Peyton Manning works out for Broncos as 49ers emerge as candidates

Staff and wire reports

March 16, 2012, 7:55 p.m.
Peyton Manning won't be a Miami Dolphin or an Arizona Cardinal. But he could still join the Tennessee Titans, the Denver Broncos or even the San Francisco 49ers.

The race to sign the NFL's only four-time MVP and the most prized free agent of the off-season heated up Friday as Denver Broncos executive John Elway and Coach John Fox watched the star quarterback throw at Duke University and San Francisco was revealed as a stealth suitor.

A person familiar with the situation said that Manning worked out for 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh on Tuesday night at Duke. ESPN first reported on the session.

Manning also threw the ball at Duke's athletic fields Friday afternoon for the Broncos. He was seen leaving the Blue Devils' indoor practice facility wearing blue shorts, a gray T-shirt and no helmet heading to the outdoor practice field followed by Elway and Fox.

"We enjoyed visiting with Peyton today in N.C.," Elway tweeted later. "He threw the ball great and looked very comfortable out there."

Another person confirmed to the Associated Press that Manning phoned the Dolphins on Thursday to advise them he'll sign elsewhere. The team has now turned its attention to free agent quarterback Matt Flynn. The Cardinals also seemed to be out of the running on Friday, opting to pay quarterback Kevin Kolb a $7-million roster bonus he is due on Saturday.

The people who spoke to the AP did so on condition of anonymity because Manning's workouts have remained private and all the teams involved have refused to comment about their free-agency negotiations.

The record-setting quarterback has been rehabilitating in North Carolina after a series of neck surgeries. Duke Coach and longtime Manning friend David Cutcliffe told the Tennessean that Manning has made good progress throwing the football following the operations, which forced him to miss the entire 2011 season.

Manning's uncertain health led the Indianapolis Colts to balk at paying a $28-million roster bonus to the 35-year-old quarterback. The Colts released Manning on March 7, which in turn triggered a flurry of meetings and visits.

Etc.

Pitcher Andy Pettitte has ended his one-year retirement and is making a comeback with the New York Yankees.

The Yankees announced that Pettitte had signed a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. If added to the major league roster, Pettitte would get a $2.5-million, one-year contract.

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said there are no incentives in the deal and that Pettitte — who is expected in camp Tuesday — will only be a starter.

Pettitte, 39, is 240-138 lifetime. In his last season with the Yankees in 2010, he was an All-Star and went 11-3.

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Padraig Harrington followed his course-record 61 with a two-over-par 73 on Friday in the Transitions Championship at Palm Harbor, Fla.. He fell two shots behind Jason Dufner, who had another 66 and has gone two rounds at Innisbrook without making a bogey.

Dufner is 0 for 159 on the PGA Tour, the only player among the top 50 in the world without a win on any tour. His 10-under total of 132 is two shots better than Harrington and William McGirt, who had a 68.

Luke Donald, who could go back to No. 1 with a win this week, had a 68 and is three shots behind.