Peyton Manning Rumors: 3 Teams Peyton Could Chase a Ring With

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Peyton Manning appears to be opening his mind in regards to a contract:

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Peyton Manning is willing to structure his contract in a way that could expedite how quickly he is signed if or when the Indianapolis Colts release him.

Manning is completely open to creating a contract in which he would be paid little or no guaranteed money up front and he would have to earn every cent he makes strictly through performance, according to sources.

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To that end, if Manning happens to be released, here are three teams he should consider for a shot at another Super Bowl.

Arizona Cardinals

With an improving defense led by rookie corner Patrick Peterson and five-time Pro Bowler Adrian Wilson, the Arizona Cardinals fit perfectly for Peyton Manning. Offensively, the Cards still have receiver Larry Fitzgerald and, provided that he can stay healthy, tight end Todd Heap as viable targets.

The addition of Manning would also take a large amount of pressure off Arizona's ground game. Last season, the Cardinals ranked No. 24 in rushing, and it clearly affected their passing game.

Having Manning under center will only prevent defenses from run-blitzing and force the passing game to execute against tighter coverage. Of course, it's not like Manning's never completed a pass through a small window, and with Fitz out wide, all Peyton's got to do is toss one up.

Now look at the NFC West, and you'll see that San Francisco is the only real competition. The 49ers' biggest weakness? Defending the pass.

Jacksonville Jaguars

A top-10 defense against both the rush and pass, the Jacksonville Jaguars would welcome Peyton Manning, as would running back Maurice Jones-Drew.

Last season, Jacksonville had the NFL's worst passing offense, averaging just 136.2 pass yards per game. Then again, with a rookie quarterback and no talented receivers, this comes as no surprise.

That being said, the Jaguars, along with new head coach Mike Mularkey, would be a great fit and a fresh start. Also, MJD would easily be the best running back Manning has ever had in the backfield, and vice versa.

To compete in the AFC South, the Jaguars simply need a quarterback who can methodically move the rock down the field, while also displaying a rushing threat. Include a stellar defense, top 10 draft pick and a chance to beat the Colts, and the Jags must at least consider this.

Seattle Seahawks

The second NFC West team on the list, the Seattle Seahawks become immediate contenders with Peyton Manning, as their solid receiving core of Doug Baldwin, Ben Obomanu, Sidney Rice and Golden Tate make for a strong passing attack.

Much like the Jaguars, the Seahawks also had a sound defense and finished as the ninth best, allowing just 332 yards per game.

One appealing aspect that only the Seahawks have to offer is head coach Pete Carroll. Carroll will arguably be the best offensive-minded coach that Manning will have played for, and they would thrive in the NFC West.

Seattle has a better overall defense than Arizona, as well as a ground game, so The Great Northwest may be a leading candidate that no one is talking about.

In a pass-happy league, we tend to forget about the importance of a rushing offense, but Seattle can provide just that, as well as a great head coach.

John Rozum on Twitter.