Andrew Brandt

I have always found the more interesting part of the NFL to be when there are no games being played. The NFL offseason is, to me, the "in-season" and never lacking for story lines or drama. The discipline handed out to the New Orleans Saints for their systematic program of...

In the story of the 2012 offseason, the Peyton Predicament is coming to a conclusion. Peyton Manning has agreed to join the Denver Broncos, setting in motion movement to come for Tim Tebow. Here are ten thoughts on Peyton's soft landing in Denver after his turbulent exit from...

As per the annual ritual of the opening bell of free agency, the "chosen few" players were beneficiaries of the unrestricted free agency system brought into the NFL in 1993. Teams desiring to make purchases on the opening day of the buying season have to pay retail prices; they know...

We knew this was coming. The Colts will part ways with the face of their franchise for the last fourteen years, their iconic star Peyton Manning. Although there were some with wishful thinking that this marriage would continue, there were no tangible signs that it would.

Circumstances created the perfect...

The clock is ticking toward Monday's deadline for the application of Franchise Tags (the Tag) across the NFL. I expect a number of Tags, with teams waiting until the deadline to apply them. Here are some answers about the Tag.

Why are Tag numbers down this season from last year?

Now this is just getting weird. Colts owner, rock paraphernalia collector and tweet maven Jim Irsay has turned the decision on whether Peyton Manning stays with the Colts into its own reality show/soap opera. Unfortunately for Irsay, he is not the party with leverage in this negotiation.

The latest

We...

The longest offseason in major professional sports has begun. While we wait for the next edition of "As Peyton Turns," let's examine a high-profile position group -- wide receiver -- that offers a substantial amount of talent. Among the group, five upper-tier players -- Wes Welker, Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson,...

As the Winter of Peyton continues with an expected divorce from the Colts (irreconcilable differences?), I have received scores of questions about the financial ramifications of such a move to the Colts. I will try to answer these both from a cash perspective and by pulling down the curtain on...

After what can be charitably called some lackluster effort at the Pro Bowl Sunday night, I thought I'd outline a few issues surrounding the game, a game many think should not even be played.

While there was little action on the field, the action around the Pro Bowl is off...

Peyton Predicament, Part 1 is here, detailing what would happen if Manning's option were exercised. Where things get interesting is if the Colts do not exercise the option.

Non-exercise fee

Were the Colts to not exercise the $28 million option by March 8th, there is a non-exercise fee...

While Eli Manning will be one of the starting quarterbacks next week in the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, the biggest decision in the NFL this offseason will involve his older brother and the team that plays in Indianapolis. The Colts will have to decide if their future includes one Peyton...

Watching last Sunday's playoff game between the Texans and Ravens, I was drawn to the fact that both teams rely heavily on superb workhorse running backs playing in the final year of their contracts. Arian Foster and Ray Rice are free agents in six weeks and (although unlikely) could find...

Sunday's playoff game between the Packers and Giants at Lambeau Field evokes vivid memories of January 20, 2008 at the same venue when the same two teams played for the NFC Championship and the right to play the Patriots in the Super Bowl two weeks later. It was a game...

Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin and his wife Diane suffered an unspeakable loss yesterday. Their 21 year-old son Michael -- missing since early Sunday morning -- was feared to be submerged in the Fox River in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Packer employees and players were told yesterday that the body that was...

A criminal complaint was filed yesterday against Sam Hurd, the now-former wide receiver of the Chicago Bears. It is a shocking account of a pattern of activity from a player well-respected and seen as nothing like the one depicted in the complaint. An official at the Bears told...

Last Thursday evening we witnessed another violent hit from Steelers' linebacker James Harrison, this one levied on Browns' quarterback Colt McCoy. This play was followed by some debatable sideline procedures by the Browns' medical and coaching staff. Underlying McCoy's specific situation, however, lurk more global issues. Let's examine:

Independent Sideline...

Many believe the following standard line about deal making: "It's not personal; it's business." While I understand the sentiment, in 25 years of doing -- and now covering -- sports negotiations from both sides of the table, I have learned that it's always personal.

CP3 Madness

The...

What about Brett?

First, a note on old friend Brett Favre and his interest/non-interest in joining the Bears...

When news broke on Monday that a source close to Favre said he would be "receptive to hearing from the Bears," I laughed. I can see Brett and agent Bus Cook --...

The career of one of the NFL's most celebrated quarterbacks in the past decade may have come to a quiet close last week. The Minnesota Vikings -- Donovan McNabb's third team in the last 19 months -- granted McNabb his freedom, placing him on waivers Thursday. McNabb -- who went...

One of the least relevant NFL teams dominated the NFL news cycle on Tuesday, a whirlwind day of activity for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Jack Del Rio was terminated -- his contract, not him -- general manager Gene Smith was given a three-year contract extension, and most notably, the...