The Miami Dolphins nonetheless feel confident they will get their meeting with Peyton Manning, but they have not yet firmed up a meeting time, team sources stated Friday.

The Dolphins only are going by the timeframe that they will get their opportunity to meet with Manning “potentially Sunday, Monday or Tuesday,” a supply stated. The Dolphins have small other facts at this point.

The wide-spanning time frame is the outcome of a lack of firm scheduling at this point between the Dolphins and Manning.

Manning traveled to Denver Friday for a meeting with Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway, a league source told NFL Network’s Albert Breer. Manning also plans to tour the Broncos facility, a team supply told NFL Network’s Michelle Beisner. The Denver Post reported that Manning is expected to go to the Arizona Cardinals and then the Dolphins following his meeting with the Broncos.

Adhere to Jeff Darlington on Twitter @JeffDarlington.

(About:) This write-up was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NFL news see: Dolphins still waiting to lock down Peyton Manning meeting.

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Saints outclass Falcons to lock up NFC South

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 27, 2011, 12:19 AM EST

The Falcons and Saints have played the most reliably entertaining games of any NFC rivalry more than the last few years. The final four games in between the two teams have been decided by precisely 3 points.

That streak ended drastically on Monday night for a very good reason: The Falcons are no longer in the same class as the Saints.

New Orleans won 45-16 in a game that will be remembered as the night Drew Brees broke Dan Marino’s passing yardage record. It really should also be remembered for the Saints re-establishing themselves as the dominant team in the NFC South.

It was only a year ago that the Falcons were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Now Atlanta is a excellent-not-fantastic unit incapable of beating high quality competition.

They have lost to the Packers, Texans, and now the Saints twice. The Falcons came into this year looking for much more playmakers on offense, but the total lack of a operating game has negated the increase that Julio Jones provides to the offense.

Even though Atlanta’s defense has appeared improved this year, they had no answer for Brees. The pass rush was non-existent. New Orleans converted their very first nine third downs, four of them on third-and-lengthy. The Saints rushed for 164 yards on only 21 attempts.

Now 12-3, the Saints could tie for the greatest typical season record ever for any team that doesn’t get a playoff bye. The 49ers just have to beat St. Louis to clinch the No. two seed and push the Saints down to the third seed.

The Falcons, meanwhile, will be the No. five or No. 6 seed. They don’t appear like a team capable of going far in the playoffs or stopping a high powered passing attack.

It is really possible that these two teams will play again in the Superdome only two weeks from now.

That’s a rematch the Saints must welcome.

Permalink 8 Comments Latest Stories in: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Rumor Mill, Best Stories

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1. polegojim says: Dec 27, 2011 12:23 AM

   Powerful and impressive O… but D is their weakness, just like Pats and Pack.

   Falcons O shot themselves in the foot.

   Strongest Defensive Team will prevail in this SuperBowl.
2. captainwisdom8888 says: Dec 27, 2011 12:24 AM

   Saints vs Packers in NFC championship game. Cant see any other matchup taking location. And fairly honestly, I like the Saints in that game with the Packers defense getting gashed up lately
3. cmdv8 says: Dec 27, 2011 12:25 AM

   as long as the lions dont go there once more im excellent
4. hauntedspawn says: Dec 27, 2011 12:26 AM

   That game looked like a replay of the GB-ATL playoff game last year. To sum up Atlanta’s offense: some would say consistent, I would say stagnant. Too predictable.
5. bradeh says: Dec 27, 2011 12:26 AM

   Yes, Saints D is so poor. Turner 39 yards, Chris Johnson 23, Peterson 60 and ATL had 16 points.
6. cobrala2 says: Dec 27, 2011 12:27 AM

   They Had been?! Sorta diminishes the Saints’ last few seasons to claim they had been peers. I’m fairly confident the Falcons have however to peak past “wannabe” or “poser”.
7. YouMadCauseImStylingOnYou says: Dec 27, 2011 12:28 AM

   Losing Ovie Mughelli early really hurt the items that Michael Turner did in the past.

   That and them attempting to force Matt Ryan to be an elite QB with his new toys, when they should have kept him as a game manager which is his ceiling.
8. hauntedspawn says: Dec 27, 2011 12:29 AM

   If Detroit’s secondary gets wholesome, they could make a run in these playoffs. I hope Detroit gets at least 1 win in the wild card and then addresses OL and CB in the draft or FA.

(About:) This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For a lot more NFL football news see: Saints outclass Falcons to lock up NFC South.

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Linebacker Jerod Mayo has signed a 5-year contract extension with the New England Patriots, according to a league source.

Mayo, along with defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, is one of the leaders of the Patriots’ defense. Mayo was selected to the Pro Bowl and named All-Pro last season, but he has been slowed by a knee injury significantly of this season. Mayo nonetheless ranks third on the Patriots with 68 total tackles in spite of missing two games.

Mayo, the 10th overall choose of the Patriots in the 2008 NFL Draft, was playing under his 5-year, $ 18.9 million rookie contract.

(About:) This write-up was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For far more NFL news see: Patriots lock up LB Mayo with five-year extension.

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August 27, 2011

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