Peyton Manning is clearly priority No. 1 for the Colts over the next few weeks, and it sounds like Indianapolis has already opened negotiations at a reasonable starting point.
Indianapolis wants to accomplish a few other deals before a possible work stoppage. Owner Jim Irsay indicated that the team has opened contract talks with kicker Adam Vinatieri, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Vinatieri last kick for the Colts was one of the biggest in a mostly steady five-year run with the team. Using the transition tag could be an option to retain Vinatieri, but it sounds like the team would like to avoid that.
Irsay also revealed the team is hoping to work out a restructured deal with Bob Sanders before March 4. Sanders’ camp has indicated a willingness and understanding that he would have to take a pay cut after missing most of three straight seasons.
“Before March third, I think we’ll probably have some sense on that direction,” Irsay said. “Again, there’s nothing definitive. We’ve talked through a lot of different scenarios, I can’t say definitively what direction we’re going there.”
UPDATE: Here is Irsay talking on Thursday. (About Manning.)
UPDATE II: Bob Sanders was cut.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33399756?launch=41663123" width="420" height="245" allowFullscreen="true” /]