Cardinals bow out of Peyton Manning race

Manning's decision may come tonight. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The Arizona Cardinals will no longer be pursuing free agent quarterback Peyton Manning.

In a team statement released Friday, coach Ken Whisenhunt said, “[A]cquiring Peyton Manning is no longer an option for us.”

The statement indicates that the Cardinals have no regrets in their aggressive play for Manning, saying that the opportunity to acquire a first ballot Hall of Fame quarterback was “very unique and unexpected.”

The statement comes not-coincidentally minutes after the team’s 2 p.m. deadline to cut Kevin Kolb if they were to sign Manning. They’ll move forward with Kolb and John Skelton instead.

One less competitor for Manning’s services — and one that was thought to be the co-favorite with the Broncos only a few days ago. The Broncos worked out Manning this afternoon in North Carolina — more details on this can be found here and here.