49ers enter race for Manning

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The stealthy 49ers are in the chase for Peyton Manning. The Dolphins and Cardinals are out. And the Broncos and Titans want to make sure the four-time NFL MVP is healthy.

After a brief lull, the pursuit of Manning sure got interesting in a hurry Friday.

The year's top free agent, who has been rehabbing in North Carolina after a string of neck surgeries, threw the football at Duke's athletic facilities for Hall of Fame QB turned Broncos executive John Elway along with Denver coach John Fox.

When the workout was over, Elway seemed convinced that Manning is still Manning.

"We enjoyed visiting with Peyton today in N.C.," he wrote on his Twitter account. "He threw the ball great and looked very comfortable out there."

A few minutes later, Elway posted: "Watching him throw today was the next step in this important process for our team and Peyton. It was a productive visit and went well."

Whether San Francisco executives and coaches feel the same way, they weren't saying. But they also have shown interest in the man who led Indianapolis to a Super Bowl victory in 2007. A person familiar with the situation said that Manning worked out for 49ers' coach Jim Harbaugh on Tuesday night at Duke.

Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe was Manning's offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee and the two remain friends.

As it became clear the 49ers were in the race, Miami and Arizona dropped out. A person confirmed to the AP that Manning phoned the Miami Dolphins on Thursday to say he'll sign elsewhere. The Cardinals announced they were dropping their pursuit and paying quarterback Kevin Kolb a $7 million roster bonus.