Former 49ers quarterback Steve Young emphatically backed the 49ers’ pursuit of Peyton Manning, and vice versa. Young, now an ESPN analyst, had this to say on “SportsCenter” on Friday:
“Really smart. Trent Baalke did the research and Jim Harbaugh threw with Peyton Manning. They didn’t get on the front pages.
“They know that they’re the best answer for Peyton Manning. They know they have the best defense in the league to offer. They know they have the offensive weapons. They know they have a plan. They know they have Jim Harbaugh. They know all the things are in place for a guy like Peyton Manning.
“It is the best opportunity for Peyton Manning. They knew it and they waited until all the wannabes kind of exhausted themselves, then they came in right at the end, and that’s probably why they will land him at this point. Unless somebody does something unusual. Or maybe Peyton is looking for something different than I think.
“But I know Peyton Manning is looking for a team to join now, and win a division now, and go to a Super Bowl now. And that’s the San Francisco 49ers.”
Manning works out with team
The 49ers emerged Friday as a covert contender to land quarterback Peyton Manning, who is considering the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans as other finalists in his comeback from neck surgery.
Manning secretly worked out Tuesday night for 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman in Durham, N.C., ESPN revealed and the Associated Press confirmed.
The 49ers reportedly were encouraged enough to dispatch doctors there Wednesday to conduct a physical exam on Manning, an 11-time Pro Bowler who missed last season because of a neck injury requiring multiple surgeries.
While Harbaugh and Roman were at the 49ers facility Friday — neither responded to interview requests — Manning worked out for Denver Broncos officials at Duke University. Broncos vice president John Elway posted on Twitter that Manning “threw the ball great and looked very comfortable out there.”
Alex Smith, the 49ers’ incumbent quarterback, remains unsigned even though he and the 49ers have publicly expressed a desire to maintain their seven-year union. Smith became a free agent Tuesday.
The 49ers officially declined to comment on Manning and Tuesday’s reported visit.
Albert Breer of the NFL Network, citing “league sources,” said Manning has told teams he plans to make his decision Monday or Tuesday.
Manning and Smith share the same agent, Tom Condon of CAA Football. Condon has not responded to repeated interview requests over the past month.
The Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins also visited with Manning, but both have fallen out of contention for the likely first-ballot Hall of Famer.
“In the end, it didn’t work out,” Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said in a statement, “but from our perspective it was very positive, and we certainly don’t have any regrets.”
Manning phoned Dolphins officials Thursday night to tell them they were no longer under consideration, NFL.com reported.
Manning, who turns 36 on March 24, is expected to work out this weekend for the Tennessee Titans, whom he visited Wednesday for 6½ hours.
The 49ers trump the Titans and Broncos for Manning’s best fit, in Young’s opinion.
The Broncos are set to offer Manning a five-year, $90 million contract with $30 million guaranteed, the Denver Post reported. The Broncos have the most space under the salary cap at $43.9 million while the Titans are at $26.3 million and the 49ers at $18 million, according to CSN Bay Area.
Before sitting out last season, Manning started every game for the Colts since 1998, when he replaced an 11-year vet named Jim Harbaugh.
“If you’re gonna be replaced by someone, that’s a pretty good one to be replaced by, isn’t it?” Harbaugh said at last month’s scouting combine in Indianapolis. “I kind of take some pride in that. … You’re talking about a quarterback whose career will be talked about for 50, 100 years to come.”
Awaiting the 49ers’ next quarterback is a talent-laden roster that went 14-4 last season and fell 20-17 in overtime of the NFC Championship game to the New York Giants. On Monday, Randy Moss joined a receiving corps previously led by Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree.
“You put Peyton Manning in that (49ers) offense, and people are going to be scared to play them,” former Colts coach Tony Dungy told the NFL Network when Manning got released March 7. “There are other teams that fit that same feel, but San Francisco comes to the top of my mind.”
Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice also advocated the 49ers acquiring Manning, stating earlier this month: “I think you go for it. A guy of that talent, you’ve got everything in place. … (Manning) can take you to a whole different level. If he’s healthy, he’s going to have a chip on his shoulder.”
Manning has thrown for 54,828 yards and 399 touchdowns with 198 interceptions. He has a 141-67 record in regular-season games, 9-10 in the postseason.
Smith said last weekend he was amenable to a three-year contract offer the 49ers reportedly had on the table, telling CBS 5: “They know I want to be back. I think they want me back. It’s just a matter of working out the details. I’m excited about it. Not really thinking about anything else. Just wanting for it to get done.”
The 49ers’ commitment to Smith began in 2005 when they drafted him first overall out of Utah. Last season, upon Harbaugh’s arrival, Smith threw 17 touchdown passes and had only five interceptions in 445 regular-season attempts.
– Cornerback Carlos Rogers has officially signed the four-year contract he agreed to Tuesday, the 49ers announced. “His leadership and performance were integral to our success as a team,” Baalke said in a statement. Rogers’ deal is worth up to $29.3 million, including a $5 million signing bonus, according to CSN Bay Area.
– The 49ers announced the signing of fullback Rock Cartwright to a one-year contract. He said he’ll embrace whatever role the 49ers ask of him, most likely as a special teams force. “They’re all about winning, and that’s what I’m about,” Cartwright said.
