DURHAM, N.C. — Peyton Manning will work out for John Elway and the Broncos on Friday at Duke University, according to reports.
A private plane chartered by the Broncos was flying to Raleigh, N.C., apparently ahead of the session at an indoor facility on the campus in Durham, ESPN reported.
The group, led by Elway, Denver’s executive vice president of football operations, flew out at 8:24am local time Friday and was scheduled to land at Raleigh-Durham Airport at 11:08am, the Denver Post reported.
The development came as the NFL Network reported that the Miami Dolphins were out of the race for the four-time MVP. Multiple sources claimed Manning called the Dolphins personally Thursday to confirm he would not be relocating to Florida.
It left the Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans awaiting Manning’s decision, though the Cardinals were regarded as firm outsiders.
Whichever team wins the race will inherit a quarterback ready for NFL action, Manning’s mentor David Cutcliffe said before news of Friday’s workout broke.
The Duke head coach, Eli Manning’s former head coach at Ole Miss and Peyton Manning’s offensive coordinator while at the University of Tennessee, monitored the former Colt during recent workouts in Durham and was impressed.
“It’s incredible how much progress he’s made in throwing the football,” Cutcliffe told The Tennessean. “He’s gotten his arm strength back, and his accuracy is there.”
Manning, who turns 36 on March 24, sat out the entire 2011 season and underwent four rounds of neck surgery.
His release earlier this month after 14 years in Indianapolis sparked a mass scramble within the league, buoyed by doctors clearing the future Hall of Famer to return to the field.
Cutcliffe said from a team’s perspective, Manning was ready.
“I’m not an NFL coach, of course, but I think I know what it takes to complete passes in the NFL, and it’s clear that Peyton can make all those throws,” he said.
“From what I’ve seen, he’s right on target [to play in 2012],” he added. “Everybody knows what a hard worker he is, and he’s dedicated himself to getting ready for the season.”