NFL Free Agency Rumors: Dolphins Losing out in Peyton Manning Chase

The Miami Dolphins were long thought to be the potential leaders for free agent Peyton Manning, but since the four-time MVP finally hit free agency they seem to have fallen off the map. In fact, news has circulated that is pretty embarrassing to the franchise.

Apparently the Dolphins were so frustrated at their inability to secure a meeting with Manning that they had to enlist the help of Hall of Famer Dan Marino just to get it done. Manning then agreed to the meeting as a favor to Marino, who he idolizes and has even claimed to have patterned himself after.

When Manning did meet with the Dolphins it was clear that he wasn't exactly all-in with his interest. As opposed to his dealings with the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos, he didn't meet with Miami at the team facility. With those other teams, Manning made the trip to the facility and met with the key players and staff.

Manning forced the team to meet with him in Indianapolis and only met with members of the coaching staff, not owner Stephen Ross or general manager Jeff Ireland. 

It is crazy how things have changed over the past two weeks in the chase for Manning. He appeared to be a lock for either the Dolphins or Cardinals before his free agency odyssey started, and now the Titans and Broncos seem to have the edge.  

This is yet another embarrassing miss for Miami, who very publicly put the full-court press on head coaches Jim Harbaugh and Jeff Fisher before missing badly on both. Now the Dolphins will likely have to turn their attention to bringing in Matt Flynn to fill their quarterback need.