Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning Recruiting Free Agent DE Dwight Freeney

Last summer, then-free agent quarterback Peyton Manning worked out with Brandon Stokley before going on to sign with the Denver Broncos, who were encouraged to sign Manning by Stokley.  A few weeks later, Denver signed Stokley at the advice of Peyton.

Earlier this month, the Indianapolis Colts informed another one of Manning's former teammates, pass rush specialist Dwight Freeney, that the team will not be re-signing the veteran.  Which led to more player-to-player recruiting.

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“[Peyton] sent me a text and he just said, ‘Hey man, don’t worry, come play with me in Denver,” Freeney told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com on Wednesday.  “I don’t know how serious it was but, you know, it’s good to hear some of your former teammates still follow you, they care and they want to see you succeed.”

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Freeney spent nine seasons with Manning in Indianapolis before he signed with Denver last offseason. Now, Freeney will be landing with a new team.  Could it be the Broncos?

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“I think they’ve got a couple good pass rushers over there, I don’t know if they have room for me,” Freeney told PFT.

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It doesn't sound like Freeney would be overly interested in going to Denver, as he would likely be overshadowed by younger rushes Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller, who combined to record 29.5 sacks last season (Freeney recorded 5 in 14 games).

If Manning was serious, there is at least one member of the team interested in Freeney.  The question now becomes, will Denver's front office take interest, and if they do, would Freeney be interested?

Only time will tell. In the meantime, the Broncos will work to lock up left tackle Ryan Clady with their franchise tag.