Why 2012 NFL Hall of Fame Game Could Feature Drew Brees vs. Peyton Manning

The matchup for this year's preseason opener has been determined, and when the Arizona Cardinals meet the New Orleans Saints at the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Aug. 5 it's a very real possibility the game could feature (at least for a series or two) two all-time great quarterbacks in Drew Brees and Peyton Manning.

Brees, who threw for an NFL-record 5,476 passing yards while leading the Saints to an NFC South championship in 2011, is set to become a free agent on March 13. While Brees and Saints reportedly have quite a bit of work to do before a long-term extension is reached, the 11-year veteran recently told The Times-Picayune that he's confident the two sides will come to terms.

"There's no doubt in my mind we'll get a deal done. I wouldn't say we're 'very far' apart. I think there's been progress made. But just like everything it's a process. It takes time. It's not something that happens overnight," Brees said.

Even should the Saints and Brees fail to agree on terms before the deadline for free agency, the Saints would undoubtedly use the franchise tag on Brees if they have to, so the odds of Brees playing anywhere except New Orleans in 2012 are beyond negligible.

That leaves the Arizona Cardinals and, as head coach Ken Whisenhunt told the team's website, Whisenhunt and team are looking forward to playing in the exhibition after a hot finish earned the team at least a measure of respectability in 2011.

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We finished up winning seven of nine and we said we couldn’t wait to get back on the field, so we’re going to have a good chance to do that and be the first ones back out there.

We’ve got a lot of young football players who are turning into good players, and this is a great opportunity to see something (in the Hall of Fame) that is very significant to our game. It’s a great experience.

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The level of excitement in the desert would certainly skyrocket if the Cardinals are able to convince Peyton Manning, who is expected to be released by the Indianapolis Colts prior to his $28 million roster bonus coming due March 8, to join the team. While Whisenhunt was careful not to get too specific lest he run afoul of tampering rule,s he also didn't rule out pursuing Manning when asked about the possibility at the NFL Scouting Combine, telling FOX Sports:

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I'm not going to get into those scenarios, I think Rod Graves, our general manager, said it best: We're always looking for opportunities with players. I don't think that's any different from any team in the league.

I think we're very pleased with the players we have on our team. We're obviously always looking to get better.

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There are even rumors that Manning and wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who is also scheduled to hit free agency, are presenting themselves as a sort of "package deal," and while such a deal would require a substantial financial investment, an offense featuring Manning, Wayne and wideout Larry Fitzgerald would appear on paper to be a formidable one.

It's still far from a certainty that Manning will land in the Valley of the Sun, but if he does take his services west and is able to play effectively in 2012, the Cardinals could go from an 8-8 team to an 11-win contender, and the Hall of Fame Game could easily become an NFC playoff preview of sorts.

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