NFL Rumors: Peyton Manning, Gregg Williams and the Latest Buzz in Pro Football

Now that we're past the franchise tag deadline and free agency is right around the corner, the NFL offseason is only getting more intense.

Lest we dare forget about the 2012 draft. Nevertheless, pro football is always buzzing with news and here's some of the latest.

Peyton Manning

According to Jason La Canfora of NFL Network, the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning have a bit more time to find mutual ground:

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"Contract talks between Peyton Manning and the Colts could extend until 4 p.m. ET Friday, according to league sources with knowledge of the quarterback’s deal with the team."

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Does this increase the odds of Manning remaining in Indianapolis? Yes, but not by a lot.

And obviously this decision is going to determine a big part of the Colts' immediate future. Will they still draft Andrew Luck at No. 1 overall if Manning remains? It's certainly not out of the question and it seems to be a foregone conclusion for Luck in Indy if Manning is not retained.

Then we get into the whole "where will Peyton Manning end up?" discussion if he hits the market. With time running out, there's still a lot that has yet to be determined.

Gregg Williams

This comes as no surprise, and unfortunately for the St. Louis Rams, they have to be a part of it. According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Gregg Williams can expect a suspension:

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"When that happens is uncertain, although indications are that any disciplinary action by league Commissioner Roger Goodell will occur before the league's annual March owners meetings, scheduled for March 25-28 in West Palm Beach, Fla."

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In an attempt to continue making the game more safe, a suspension is the right call. Plus, for guys getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars per year (at the very least), why is a bounty needed to perform better?

This obviously puts a damper on Williams' ability to motivate and get the best out of his players. No great coach needs to implement something that is basically redundant, especially when salaries are extremely high to begin with.

Robert Mathis

You could definitely argue that it was a waste of a franchise tag, but nonetheless, Robert Mathis remains in Indianapolis. According to Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star, Mathis and the Colts have found common ground:

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"The two sides have reached agreement on a long-term contract. Details could not be finalized prior to today’s 4 o’clock deadline, necessitating the temporary use of the tag.

Length and financial details of the multi-year deal were not immediately known."

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This is great news for Colts fans and Dwight Freeney has to be pleased in getting his trusty pass-rushing sidekick back.

As for the Colts defense, this is a big boost and new head coach Chuck Pagano will have the luxury of working with arguably the best pass-rushing tandem in the game. Regardless of what happens with Manning and the offense, we can count on Indy fielding a sound defense in 2012.

Dan Connor

In one of the most unnoticed stories this offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles are addressing one of their weaknesses from 2011. According to Geoff Mosher of the News-Journal, the Eagles have interest in Carolina linebacker Dan Connor:

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"Several league sources confirmed the team’s interest in the former Penn State All-American who just finished his fourth season in Carolina, although the degree of interest remains unclear.

At least two sources close to the situation believe Connor, a native of the Delaware County suburb of Wallingford, Pa., is high on the Eagles’ wish list."

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Considering that the Eagles had an explosive offense and excellent pass rush in 2011, they need to prove they can stop the run to take that next step toward a Super Bowl. And Connor is just the man to do that, with 75 tackles and one forced fumble in 2011.

Their pass defense was solid last season, and their slow start can simply be attributed to a lack of team chemistry.

Philadelphia then proceeded to finish on a four-game win streak, 5-1 in the NFC East and has a lot of room to grow between now and the start of the 2012 season. If the end of 2011 was any indication, this fall will be telling as to how legit these Eagles are.

Domonique Foxworth

After a really impressive season in 2009 with four picks, 53 tackles and 16 passes defended, Domonique Foxworth hasn't seen the field much in the past two seasons because of injury.

Therefore, it prompted the Baltimore Ravens to part ways with him. In an article by Matt Vensel of the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens released him earlier this week:

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"An injury never gave Foxworth an opportunity to live up to the deal, and Monday, the Ravens terminated the veteran cornerback's contract.

The Ravens said Foxworth failed a physical. As a vested veteran, meaning he has at least four years of NFL experience, Foxworth is now a free agent and can sign with any team."

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After a decent career before being stuck by the injury plague, Foxworth was one the league's most underrated cover corners. Now with health concerns and hitting age 29 before 2012 kicks off, someone will likely give him a shot, but he'll be on thin ice.

Foxworth is a bit undersized at 5'11", 180 pounds, but has proven to be a reliable No. 2, nickel and dime defensive back. If Foxworth can get healthy, he has a good five years or so left in him.

Depending on how 2012 pans out, though, his career may unfortunately end sooner rather than later.

John Rozum on Twitter.