ESPN’s Clayton throws cold water on Manning to AZ talk
Feb 7, 2012, 4:55 PM | Updated: 5:00 pm
Another day, and there’s more talk about the possibility
of Peyton Manning wearing Arizona Cardinals’ red in 2012.
However, Tuesday ESPN NFL insider John Clayton appeared on
ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike (mornings 5 to 9 a.m. on
Arizona Sports 620) and went “against the grain” and
doubted whether the Manning-Arizona marriage will ever
happen.
“I still don’t think Bill Bidwill is going to pay two
years for two quarterbacks because he already paid last
year for Kevin Kolb,” Clayton said.
Of course, the Cardinals traded cornerback Dominique
Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round draft pick to
Philadelphia for Kolb, and then rewarded their new signal
caller with a 5-year, $63 million contract — of which $21
million is guaranteed.
Kolb is also due a $7 million roster bonus by St.
Patrick’s Day.
In fact, Clayton didn’t even include the Cardinals in the
list of suitors for Manning. “He already knows the
principals that will be involved,” he said. “He knows
that Washington, Miami, maybe the New York Jets, possibly
Seattle — those will be the teams that are going to be
out there making the phone calls.”
Clayton’s thinking is in direct contrast with handicappers
who have installed Arizona as the favorite among possible new
destinations for Manning.
In other Manning to Arizona news, Cardinals’ Pro Bowl
receiver Larry Fitzgerald refuted rumors of his alleged
dinner with the quarterback. Fitzgerald, while making a
promotional appearance at a Valley cell phone store, said
he hasn’t spoken to Manning since the 2011 Pro Bowl in
Hawaii.
