The Browns were ready to let Peyton Hillis go around midseason, but now they want to keep the running back. Hillis missed five games with a hamstring injury and also skipped a contest because of strep throat in 2011. Since then, though, Hillis has worked his way back into the team's good graces, according to a source. Cleveland has until March 13 to sign him without other teams being able to bid on him.

The Redskins will have interest in Peyton Manning if he hits either the free agent or trade market, according to a league source. One of the primary concerns is Manning's health after missing the 2011 season while recovering from his third neck surgery in 19 months. "No. 1, is he going to be released?" a league official said. "No. 2, is he going to be healthy? No. 3, at the end of the day, is he willing to come back and play in the NFL? We don't know those questions."

Wes Welker will see his contract expire after the Super Bowl, but he plans to remain with the Patriots. "I plan on being back," Welker said. "I am not really too worried about that right now. I am fully concentrated on this game and what we have to do, but I plan on being back." Welker leads the NFL in receptions over the last five years (554). If the sides can't hammer out an extension by the start of the 2012 league year in March, the Patriots would likely put the franchise tag on the 30-year-old. "This is all stuff that we can address at another point," he said. "It can be a story after the season is over, but right now, we are just concentrating on this game and what we have to do to win this game. If you win this game, all of that other stuff takes care of itself."

Not much progress has been made between the Eagles and DeSean Jackson in regards to a new contract, according to a report. The talks have lingered over the Eagles for almost a year and it figures to make headlines even more as the wide receiver gets closer to free agency. Jackson just finished the final year of his four-year rookie contract that was scheduled to pay him $600,000 in 2011. According to a report, Jackson would accept a franchise tag from the Eagles if that's the move the team prefers. That doesn't seem to be a likely outcome, however, as the tag would command Jackson a 2012 salary of $9.5 million.

Jerry Jones says the Cowboys will look to add a veteran quarterback to serve as Tony Romo's backup in 2012. That likely means third-year man Stephen McGee will be third on the depth chart once again. "That's one of the things we'll see how it evolves," Jones said. "We like the progress of McGee. If somebody really has to start taking snaps, you'd like to see a guy with more experience. Now Houston did go pretty far with a third-team quarterback without a lot of experience. I do know it can happen. An inexperienced one can get you pretty far down the road." McGee, who Dallas drafted in the fourth round in 2009, has started only one of the three NFL games he's played.

Brandon Marshall says he has reached out to Matt Flynn about coming to the Dolphins to play quarterback. "You've got some guys in the draft, but there's not too many guys out there just walking the streets," Marshall said. "Matt is available. ... We've talked. I reached out to him. I get it from Ray Lewis. Around this time of year, players talk to players." Flynn has served as the backup to Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, but is set to hit the open market.

If the Colts decide to release Peyton Manning, the future Hall of Famer will consider all options. The quarterback is owed a significant bonus this offseason that will have a huge bearing on the decision. "Peyton is under contract," agent Tom Condon said. "If that changes, we'll consider the options."

Having spent just one season with the 49ers, Carlos Rogers hopes he has a long-term future with the club. "It's about trying to keep this team together, because we've got something really special here," the cornerback said. "There's always bits and pieces you need to fulfill, and coaches and general managers will decide that. But keep this team as close as we can and we've got something special from the top down." Rogers, who had a career-high six interceptions in 2011, said that he'd like his next deal to be for four or five years.

In an interview with PFT Live on Tuesday, Ray Rice said he fully expects to remain with the Ravens this offseason. Rice said early in the appearance that he was "almost positive" he would be back in Baltimore, then later guaranteed he would return. The Ravens will surely use the franchise tag on Rice if they can't reach a long term deal. "If the franchise tag happens, it happens," Rice said. "Not the worst thing in the world. It's definitely a lot more than I'll ever have."

In an exclusive interview with The Indianapolis Star, Peyton Manning said that he preferes to remain with the Colts. "I don't want to get into some kind of fan campaign with the owner, but I think it's well documented that I want to play in the same place my whole career," Manning said. "It's been a privilege to play here. I love the fans, the city, the transformation of the fans, how our place has become the toughest stadium to play in, the fact our fans wear more jerseys to games than anybody else. It's been fun to be a part of that. "But I understand how it works. I understand tough decisions have to be made. There's personal and there's business and that's where we've got to separate the two. I've seen other guys leave places and it was personal. I've invested too much into this city for that to happen. We live here, we've given lots of time and money to the community and our church, and that's never going to change Nothing changes that. "Whatever happens, happens. I can't give you a prediction because Jim (Irsay) and I will sit down at some point and he'll get a feel for where I am and I'll get a sense of what direction he wants to go. Right now, I have no idea." There is a $28 million option bonus due under Manning's contract this offseason, which will likely hasten the team's decision on his future.