Dungy: Manning would land on his feet with 49ers

Peyton Manning now walks into alien territory, a man without a football team, but his former coach, Tony Dungy, believes it won't be long before he joins a contender.

"It's a very, very difficult day," Dungy told NFL Network on Wednesday, just minutes before Manning'steary farewell to the city of Indianapolis. The difficult nature of this breakup now gives way to Manning's highly anticipated next chapter, and Dungy believes that could take place in San Francisco.

"I can't speak for Peyton. There's a number of teams out there," Dungy said. "San Francisco, I look at what they did and whether they've made that commitment to Alex Smith yet, I don't know. I don't know where they stand, but that's a team that's got great defense, it has some young receivers, a very good tight end and a good back, that, you put Peyton Manning in that offense and people are going to be scared to play them."

This flies in the face of a report by NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora, who says the 49ers are focused on re-signing Smith and won't chase Manning, according to a team source. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh also voiced steady support for Smith at last month's NFL combine.

Wherever he lands, Manning is motivated to return to the field better than ever, according to Dungy, who coached the Colts from 2002 to 2008. Dungy said Manning has the ability to lift players around him the same way Joe Montana did for the Chiefs in 1993 and 1994.

"(Peyton) definitely feels like his arm strength is back," Dungy said, "and in terms of physically throwing the ball, he feels like he's good there, and he definitely wants to play. And the last conversation I had with him, he feels like doctors have given him the total OK to move forward, that he's not going to be in any health risk, and he really wants to get back out on the field.

"So, I think you are going to see the old Peyton Manning. I think you're going to see a guy who's really driven and he is going to be a benefit to someone."

Info: www.nfl.com

Colts to release Peyton Manning Wednesday

The Peyton Manning era in Indianapolis will end Wednesday.

USA TODAY's Jim Corbett confirmed ESPN's report Tuesday evening after speaking with Manning's brother, Cooper.

"Peyton and I talked today and had a good chat,'' the eldest Manning brother said by phone from his home in New Orleans. "He's going through kind of an emotional time right now. Until it was over, he was a Colt through and through."

Manning, 35, still wants to play football after sitting out the 2011 season following multiple neck surgeries. He watched from the sidelines as the Colts finished 2-14, securing the No. 1 pick, which they are likely to use on former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

The team fired the personnel management team of Bill andChris Polian, installing Ryan Grigson as the team's new general manager.

Manning, who led the Colts to a Super Bowl victory following the 2006 season, played 14 seasons and did not miss a start before 2011. He has been medically cleared to resume playing football, and has worked out in North Carolina and Florida this offseason. He can sign with any team immediately following his release.

"I don't think Peyton's done any personal dilligence on what the next step is," Cooper Manning said. "Now he'll have to re-evaluate and see what this next chapter reads like.''

Manning's older brother has not seen the quarterback throw in person, but said the triceps nerve in his throwing shoulder that was slow to recover following Sept. 9 neck fusion surgery is recovering at an encouraging rate.

"Peyton has gotten better and he will only continue to get better,'' Cooper Manning said.

Info: USATODAY