Is this going to be Peyton Manning’s final season? The NFL’s broadcast partners seem to think so.
According to ESPN’s John Clayton, the television networks are treating Peyton Manning’s 2015-16 NFL season as a “farewell tour,” similar to the one Derek Jeter enjoyed with the New York Yankees last season. Manning and the Denver Broncos will be showcased on five prime time games and five late-afternoon double-header games.
If 2015 is Peyton Manning's farewell tour it will feature clashes vs. Flacco, Stafford, Rodgers, Luck, Brady, Rivers (poss) & Roethlisberger
— Neil Reynolds (@neilreynoldsnfl) April 22, 2015
There’s reason to think the networks are right. It was up in the air if Manning would even come back this season and, even if he wanted to, there was a real chance he’d fail the physical required to continue his career in the offseason.
Manning passed the physical and informed the Broncos that he’d like to come back. Though the team hasn’t made a great effort to keep the coaches that helped him put up record numbers over the past three seasons in Denver, they wanted Manning back too.
Manning played with at least a torn quad muscle in the last quarter of 2014 and the playoffs and his play showed that the injury took its toll. Still, Manning had another terrific statistical season, completing 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,727 yards, 39 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Unless he gets hurt, Manning should hit a career milestone sometime around Week 7 or 8. Manning needs 2,148 yards to pass former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre as the all-time NFL passing yardage leader.
Redskins pick up Robert Griffin III’s fifth-year option
In spite of facing a potential make-or-break season in 2015, the Washington Redskins hedged their bets Monday, exercising their fifth-year option on Robert Griffin III’s rookie contract, guaranteeing him $16.2 million in 2016.
It was an easy call for the Redskins to make, as RGIII’s potential has never been the question, just if he would ever realize it. While the contract option guarantees Griffin $16.2 million for 2016 if he’s still on the team, Washington will be out nothing if they cut him following this season.
Last year Griffin as injured, benched and generally disappointed everybody involved with the Redskins. Griffin played in nine games, completing a career-high 68.7 percent of his passes for 1,694 yards and four touchdowns with six interceptions.
The Redskins have brought back both Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins at quarterback this season as insurance if Griffin continues to stumble. RGIII’s first test will come in training camp as head coach Jay Gruden can’t afford to just hand him the starting job without making him work for it.
Antonio Brown joins Steelers for workouts
Looking for a new contract extension, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown didn’t show up to the team’s first workouts last week. Brown currently has three years left on a five-year, $42.5 million contract that the Steelers have no reason to budge on.
Brown has made the Pro Bowl three times and caught 129 passes for 1,698 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Brown’s touchdowns (13), his receptions for first downs (85) and third-down catches (36) last season all set new Steelers records. He needs just 204 yards to pass up Hall of Famer Lynn Swann for fifth on Pittsburgh All-Time receiving yardage list.
While the offseason workouts that Brown missed are considered voluntary, his absence still made news. Brown is due to make $6 million this season.
Demaryius Thomas and Adrian Peterson are both no-shows at workouts
While the Steelers may have finally coaxed Antonio Brown back into the fold, the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings are having no such luck with their star players.
Thomas is still looking for a long-term deal with the Broncos after getting hit with the franchise tag last month, guaranteeing him a one-year deal worth $12.823 million. Thomas hasn’t signed the franchise tender and is currently working out on his own in Georgia.
Peterson’s issue with the Minnesota Vikings isn’t contract-related, it’s team related, as in he doesn’t want to be a member of the team anymore. Peterson never has been a player that could be counted on to participate in team workouts that weren’t mandatory, but with his open desire to play elsewhere, his absence this year is more prominent than in years past.
Other news
Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks agreed to a one-year deal to join the Tennessee Titans.
Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams had the DUI charges against him dropped Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Sources told ESPN that LSU cornerback Jalen Collins failed multiple drug tests while playing for the Tigers.
