Manning has long visit with Cardinals

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Peyton Manning spent nearly 6 1/2 hours at the Cardinals' headquarters and training facility Sunday in meetings designed to lure the superstar quarterback to the desert.

The session was even longer than the nearly six hours Manning spent at the Broncos' facility in Denver on Friday night. No one involved in the session spoke to reporters.

The four-time MVP was expected to return to his home in Florida. It was unclear whether he plans to meet with the Dolphins.

Titans owner Bud Adams said he also wants to sign Manning and that he will do whatever is necessary to convince the four-time MVP to come to Tennessee, even offering a job in the front office once his playing career ends.

Adams told The Tennessean that he has contacted Manning's agent, Tom Condon, to express his interest and ask the quarterback to visit the Titans.

"I want Manning," Adams said. "I'd love to see him in Titan blue after watching him so many years with the Colts. I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard, and I think he'd be the guy to get us into the playoffs."

The 89-year-old owner has watched his franchise miss the playoffs six times in the last eight seasons, with one-and-done appearances in 2007 and 2008.

The Titans also have plenty of salary-cap space, with about $30 million to spend. They have two quarterbacks under contract. They signed Matt Hasselbeck to a three-year deal in July 2011 and used the No. 8 overall draft pick last year on Jake Locker.

Larry Fitzgerald, one of the league's best receivers and considered a prime reason Manning might choose Arizona, arrived in the morning a few minutes before Manning and coach Ken Whisenhunt pulled up in a white SUV. General manager Rod Graves and offensive line coach Russ Grimm were at the facility when Manning got there.

Manning arrived Saturday night from Denver. He reportedly wants to make a decision in the next few days. Time is of the essence for the Cardinals, who are scheduled to pay quarterback Kevin Kolb $7 million if he is on the roster Thursday.

Besides Fitzgerald, the Cardinals have a coach with a flexible approach to the game. Whisenhunt built a team around Kurt Warner and gave the quarterback free rein to change plays at the line of scrimmage. As a result, the long-suffering franchise made a surprise run to the Super Bowl in the 2008 season.

The Cardinals also have a state-of-the-art stadium with a retractable roof and natural grass. A concern could be an inconsistent offensive line that could lose tackle Levi Brown.

Salary cap virtually same. The NFL salary cap for 2012 is $120.6 million, barely above last year's figure. The league informed the 32 teams yesterday that the cap has gone up by $225,000. All teams must be under the cap by tomorrow, when free agency begins.

Among the other top free agents are wide receiver Marques Colston and All-Pro guard Carl Nicks of the Saints, quarterback Matt Flynn (Packers) and defensive end/linebacker Mario Williams (Texans).