Coby Fleener joined The Ride with JMV on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis to discuss his future with Andrew Luck in Indianapolis and whether he saw such a scenario coming. He also touched on areas he needs to improve on ahead of his rookie season, his experience in New York at the draft and the comparisons people will make to Dallas Clark.

On if, in the days leading up to the draft, he and Andrew Luck discussed the possibility that they’d both be drafted by the Colts:

“We knew it was a possibility, but at the same time, Andrew basically said, ‘I don’t know what their game plan is. Obviously you have my support but it’s ultimately up to them.’ Thankfully I saw the Indianapolis area code when I got my phone ringing and I was happy as could be.”

On if this is where he figured he’d end up if he were still on the board at 34:

“I had no idea what teams were interested and what weren’t. I met with 14 teams at the Combine and met with a bunch of coaches as well outside of that — probably close to all 32 teams. And so it was tough for me to tell. Some teams try to throw you off by meeting with you, throw other people off by meeting with you, and you just never really know.”

On what he needs to improve on as a rookie:

“I think I need to work on everything in my game. The NFL is such a more impressive group of athletes than we played against at the college level, so we always need to improve our game. I think I’m pretty fast given the circumstances, and I think I’m versatile, so I can be used all over the field. But I have the benefit of having a great coaching staff.”

On his green room experience:

“You know, it was tough. You always wanna get picked as high as possible, but I think the scenario that I’ve been drafted into is one heck of a an awesome one. If you can’t get drafted in the first round, then to play with your quarterback as the second guy picked in the second round’s not a bad deal.”

On the inevitable comparisons to Dallas Clark:

“Yeah. I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. He’s played I don’t know how many years and been awesome every one of them. I have yet to play a down in the NFL, so I don’t know if that’s a fair comparison, but just to be mentioned in the same sentence with him is an honor.”

Listen to Coby Fleener on 1070 The Fan here

Cleveland gave up a few late-round picks to flip the third and fourth pick with Minnesota. The Browns got Alabama running back Trent Richardson, who promises in the following interviews that he’s going to be a name to remember. The Vikings still got their man in offensive tackle Matt Kalil and then Jacksonville traded up to get into the top five, rounding it out with Justin Blackmon.

The top five picks in the 2012 NFL Draft joined Westwood One with Scott Graham to discuss the draft process, the teams that chose them, the situations they are now plugged into, what they’ll be working on and if they were surprised by some of the picks and trades.

Andrew Luck on the experience of draft week:

“It’s been a very interesting experience. At the end of the day, you always realize it’s about playing football and how fortunate am I to be in this situation? Having a dad who’s played in the league and sort of been in the business, it’s helped prepare me for handling some of the media stuff and the extra-curriculars outside of football.”

Luck on pushing aside the fact that he’s replacing Peyton Manning:

“I realize the situation that you can’t replace a guy like Peyton, what he’s done, arguably the best ever. So I know I’ve got to go up there and put my best foot forward and see how well I can do. Hopefully if one day I can be mentioned with Peyton, as a quarterback, great, yada, yada, yada, that’d be a dream come true.”

Luck on communicating with Robert Griffin III during the draft process:

“He’s a great guy, got to meet him through some of the award ceremonies in college this past year. I admire him a lot for how he handles himself on and off the field. At functions like these, we’ll sit and talk, but outside of that, he’s busy, he’s got stuff to do and I’ve got stuff to do.”

Griffin III on the differences between what he did in college and what he has to do now in the NFL:

“You start back at ground zero. In college, I was the top guy, the quarterback, the leader. Now I have to go to a new team and try to be that same guy, but I can’t just walk in there and say, ‘Hey guys, you have to respect me because I got drafted high.’ I have to show them why they need to respect me, show them why they can trust me as a leader.”

Griffin III on whether he expects to pick up the playbook pretty quickly:

“Yeah, I want to pick it up quickly. I just don’t want people to think it’s going to be night and day. It didn’t take me a couple months to learn Baylor’s offense. It took years to really master it. Obviously the process now is more immediate. I’m looking forward to learning the offense and going out and executing it a lot faster. But that’s why we have experiences in life. Baylor’s offense helped me prepare for what I’m going to do in the NFL.”

Trent Richardson on if he figured he was probably going to Cleveland:

“No, I wasn’t sure. Like you said, people trade up. There’s a lot going on with Tannehill, so you never know. But I’m happy, I’m proud and I want to congratulate myself and my mom and my family. This accomplishment is big. I always told my mom when I was younger, and my mom reminded me today, she said when I first started playing football at age five, I told her that she wouldn’t have to work no more and I’d be in the NFL.”

Richardson on whether he was looking around trying to figure out which teams he could contribute with immediately:

“No. I don’t look at stuff like that. That’s the reason I went to Alabama: I didn’t care who was in front of me, I felt I was going to play because I was confident in my game and I was strong-minded about it and I was going to be a workhorse. I’m not predicting no future and saying that we’re going to be an undefeated team, but I am going to work. And I can tell you this, I will make sure my name will be remembered in all of NFL football.”

Matt Kalil on if he sensed he was going to the Vikings:

“Up until a couple weeks before the draft and things kind of get a little shaky with that, I had my doubts a little bit but I was still pretty confident they would pick me. It was a relief when they called and asked me if I was ready to get this over with. I said, ‘Yeah I am.’ And they said, ‘Welcome to the Vikings.’”

Kalil on watching Adrian Peterson over the years and now being in the huddle with him:

“It’s kind of surreal, all these people, even the commissioner and seeing the draft on TV and like, ‘Oh, that’d be cool to be there one day.’ It’s finally happening and it’s crazy. It’s still setting in.”

Justin Blackmon on the surprise of the early trades, including Jacksonville trading up to get him:

“I’m very surprised. It surprised me because it kind of came out of nowhere. But the fact that Jacksonville came down, traded and really went out on a limb to get me makes it that much better. It makes me want to work that much harder for them.”

Blackmon on his biggest strength that he brings from college that will translate to the NFL:

“I think just me going out and being able to compete. I love to compete, no matter what we’re doing. And I like to win, so you know I’m going to want to win those battles and I’m going to try to put myself in the best position to do that.”

Listen to the top five picks of the NFL Draft on Westwood One here

Peyton Manning joined KKFN in Denver to talk about the crazy process he went through the last three weeks, what went through his mind both when he left the Colts and decided on the Broncos, and his goals moving forward. He also clarified that he wasn’t avoiding NFC teams in order to prevent having to face his brother and spoke about coming to a city with a heavy pro sports presence — one that includes good friend and former Tennessee Volunteer teammate Todd Helton.

On moving to a city with four major sports teams and, for the first time in his life, one with a major league baseball franchise:

“Of course, in Indianapolis I’m still good friends with Reggie Miller and I’ve always enjoyed watching the Pacers play. But baseball has probably always been my second favorite sport besides football. And between New Orleans and Knoxville and Indianapolis, we had minor league teams, just never had major league teams. And of course I’ve always followed the Rockies because of Todd (Helton), and I was here for a week last summer, worked out with the Rockies during the lockout. So I’m excited for opening day and I’ll be down there for a lot of games, I guarantee it.”

On if he was in contact with Helton regarding a place to stay in Denver:

“Sure, Todd’s been a great host and when I was here for that week, he took great care of me, helping me out during the lockout. And he’s reached out saying anything that I need he’ll be able to help with. So I appreciate that and it certainly has been nice having people here in the city that I know like Todd and Brandon Stokley and John Lynch. But I’m not staying at Todd’s house. Nobody’s there right now because the whole family’s in spring training. I’ve pretty much just been sleeping over here at the complex the past week and a half, trying to study this playbook and trying to get on the same page as some of these receivers.

On how crazy this experience has been for him:

“Well it certainly was. It wasn’t really how I would’ve liked it. It became so public. And that was the Broncos’ idea — sending the cars different areas — that wasn’t mine. But once you kind of got inside the facilities I really enjoyed getting to know the football people at the different teams. I tell ya, the NFL is in good shape right now. There’s some really smart people, some great coaches, some great management people out there. And I really just met a bunch of them. And so certainly that’s the case here in Denver. So I enjoyed the football part of it, I didn’t enjoy — obviously — all the cameras following me everywhere that you went. But that’s certainly just kind of part of it. But I’m glad to be with the team, to be into a normal routine lifting weights over here, throwing with the receivers. That makes me feel more comfortable and I’m glad to be in that routine.”

On what went through his mind the moment he finally decided on Denver:

“Well…I really felt like I had some good options. And certain teams were kind of on the clock and kind of had to have an answer right away due to personnel on their respective teams, and I just couldn’t rush a decision if I just didn’t feel right about it. And once it kind of came down to it and I realized that I wanted to kind of get going and didn’t wanna draw this out any longer than I had to — I had to feel good about something — but really the teams that it kinda came down to, I liked them all and I really felt that I had three good options and I probably couldn’t make a bad choice. So really, it kinda came down to just feeling comfortable and really kinda making it the right decision after you make it. To me, it’s not something that you know right away, ‘Hey, this is the absolute right decision.’ It’s up to me to go to work and do everything I can to be the best player I can be and try to be the best player I can be to help Denver. But I did kind of go through a thorough evaluation of each team and the personnel. I was in constant communication with John (Elway) and Coach Fox and they were very honest and upfront in their answers with me about the future of the team, which I appreciated. And I just woke up and called John and said I want to be a Bronco, and here I am. So I’m certainly excited to be here.”

On coming to the realization that he was never going to play for the Colts again:

“I really didn’t know for sure until probably the day before the press conference. That was a tough time. Obviously, just a guy that loved everything about playing for the Indianapolis Colts. And it’s really kinda the only team that I knew — the only team I worked out for coming out of college and only team I visited coming out for the draft. But like I said, I’m excited to be playing again. Last year, sitting out, not playing, being injured — that was certainly difficult. So I’m excited to be playing and I’m glad to be in the AFC as well, kind of a conference that I’m familiar with. And looking forward to playing here in Denver.

On how much his brother playing in the NFC factored into his decision:

“Well, that’s not true, because obviously when I was talking to San Francisco, they asked me that. And I wouldn’t have told them that I could possibly be interested if that were the case. Obviously I know that San Francisco is in the NFC. Just like everybody thinks that the Titans (didn’t get chosen) because they were in the Colts’ division. Once again, I knew that the Titans were in the AFC South. And so when Coach Munchak called and I said, ‘Sure, I absolutely would have an interest and I’d love to get to know everybody better.’ So the psychoanalyzing — I guess that’s the word, I’m not sure I know what that means — but there’s a lot of teams that I liked. And believe me, part of me wanted to be able to go to all of them for a short period of time. But you have to pick one, and once you pick it you don’t look back. So I’m here in Denver and looking forward to going ahead.”

On if he’s thought about what’ll be going through his head on opening day in September:

“I have not…it seems like a long way away at this point. I know there’s a lot of work to do between now and then. And I have some work to do physically, certainly mentally — learning this offense and trying to get on the same page with some of these receivers. I’ve enjoyed throwing this past week and a half with guys like Eric Decker and Julius Thomas, been taking some snaps from J.D. Walton. So I’ve kind of tried to hit the ground running and try to use all this time that we have. But I know the schedule will be coming out I think pretty soon here, and see who will have on opening day and that’ll be the goal all offseason — to try to win that first game. So it’ll be exciting but I certainly have some work to do before then.”

On the attention he’s received as a spokesman in the commercial world:

“I haven’t really thought about that, to tell you the truth. I’ve enjoyed being in the NFL. The best part of it is the football. It’s a relationship business … that was the toughest thing about not being in Indianapolis is the equipment guys and the trainers and the support staff there that you get to know so well, and all the teammates — guys like Jeff Saturday, Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne. You wanna be able to play with those guys forever. So that’s been the most enjoyable part. I look forward to kind of forming some new relationships here in Denver with the players here. Obviously I know some of them. I know Champ Bailey, having played against him in college. Looking forward to getting to know the rest of the guys.”

On his goals going forward:

“I feel I have an obligation to my teammates, to the coaches, to management, to the owner, Mr. Bowlen, for bringing me here, to go out and be the best quarterback I can be to help them win. I have a job to do and they’ve made a commitment to me. And so I’m committed to doing everything I can to help them. That’s what I’ve always tried to do and, like I said, I have work to do, and that’s why I’m here and haven’t left here since I signed last Tuesday. And plan on being here all offseason, trying to get ready to play and get ready to win some games this year.”

On the craziness of the last two weeks:

“I’d say this whole year has been different, there’s no question about it. That’s part of life. It’s kind of calming down, though, now that the kind of free agency tour is over. So I’m much more comfortable kind of being back in this routine and kind of doing things that I kind of know, little bit more familiar with. The free agency thing was hard because it was just so new to me. I’d never been a free agent before, so I’m glad I wasn’t one for very long and hope I’m not one ever again.”

Listen to Peyton Manning on KKFN in Denver here

Drew Stanton joined John Michael Vincent on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis to discuss the trade that sent him from the Jets to the Colts. Stanton also broke down the situation he left behind in New York, where Mark Sanchez will have to fight to fend off media “darling” Tim Tebow, and expressed how thrilled he is to be in Indy.

On if he knew he had to get out of New York when he heard the Jets were pursuing Tim Tebow:

“I think so, definitely. And as it started picking up steam and gathering more information about it I was trying to get in contact with people at the Jets. And I just didn’t like the whole situation or whatnot, and they were great about it. There was an open line of communication after the trade was going to go through, and trying to help me find a team. And I couldn’t be happier with the result.”

On what he was being told as things developed:

“Well I think there was a little confusion on their part, because the people that I talked to in the morning didn’t really know how it was going to go down. They said there was talks . . . whether or not he was going to come in, but his role wasn’t clearly defined to me at that point. They said, ‘Well, we still want you to be the backup,’ and that’s something I would’ve been alright with. And then it kind of changed later. And I talked to Mike Tannenbaum the next day and he said we want Tim to be the backup and we’re gonna try and trade you. They apologized profusely and said that this wasn’t their intent initially. And I understand circumstances change and whatnot, so it was time for me to move on and they did that very willingly and helped me get to a team that I’m very excited to be on.”

On if Mark Sanchez should be watching his back:

“I think it’s difficult because every move you make is going to be completely judged. As if you’re not under a big enough microscope already out there in New York — you have him, who is probably the biggest sports media darling out there right now that people look at, and it’s just hard. You saw the effects that it had on Kyle Orton, who is a great quarterback in this league, has won a lot of football games in this league. But the overwhelming cry for Tim Tebow when things start heading south, it can be difficult to deal with at times. And it’s nothing against Tim, because Tim’s a great guy. He’s earned a lot of the success that he’s had in this league. And the type of person that he is, he really is that good of a guy. But the whirlwind of media that follows him can be difficult.”

On the notoriously volatile Jets locker room:

“I didn’t even get a chance to see what it was like. I know a couple of guys there that I played with at Michigan State and other Big Ten guys that I’ve crossed paths with. And I think it’s something that you would adapt to, and it’s probably not as bad as everybody thinks that it is. I know there’s comments that have come out of there or whatnot. But like I said, that’s a market where everybody’s looking for things to poke and prod if you weren’t having the success that you should have. And Rex Ryan is a guy that’s gonna put his business out there and make it known that he wants to be the king of the hill. So that whole bravado and everything like that was a big draw for me. … In a roundabout way I think that some of that stuff gets blown out of proportion.”

On what he’s looking forward to the most about coming to Indy:

“I think just everybody you talk to is so down to earth and level-headed. And they’re just good quality people, and I look forward to working with people like that. You come to work every day, you’re excited, you’re fired up. And like I said, you’re around this league long enough, you know what you want and you know the people that are respected and go to work every day and are trying to pull in the same direction and trying to get wins. I think that the support they have in this town is tremendous as well. Being from the Midwest and understanding what those roots are all about. And even being from Detroit, a couple hours away. Just hanging out in this town a couple times, the people are sincere and genuine. And they’ve played a good brand of football around here for a long period of time, so I’m excited to uplift that tradition.”

On what it’s like to know that he’ll almost inevitably be replaced by Andrew Luck in a month:

“I was a part of it with Matthew Stafford and I think that they’re investing a lot of time, money and research into somebody like that, and they feel confident that they can come in and do that. And I take the responsibility of trying to help speed up that process. And I’ll help aid him in any way possible but also be prepared to play. We only get so many opportunities in this league to go out there and perform on Sundays, and it’s the stuff that we’re doing behind the scenes to get prepared. And if I can be an advocate of his and try and help him in any way, shape or form, be an extra set of eyes on the field or just show him how to prepare. It’s a different schedule than you’re used to in college. I think getting acclimated and how to operate. But guys like that, like him and Matthew, they get acclimated easy. Those guys have been given a special ability to play this game at a high level and have all the things that have led them to be a great quarterback in this league for a long period of time.”

Listen to Drew Stanton on 1070 The Fan here

With the slim possibility still out there that they go a different direction, Luck has met with the Washington Redskins as well. The Redskins made the huge trade to move up to the No. 2 spot and Luck says discussions there went well, too. At the end of the day, however, let’s all realize that those meetings were probably just a giant waste of time.

Andrew Luck joined The Dan Patrick Show to discuss throwing at his pro day, meeting with the Washington Redskins, his thoughts on probably being drafted by Indianapolis, if he’s started negotiations, discussions with the Colts, if he’d rather they just say that they were taking him already, what it would be like if Tim Tebow was his backup and being compared to Robert Griffin III.

You threw your final pass at your pro day like 70 yards into the wind. Was that just showing off?:

“That was per request by a couple scouts. I decided why not?” How far do you think you’d throw it on a non-windy day?: “Probably around 70 yards or so.”

On his meeting with the Washington Redskins:

“We sat around and talked for a while and it was very interesting, very productive. … They sort of talked about the franchise and I talked a lot about myself. We had a good conversation.”

But you’re almost certainly going to Indianapolis aren’t you?:

“I hope so, but that’s the decision they have to make and we’ll see what they do.”

Have you started negotiations yet?:

“I have not.”

What have your interactions with the Colts been like?:

“I’ve been in contact with them. I’ve talked to Coach Pagano, I’ve talked to Coach Christensen. But, you know, they haven’t come out and said [they're picking me]. I understand they’ve got their work to do; they’ve got their due diligence to go about. If it works out, great. If it doesn’t, great as well.”

Don’t you just want them to come out and say they love you and they’re taking you?:

“Maybe that’d be nice, but such is life. I’m not complaining. I feel like I’m in a very fortunate situation. I have a great opportunity ahead of me and they’ve got to do what they’ve got to do.”

How would you feel if Tim Tebow was your backup?;

“I think that would be a good situation. From all I’ve heard, he’s a great guy, good football player. A chance to compete with him would be great.”

Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf were always measured against each other. Do you feel like it could be the same way with you and Robert Griffin III?:

“I think with the nature of the media today, that you’re always going to be compared to your contemporaries, your peers. Robert and I and some other quarterbacks will be contemporaries. I’m sure it’ll be a classic comparison between the two, but in my mind that’s driven almost 100 percent by the media. I’ve gotten to know Robert pretty well. I’m a big fan of his, will probably always be a big fan unless we’re playing each other head-to-head. He’s a great guy and I’m sure we’ll be compared throughout our careers.”

Listen to Andrew Luck on The Dan Patrick Show here (Interview begins at 13:20)

Jacob Tamme joined KKFN in Denver on the Drive to talk about his decision to sign with the Broncos and the impact Peyton Manning had on said decision. He also weighed in on what makes Manning so special, broke down his own blocking skills and expressed his sympathy for the fans in Indy.

On how it feels to be in Denver:

“Well I’m very, very excited. I know it’s a great organization with great fans. It’s a great area and I really couldn’t be more excited to become a part of it.”

On if he was waiting to see where Manning went before signing with a team:

“Well, for me, I was hoping that he would do that just because I figured that it would get things moving across the whole landscape of football. I didn’t speak with him through the process — I just wanted to see what teams I might best fit in with. And that started to unfold itself. And when he became a Bronco that became one of the teams that might be on the list. Then they contacted me and I just really had a good visit, felt like things really going in the right direction. And obviously Peyton has brought about tremendous amount of excitement to the franchise. It’s definitely very exciting to come in and get to know the guys and hopefully make a difference.”

On what makes Manning special:

“There’s a lot of things special about Peyton. It’s a long list, but he’s a tremendous leader, he’s a great teammate. He sees things on the field that other people don’t see, and that’s what makes it a lot of fun to play with him. When you’re on the field as a group offensively, everyone’s on the same page and everyone knows — you rep it to the point in practice where you know what he’s thinking and he knows what you’re thinking and I think that guys will have a lot of fun playing that way. So he brings a lot to the table. You could just keep going on and on but he’s one of the best ever.”

On if he’s had a chance to talk to Peyton yet:

“Yeah, I have. I told him I was really excited and looking forward, I think it’ll be a lot of fun. So I think it will be a good group offensively. I think we can do some real neat things. And I know it’s a solid football team already. So it’s definitely a fun thing to join and be a part of.”

On how much blocking figures into his game:

“Yeah well that will be something that’ll be determined sort of as things go, but what I’ve always said is — from elementary school through high school to college and to this level — my deal is I’m gonna do whatever I can do to help the team win football games. In Indianapolis when I was backing up a great tight end in Dallas Clark for a few years I became a special-teams player for the most part, and tried to work my tail off in that area — made a bunch of tackles. So it’s whatever they want me to do. I certainly love catching the ball, I love getting down the field and making plays, I love blocking and creating a hole whenever I’m asked to do that. So it’s not about — all I want to do is have a role to help the team win games. So whether it’s blocking, catching, whatever. So that’ll be fun to see how all that works out and to be out there helping move the chains.”

On if he feels bad for the fans in Indianapolis:

“Do I feel bad? In some respects, certainly. I mean, because it’s been such consistent winning around here for a long time. Last year was very tough. It was incredibly tough on us as a team and I’m sure tough on them as well. And now there’s a lot of people that have been a part of the organization, a lot of players that aren’t gonna be back in Indy next year. But I think it’s in fine hands. Mr. Irsay knows what he’s doing and the coaching staff they’ve brought in really seems to be top notch. So it’s definitely a tough time for the fans here but I think they’re certainly in good hands.”

On if he considered staying in Indy:

“I definitely considered it. I mean, I considered everything. There’s just so many things changing here right now that I wanted to go where I was most wanted and where it worked out correctly and where the best opportunity was. And that ended up being the Denver Broncos.”

Listen to Jacob Tamme in KKFN here

Austin Collie joined Grant Napear on KHTK in Sacramento to talk about Manning joining the Broncos and to reflect on what Manning left with him in Indy. He also touched on the emotional aspect of adjusting to a new quarterback, and discussed his expectations for inevitable No. 1 overall pick — and Manning successor — Andrew Luck.

On his reaction to the news that Manning had officially joined the Broncos:

“Obviously it’s depressing. Peyton was a good friend, a good mentor for me and some of the other guys on the squad. Any time you get a chance to play with the best the game’s ever seen, you don’t wanna take those times for granted. And I wish I could have played a lot longer with him and I wish he could have finished his career in Indianapolis. But it’s part of the business and it’s part of life in football, but I’m definitely gonna miss him.”

On if he’s surprised Manning signed with Denver, and that it happened so quickly:

“Not really. I try not to dig into Peyton’s personal life too much and try not to ask too many questions just because I know he’s getting it from the other end. So, the fact that he made it within two weeks — that doesn’t surprise me at all. Peyton’s a guy that doesn’t wanna waste any time. I definitely think he wants to put this whole thing behind him. I definitely know that he doesn’t like all the attention that’s been going on the past couple months as far as, ‘Where in the world is Peyton?’ and all that media hype and stuff like that. I know he doesn’t like that. He just loves the game of football and wants to be in the best situation possible and he believes Denver — that’s the situation that he belongs in. And I’m sure he made the choice for a reason, a very good reason at that. And obviously he’s gonna do great. He definitely made the Denver Broncos an immediate Super Bowl contender.”

On the No. 1 thing Manning taught him during their time together:

“Just how to be a professional. I talk about this all the time but it’s really impressive the way he comes to practice every day, the way he comes to work every day. And his mental preparation — every single day at practice it is top notch, 100 miles an hour, making sure that every detail is perfect and making sure that he has every end tied and accounted for. So I really learned from Peyton how to be a professional. I think that’s the No. 1 thing that I learned from him: how to be a professional football player and how to handle himself on and off the football field. And nowadays you really don’t get that example from a lot of players and he is truly a team leader, he’s truly how a professional ball player’s supposed to act and be.”

On coming to terms with officially losing Peyton:

“Like I said, it’s a business, and the faster you can come to that realization, the better off you’re gonna be. You have time to dwell on the past a little bit, and just how fun it was playing with him and just how much better he made me as a player. But now it’s time to start from new and start with a clean slate. New coaching staff, a lot of new players on the team, and I’m really looking forward to this year. I’m really looking forward to kind of a new chapter in my career and new chapter in the Colts’ and being a part of that, so the quicker the team can get past this and kinda look to the future, the better off we’re gonna be.”

On the recent success of rookie quarterbacks indicating that the Colts don’t have to fret dramatic growing pains with Andrew Luck:

“No, not at all. The more and more, as time goes on college football players, they’re getting so much better and better. Even since the time that I came out, just to see how much better college football has gotten since I played — which has only been a few years — it’s amazing. And to see the level of talent that comes into the NFL and how much of an impact they make right when they come in — guys, like you said, Andy Dalton, guys like Julio Jones and Cam Newton — watching those guys, because I’ve played against every single one of them, and watching them come in and make the impact for the team that they do, I mean it’s amazing. And I’m sure Andrew Luck is a wonderful ball player, from what I’ve heard. You know, I haven’t really gotten to watch that many games, and from what I’ve heard he’s a smart guy and he’s gonna prepare himself. I think he’s gonna be a professional, he’s gonna kinda take the mindset that Peyton does — just being more prepared and being humble and realizing what his responsibility is coming into this program. So I’m looking forward to it.”

Listen to Austin Collie KTHK in Sacramento here

So, with Manning signing in Denver on Tuesday, Cutcliffe’s take on the development was surely in high demand.

Duke football coach David Cutcliffe joined The Rude Awakening on WCNN in Atlanta to discuss his time spent with Peyton Manning this year, as well as to offer his opinion and a little more background on Manning’s decision to go to Denver. Cutcliffe also speculated that Manning might have considered his brother Eli when making his decision, and he elaborated on details of Manning’s workouts at Duke.

On if he was surprised to see Manning pick Denver:

“I really wasn’t. I’ve been with him off and on now the last three and a half months through this rehab, and he stays at my house, so we talk. So I just kept my mouth shut and let him talk. There was a lot of things that went into this, and he knew and I knew that there was not one clear-cut only good decision. Just like all big decisions in life, most of them have multiple answers. It’s not a math problem where there’s one unique answer. But I’m sure there’s a lot of different things that went through his mind that I’m not aware of, but I think he’s probably found a good fit. So I’m excited for him.”

On how close he thinks Peyton is to being his old self:

“Oh, he could go play a game now. He’s throwing the ball well — he’s always been as accurate as anybody that’s ever thrown a football, and there’s a lot of reasons for that. But his arm slot is back perfect, his release times are right on target to what they’ve always been. He’s all over it but he’s gotta continue his rehab, which is going to continue. And the great part: it’s March. We’re not gonna start till August so he’s on pace. It’s like what I just said — I talked to (John) Elway yesterday and they’re in for a shock too. Everybody thinks they know, but they don’t know what it’s gonna be like — the work ethic, things will change around their football facility in a short time now.”

On how difficult it was to keep Manning’s on-campus workouts private:

“It wasn’t hard. Our facility — he’d been down here about nine times before anybody ever knew it — that’s how good it is. He gets in my car in my garage, drives to work with me and stays here all day and drives home. So all during that time … and when they started tracking people in here and airplanes in here is when it got hot and heavy.”

On what Manning did during the day while at Duke:

“A lot of rehab. So he’s continuing his rehab. We have a physical therapist here, obviously all of his weight workouts, his running, all of those things during the day. He’s got meeting rooms to watch tape, study film. So it’s kinda his normal day in the offseason, so it proved to be perfect for him.”

On the notion that Manning wouldn’t fit in well with Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco:

“I hadn’t been watching the news and I hadn’t heard anybody say that. I think the beauty of them is that they’re very similar competitors and Jim wants to win. That’s all. I think Jim would do whatever he thought. My time in watching Harbaugh’s Stanford teams and then what he’s done at San Francisco — one of the things I think he does well as a coach is his willingness to change and adjust, which they had to do with Alex Smith. So I don’t think Jim Harbaugh would struggle adjusting per personnel myself. And that’s through conversations with Jim Harbaugh as well. So I think he would’ve adjusted fine.”

On how much Peyton’s relationship with John Elway might have played a role:

“Oh I think they’re really good friends, really good friends, and have great mutual respect and John Elway is just a great guy. Just anybody would tell ya that, he’s just a great guy to be around. So you know that had to play some into it, but it ultimately was going to come down to how Peyton wanted to finish the story. And the story was supposed to be all the way through with the Indianapolis Colts and then this injury occurred so it kinda had to be a rewrite. And I told him that, I said, ‘Only you can finish this. There’s no one else can really tell ya how you wanna finish your career and what you want it to say.’ And a lot of athletes through the years have shocked people with those decisions, but I hope most of them do it for that very reason right there: ‘How do you wanna write the story? What do you want the finish to be?’ And it doesn’t necessarily always jibe with what all of us think it should be.”

On coaches having to surrender some power and control for players like Manning:

“Only coaches that have a little less ego than most and also have great confidence in who they are can approach those great players like that.”

On if Peyton made this decision partly in order to avoid having to face his brother Eli:

“I think that’s part of it. And if you know the family I think that’s respect to mom. I sat at a lot of those pro games with Olivia (Manning) and she’s a mom. She’s up there really nervous. And Archie’s a dad — he’s a pacer. But they’re great parents, they’re a great family, they’re very close. And I don’t think playing Eli twice a year in his division was really a very attractive thing.”

Listen to David Cutcliffe on WCNN in Atlanta here

It also just so happens that Reggie Wayne, who is one of Manning’s all-time favorite targets, is also a free agent. And Wayne himself has strong connections to Miami — he’s a former Hurricane.

Reggie Wayne joined Michael Irvin on WQAM in Miami to relay his reaction to the predictable yet still jarring news of Manning’s release, while also voicing his desire to team up with Manning and top-flight wide receiver Brandon Marshall in Miami next year. While he was at it, Wayne also stomped on the notion that Manning would struggle to adjust to certain systems.

On his emotional response to the news that Manning was being released:

“We knew this day was coming. We knew it was either gonna be a joyous day or a sad day. We knew one of the two was coming. And unfortunately it is a sad day, but as a Colt player you kind of focused on this a long time ago and got this out the way. When we were told during the season that he wasn’t gonna play at all, and then the type of season we had knowing that we were in the running for the first pick in the draft, you knew this day was coming. So this is not quite a shock as much as it is to everybody else at this point in time, but it is definitely a sad day for Indianapolis, for the state of Indiana and definitely for the Colts organization.”

On these types of developments being the downside of pro football:

“It is, man. With an icon like Peyton, you just feel like it rightfully fit for him to finish his career with the Indianapolis Colts. And it just seems like you know no other way. But like you said, it is the sad part of this game when this day comes, and as a player you know it’s gonna come some day. You just hope never today, you know what I’m saying? You hope way down the line somewhere. But it’s tough, man. It is. And I know how hard this guy prepares, I know how hard he works. I know how much he means for this city and how much off-the-field stuff he’s done for the city of Indianapolis, so to see this day come to light is definitely — it’s touching, man. It is a sad day, it really is.”

On the possibility that Manning goes to the Dolphins:

“I think it’d be a good fit for him. He always had a crib in South Florida. It’s less moving that he has to do. He’s already familiar with the city. I’m sure that the Dolphins fans would love to have him here. I think it’s a great fit for him. I’m no agent of his, I’m just a lonely ex-teammate. I really feel like whoever gets Peyton Manning would definitely have a gem. He’s one of the best if not the best quarterback in the league ever, in history. And in a Dolphin uniform? I can see that happening. I really can. I really think he’d enjoy it. I really think that the Dolphin organization would benefit from it, and it would be a hell of a battle in the AFC East, with the rest of those teams, and especially with a Tom Brady in there. So I can definitely see that in the works.”

On the possibility that he and Manning join the Dolphins together:

“I mean, I can see it and I’m definitely not opposed to it. He’s a great worker and I consider myself a great worker, and when you put great workers together good things happen. So me being in his trail onto Miami? I would love it. I would definitely love it. I am totally available, my phone is working. Make sure you put that out there — my phone is working. I’ve paid my bills ahead of time just so we don’t have no problems. So I am ready for anything that comes right now. So I can definitely see that in the mix also.”

On how he’d work with Brandon Marshall in Miami:

“I see it working great. I see it working excellent. He is definitely one of the best receivers in this league, and it would definitely be fit to see us both side-to-side. And I’ve watched him in plenty of offseasons and watched what he’s done on the field, and used some of the things that he uses as far as getting off the jam and being physical as a receiver. So I can definitely benefit from him also. So it’d be a great combination. Then you throw in Peyton Manning and a guy who knows what a defense wants to do before they even do it. So it can definitely be dangerous. It can truly be dangerous if they put us all together. So the league might not want that, Mike. They might not want to see that. South Florida, it’s already hot out here, baby. So you put us all together it’ll be burning up. So it would definitely be a sight to see if that would happen.”

On the possibility of finishing his professional career in the place where his college career started:

“Storybook ending, brother. Lovely. Couldn’t get any better. It’d be great. It’d be fun, exciting. Now you’ve got me vizualizing it. I see the visual, it is there. I see it. It’d be great. It’d definitely be a fun time and an outstanding journey in South Florida.”

On if he’d join the Dolphins to help persuade Manning to sign there:

“My phone is working. It is definitely working. Trust me — I’ve got all my bars. I am ready to go. Whenever that phone rings, guess what? Reggie Wayne will answer.”

On the belief that Manning might not adjust easily to certain offensive systems:

“C’mon, man. For real? I don’t think there’s a tougher offensive system that he’s gonna have to go through than what he already had. If it’s anything, people might have a hard time adjusting to what he brings to the table. No matter what you throw at him, I guarantee he will grasp it faster than anybody that can possibly grasp it … this guy is gonna work relentless. You don’t think he wants to prove people wrong? You don’t think he wants to go out there and show everybody that he’s back and what he can do and what he can’t do? This dude is gonna be ready. Trust me, he’s gonna be more than ready. And he’s not gonna have a problem adjusting to nobody’s scheme, nobody’s offense, nobody’s roster. He’s gonna fit in just like he’s been there.”

Listen to Reggie Wayne on WQAM here

Brad Gagnon is also the NFL editor at theScore.com‘s Goal-Line Stand blog. He can be followed on Twitter right here.

The inevitable has finally occurred in the 14-year marriage between Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. The legendary signal caller was cut by the only team he’s ever known yesterday proving the notion that nothing last forever, especially in professional sports.

While it’s hard to imagine or even swallow the fact that No.18 won’t be suiting up in blue and white with a horseshoe on his helmet, this is the reality of the salary cap era of football. It’s a business first as Jim Irsay just couldn’t afford the cap hit to pay one of the best quarterbacks of all-time with a troubling neck injury and a number one draft pick on the way this April.

It’s very rare to see a player and owner part ways in a live press conference, especially with the player not retiring, but this was the case for Peyton Manning and Jim Irsay. Gary Brackett is sad to see his teammate on the way out and knows the Colts must rally behind their new leader under center.

Gary Brackett joined 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis with Dan Dakich to discuss his reaction to Peyton Manning being cut from the Indianapolis Colts, rallying behind the next quarterback of the Colts, his current contract with the Colts and his fondest memory of playing with Peyton Manning.

What is your reaction on Peyton no longer being a Colt?

“Obviously it’s a sad day for Indianapolis man. We know what he meant to the city, to the team, really to football and to the NFL. I don’t think he can ever be replaced. We are talking about one of the greatest of all-time. A consummate pro. Even today? How many guys are at a press conference with an owner when they are parting ways. He does things the right way at all times. Very demanding guy, but you know what I’m saying he got a lot of results man, so I got a lot of respect for him and I’m sure there will be some type of get together where we can all reminisce about the good times man and send him off properly.”

More reaction to Peyton no longer being a Colt:

“But like I said he is a professional. He does it the right way. He said it best with the circumstances really dictating what’s happened. Mr.Irsay would have loved to have kept Peyton. Peyton would have loved Indianapolis, but he had a salary cap that is what it is. There’s no way of massaging that and having the number one pick you are on the hook for so much money and a quarterback and having all that money tied up to the quarterback. I think a lot went into this decision, but I think they both have a great deal of respect for one another, which they should. They had a heck of a ride and I think they both wish each other best in the future. I think I can respect that decision as a captain and leader of this team, whoever that quarterback is next year we got rally behind him. On the defensive side of the ball we gotta get it done. We gotta dictate the pace and make sure we help our offense and all together pull favors. We gotta get this thing back on a positive message.”

Where do you stand with the Colts right now?

“I am under contract for the next three years. Obviously I came off an injury last year. As we saw today in this business anything can happen. Right now I am just getting healthy man. I’m on the side of the new coaches, so I’m glad to get started here, however if anything were to happen then I will be ready to go somewhere else, so that’s where I am at right now and ready to get started.”

Give me a memory of what you will remember with Peyton Manning?

“Man I think for me Coach Dungy started this…they had these drills where at the time Coach Caldwell was Peyton’s position coach and they’d do a drill where you drop back five yards, defenders come and scramble out left, throw it across your body and for 20 yards in the end zone and make a play. He did it in practice. It showed the practice version and then he showed the game version. This particular game it was a 4th quarter. We had to have this play. Maybe it was in Houston to win. Remember? Maybe it was 2009 , we had the comeback in Houston and it was Reggie Wayne in the back of the end zone with the same throw that he had. Every week we practiced that deep drill forever and it was the same way he made it in the game. That’s just time and time again. A man who practiced at full speed ahead and really demanding and got results and the same way on the practice it was like that in the game. That really attributed to a lot of his success.”

Listen to Dan Dakich on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis here