Miami — Internally, there has been a directive — George Steinbrenner style — from Dolphins owner Stephen Ross for his football people to get Peyton Manning.
His message: “Make it happen.’’
On Tuesday night, a source told the Miami Herald the Dolphins, who are reportedly about $15 million under the salary cap, are “very confident’’ they have the goods to make a strong run at signing the former Colts qaurterback.
After his farewell press conference in Indianapolis, Manning flew here Wednesday night and was immediately tailed by TV news helicopters and other local media. A Dolphins insider said Manning wasn’t in town to meet with the team.
AP
SIGN OF THE TIMES: Billboard alongside I-595 in Fort Lauderdale is part of a campaign by a group called Manning to Miami. The group wants the former Colts QB to play for the Dolphins.
“I haven’t thought about teams and I don’t know who is interested,’’ Manning said after his arrival. “I really don’t. This is all new to me. But look, the Miami Dolphins have a great organization, a great history there, they have new people in place. And so you have no idea what teams are interested.”
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Among the teams rumored to be most interested in Manning — the Dolphins, Redskins, Jets, Seahawks and Cardinals — Miami makes the most sense for him on many levels. And because of this there is a heavy belief in South Florida that, like LeBron James, Manning will be taking his talents to South Beach.
Even Heat star Dwyane Wade implored the Dolphins to make it happen, sending out this not-so-subtle message on his Twitter account yesterday: “peyton that number 18 wld look gr8 in a dolphins uniform..steve ross let’s go.. marlins & heat style...All in.’’
Outside of a brief stint of good health from Chad Pennington, the Dolphins have struggled through 16 quarterbacks since the day Dan Marino unlaced his spikes for the last time in 1999.
Subsequently, the results have reflected their shortcoming at the most important position on the field, with the Dolphins having made the playoffs only once in the last 10 years — in 2008 behind Chad Pennington.
The Dolphins believe the moment Manning is under center it makes them not only a playoff team but relevant in a division that’s been dominated for the last decade by the Patriots, with the Jets adding some occasional noise.
Ross is a star-seeking owner who is star-struck by Manning and he’s desperate to become relevant for the first time in his ownership tenure.
On many levels, Miami makes the most sense for Manning.
-- Despite holes on the right side, the Dolphins have strong foundation on the offensive line with left tackle Jake Long, a former No. 1 pick, center Mike Pouncey, their 2011 first-round pick, and left guard Richie Incognito in place.
-- At receiver, they have Brandon Marshall and there is heavy speculation that Reggie Wayne, Manning’s top receiver with the Colts who is an unrestricted free agent, is prepared to follow Manning to Miami, where he played his college ball with the Hurricanes.
“Me being in his trail going to Miami? I would love it,’’ Wayne told WQAM Radio yesterday. “I am totally available. South Florida is already hot out here, baby, so you put us together, it’ll be burning up. Now you got me visualizing it. I see it.’’
-- At running back, the Dolphins have the dynamic Reggie Bush, who stayed healthy for a full 16-game season last year for the first time in his career. He gained 1,000 yards for the first time and averaged five yards per carry.
-- The Dolphins have a solid defense in place, having finished sixth in the NFL last season in fewest points allowed.
-- The Dolphins offer the kind of weather Manning wants to play in. Those close to Manning, who has played his entire career in a dome at home, say he has no interest playing with a cold-weather team.
-- Manning owns a condo in South Beach, where he spends a lot of his offseason time. In fact, while the NFL Scouting Combine was taking place in Indianapolis two weeks ago, Manning was working out in Miami with some of his Colts teammates, including Wayne.
-- The Redskins, along with the Dolphins considered the most desperate to land a star quarterback, play the Giants twice a year in the NFC East — something those close to Manning believe is a huge turnoff because he doesn’t want to compete against his baby brother, Eli.
“I think it would be tough for him to be in the NFC East and play twice a year and potentially knock Eli out of the playoffs,” former Colts coach Tony Dungy told ESPN. “I don’t think he would want to be in direct competition with Eli and the New York Giants.”
There is a lot of sentiment from people around the league supporting the Manning-to-Miami scenario.
“You do whatever you have to do to get Peyton Manning,’’ former Dolphins coach and current Fox NFL analyst Jimmy Johnson told the Miami Herald. “Age is not a concern. If Manning has the supporting cast he is still a great player. The Dolphins have a good team. A great quarterback with a good team can win it all.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com
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