Football (not soccer)

Peyton Manning picks Broncos

Peyton Manning will become the next quarterback of the Denver Broncos, barring a snag during
intensified contract negotiations that have commenced under the instruction of the four-time
MVP to his agent Tom Condon, according to multiple sources.


Once the Manning deal becomes official, Denver will try to trade Tim Tebow, according to sources.

Manning instructed Condon to negotiate the finite details of a contract that would conclude with
him joining the Broncos after a frenzied but focused process that began when the Indianapolis Colts
released him March 7.


Manning called Broncos vice president of football operations John Elway on Monday morning to tell
him the news. Manning also called the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans to inform them
of his intent to now play for Denver.

More than two dozen frustrated fans gathered outside the Miami Dolphins' complex Tuesday to
protest the way the team is being run, and the spectacle moved beleaguered general manager
Jeff Ireland to act.

The notoriously media-shy Bill Parcells protege telephoned several reporters and sought to explain
a series of decisions and misadventures that have drawn national ridicule.

"I'm not naive to the fact of what's out there," he told The Associated Press as fans protested across
the street. The attempt at damage control was the latest surprising turn in a bizarre sequence of
events for Ireland and the Dolphins.

Among the fans who gathered at team headquarters at midday, several wore bags over their heads,
and others held signs that read "FIRELAND." They were mostly upset about a succession of setbacks
involving quarterbacks since free agency began a week ago.

Ireland insisted he's not disappointed with the way Miami's shopping has gone. He said his moves
shouldn't be judged until the offseason is over, and he asked fans for patience.

Jets acquire Tim Tebow for draft pick

Unusually quiet in recent weeks, the New York Jets shattered the calm Wednesday by completing a trade for
polarizing quarterback Tim Tebow, the team confirmed.

The Jets will send a fourth-round pick to the Denver Broncos, a source said.

Tebow, a former first-round pick, went on the trading block Monday when the Broncos secured free agent
Peyton Manning, who signed a five-year, $96 million contract.

Several teams expressed interest, including Tebow's hometown Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Jets -- perceived
as a sleeper at the outset -- pulled off the splashiest trade of the offseason.

Tebow will join a cast of backups behind incumbent Mark Sanchez, but his presence could ignite a quarterback
controversy. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie tweeted before the trade that "we don't need Tebow," expressing
his confidence in Sanchez and the current roster.

The timing of the trade is curious.

Two weeks ago, the Jets gave Sanchez a three-year, $40.5 million contract extension, professing their faith in
him even though he regressed in certain areas last season. They signed former Detroit Lion backup Drew Stanton
last week to be their No. 2 quarterback, handing him a $500,000 signing bonus. They also have former Alabama
star Greg McElroy.

NFL hammers Saints for bounties

The NFL came down hard on the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday.

Saints coach Sean Payton has been suspended for one year, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams
was suspended indefinitely, general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight regular-season games,
the team was fined $500,000 and lost two second-round draft picks (one in 2012 and '13) as a result of a
bounty program conducted by the team during the 2009-11 seasons.

Details of an NFL investigation released at the beginning on March reported that the Saints' bounty program
gave thousands of dollars in payoffs to players for hits that knocked targeted opponents out of games. The NFL
said the amounts reached their height in 2009, the season the Saints won the Super Bowl.

The league said between 22 and 27 Saints defensive players were involved in the program.

Williams, now defensive coordinator of the Rams, has admitted to and apologized for running the program.

Payton and Loomis apologized and took the blame for violations that "happened under our watch," but not until
almost a week after the NFL pointed to them for failing to stop the program.

Goodell has frequently taken a hard line on any action that threatens player safety. He suspended Detroit's
Ndamukong Suh for two games for stomping on an opponent last season; banned Pittsburgh's James Harrison
for one game after a series of flagrant hits that culminated in a collision with Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy's
helmet; and has ramped up the amount of fines for what the league terms "egregious hits."