3-12-12: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings - Cutting Cap Space

From everything I am hearing, the Cardinals meeting with Peyton Manning went well. Now the next order of business now that the Salary Cap has been unveiled is to make some room by cutting players or restructuring contracts.

Source: Peyton Manning's visit with Cardinals went well
In five years in Arizona, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt hasn't played chauffeur to many free agents, but then the team never had a visit from someone who has won four MVP awards and has been chosen to 11 Pro Bowls. Quarterback Peyton Manning spent six-and-a-half hours at the Cardinals' Tempe facility on Sunday, arriving and departing in the passenger seat of Whisenhunt's SUV. There was no word on how the meeting went with the Cardinals, but it lasted roughly the same amount of time as the one Manning had with the Denver Broncos on Friday.

If Cards want Manning, they’ll need to scramble to create cap space | ProFootballTalk
Now that the 2012 salary cap has been set at $120.6 million, we’ve obtained the full list of the cap space, or surplus, that the teams have. With less than 48 hours until all 32 franchises must be in compliance with the spending limit, plenty of teams have work to do. And if the Arizona Cardinals hope to sign Peyton Manning, they’ll need to roll up their sleeves and create some cap space.

Report: Chiefs, Seahawks out of Manning derby | National Football Post
The Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks have tried unsuccessfully to meet with Peyton Manning, leading ESPN to cite sources that those two clubs are out of the Manning sweepstakes.

Peyton Manning in the Arizona Cardinals house
First, the assistant coaches trickled into the Cardinals Tempe facility. Then receiver Larry Fitzgerald arrived. Finally, coach Ken Whisenhunt pulled in with a very important passenger: Peyton Manning. Manning arrived in the Valley last night and likely will spend a chunk of time here at the facility. I have no idea how long. Cardinals officials have kept a tight lid on this.

Gambo: Peyton Manning is Arizona Cardinals' to lose - ArizonaSports.com
Yet another page in the Peyton Manning saga, but this one will likely have Arizona Cardinals fans excited.

Report: Broncos '95 percent' confident Manning will sign - ArizonaSports.com
While it seemed just a few short hours ago that the Arizona Cardinals were the front-runners to sign Peyton Manning, a report from Denver broadcaster Vic Lombardi has thrown the entire situation into a spiral.

Manning leaves Cardinals facility after more than 6 hours - ArizonaSports.com
Peyton Manning spent 6.5 hours at Cardinals headquarters in Tempe on Sunday. As he left, fans shouted, "Go Peyton! We need you! Sign it! Come to Arizona! You've got to love the weather!" Manning arrived just after 9:00 a.m. along with head coach Ken Whisenhunt. Team president Michael Bidwill followed about 90 minutes later.

Word From the Birds Blog - Manning visits while the cap is set
On the day the football world stood still — at least in Arizona — while waiting to see the puff of white smoke in Tempe as Peyton Manning visits the Cardinals, it was interesting to see the NFL finally set the 2012 salary cap.

With time ticking away, Manning is narrowing his options | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
As Peyton Manning continues his free agency tour, a few teams have been bounced out of the tournament, whether of their own volition or not. Manning apparently had a very positive and productive visit with the Denver Broncos, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, and then, he wound his way down to Arizona, where he met with Cardinals officials, head coach Ken Whisenhunt, and receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Manning leaves Cardinals facility after 6 1/2-hour visit | ProFootballTalk
After meeting with Cardinals officials for six and a half hours, free agent quarterback Peyton Manning was driven out of the team’s facility by coach Ken Whisenhunt on Sunday evening.

Report: Broncos, Cardinals leading the Peyton sweepstakes | ProFootballTalk
Though the race isn’t over, two teams are at the front of the pack.

Video: Wrapping up Manning's desert visit - NFC West Blog - ESPN
We know Peyton Manning visited the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals over the weekend. We do not know what he will do next. NFL teams do not know. Manning might not know.

Peyton Manning visits Arizona Cardinals (Video) - ArizonaSports.com
Leaving the facility

Arizona Sports News:

Arizona basketball a No. 1 seed in 2012 NIT
The Arizona Wildcats are a No. 1 seed in the NIT and will play host to Bucknell on Wednesday in a first-round game.

Phoenix Suns, Amar'e Stoudemire struggle after split
When the Suns parted ways with Amar'e Stoudemire in the summer of 2010, the wisdom of Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver's decision figured to be decided three to five years down the line. In Year 2, Stoudemire's pre-All-Star break declines in physical explosion and statistical production indicate what Sarver feared when he asked for playing-time stipulations in his 2010 contract offer to Stoudemire.

NFL News:

Source: If Manning picks Denver, Tebow is gone | ProFootballTalk
There’s a good reason for Tim Tebow to be rattled by the Broncos’ pursuit of Peyton Manning.

Moss workout reflects 49ers' need at WR - NFC West Blog - ESPN
File Randy Moss' scheduled workout with the San Francisco 49ers under the "no stone left unturned" category. ESPN's Adam Schefter says the workout will take place Monday.