions about Alex Smith," Harbaugh said. "The league has mandated we do not talk about him. The NFL has mandated that we don't talk about players who are not under contract -- who are free agents who haven't signed. We've been sent a memo saying we can't talk about it."

A 49ers spokesman told the newspaper that the league had contacted them. However, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Press Democrat he was not aware of the contact between the league and the 49ers.

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'Skins coaches say their views not reflected in NFLCA brief

The NFL Coaches Association filed an amicus brief with the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, supporting the players' effort to have the lockout lifted.

The first official response from the league's coaching fraternity came Thursday.

The Washington Redskins' coaches released a joint statement to NFL.com and NFL Network, dotted with 17 signatures from staff members, throwing support behind the owners, not the players.

"We stand united with our ownership, and the brief does not reflect our thoughts on the matter," the letter reads. "We, like everyone else, are hopeful that we can return to playing football. We look forward to a new CBA, and welcoming back our players as soon as possible."

According to a team source, a large part of the problem the coaches had with the brief was that they weren't consulted with it first. Head coach Mike Shanahan didn't sign the letter because he's also vice president of football operations, which makes him management.

The NFLCA did reach out to Kirk Olivadotti, the Redskins' former representative, but Olivadotti left the team earlier in the offseason to coach at the University of Georgia. The NFLCA's brief didn't have names attached to it.

"It's not something you need names to do," NFLCA director Larry Kennan said. "We are, by definition, a friend of the court, and we're telling the court we're doing this because we'd like the lockout to end. It was never a requirement to put names on it."

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Feisty Bills let game slip through their hands vs. undisciplined Steelers in OT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson was inconsolable for letting a victory slip through his hands. The Pittsburgh Steelers weren't going to let him or Buffalo get a second chance.

With his head down at the end of the bench, Johnson couldn't watch as Shaun Suisham hit a 41-yard field goal with 2:14 left in overtime to secure the Steelers' 19-16 victory Sunday.

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It was a dramatic turn of events for the Bills and Johnson, in particular, after he could've ended the game in Buffalo's favor on the previous possession but dropped what would have been a 40-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

"I had the game in my hands and I dropped it," Johnson said. "Humbled. Humbled."

Then, growing emotional, Johnson added: "I'll never get over it. Ever."

In a game the Bills (2-9) proved they're not all that bad, the Steelers (8-3) showed why they're better.

Suisham hit all four of his field-goal attempts, including a 48-yarder. His decisive kick capped a 13-play, 58-yard drive which Ben Roethlisberger kept alive by hitting Mike Wallace for a 17-yard catch to convert third-and-8.

As the Steelers celebrated, not far from their minds was how close they came to losing.

"I had my helmet on and I was going to the locker room," defensive tackle Casey Hampton said, when he saw Johnson 2 yards in the end zone, having sneaked in behind defensive backs Ike Taylor and Ryan Clark.

"You're talking about a guy who's been extremely hot," Clark said of Johnson. "Luckily for us, he didn't (catch it)."

Rashard Mendenhall had 151 yards rushing and scored on a 1-yard plunge in helping Pittsburgh prepare for a AFC North first-place showdown at Baltimore next weekend. Hines Ward had seven catches for 107 yards, and Roethlisberger finished 20 of 33 for 246 yards

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Buffalo proved feisty in facing one of the NFL's elite teams by overcoming a 13-point first-half deficit and forcing overtime with 2 seconds left in regulation when Rian Lindell hit a 49-yard field goal. Fred Jackson had five catches for 105 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown, and added 59 yards rushing.

The Bills had a two-game win streak snapped. Each of their past four losses have been by 3 points, including two in overtime, after they lost 37-34 at Baltimore on Oct. 24, and 13-10 at Kansas City the following week. Buffalo was also coming off a 49-31 win at Cincinnati, in which it overcame a 21-point first-half deficit.

"We fought so hard out there, yet again, it's one of those overtime heartbreakers," said Fitzpatrick, who finished 23 of 45 for 265. "There's not much to say than the guys in that locker room, including me, are really hurting over that one."

In a game the Bills looked out of by halftime, credit Fitzpatrick for showing he could not only take a vicious hit, but also punch back.

Down 13-0 late in the third quarter, linebacker James Harrison broke in untouched and, with his head lowered, struck Fitzpatrick just beneath the chin just as the quarterback got off a pass.

Harrison was penalized 15 yards for roughing the passer -- and faces another potential fine from the NFL for leading with his helmet.

"It's not going to change the way I play," said Harrison, who's already been docked $100,000 this season. "There was nothing wrong about the play."

Though knocked a little woozy, Fitzpatrick responded three plays later by hitting Jackson for his 65-yard touchdown catch and run.

The score gave the Bills life, as they eventually tied it at 13 when Lindell hit two field goals 2:07 apart -- the second set up after Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd stripped Mendenhall of the ball at the Steelers 23.

Ahead 16-13, the Steelers got a big defensive play from Troy Polamalu, who made a diving interception at the goal line after Fitzpatrick's pass bounced off Johnson's fingertips with 2:51 left in regulation.

Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall had his way with the Bills' league-worst rushing defense. Find out where his impressive outing puts him among the week's top performers.

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Pittsburgh couldn't finish Buffalo off, even in front of a large contingent of Terrible Towel-waving Steelers fans that made the three-hour trip north.

The undisciplined Steelers were penalized 10 times for 107 yards -- including five offensive holding penalties, three called against guard Chris Kemoeatu.

"We can't make those mistakes as an offense," Roethlisberger said.

At least Big Ben could chime in on a victory, and couldn't help but comment on Johnson's drop.

"When he dropped it, I said, 'Well, hopefully that's new life for us,'" Roethlisberger said.

Notes: The Steelers dominated the entire first half in which they had edge in score, 13-0, time of possession (23 minutes, 55 seconds to 6:05), first downs (18-4) and yards offense (225-51). ... Bills coach Chan Gailey said DE Dwan Edwards is out indefinitely after hurting his left hamstring on the Steelers first possession. ... Fitzpatrick extended his TD streak to 12 games, the Bills' longest since Doug Flutie's 12-game streak in 1999.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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