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INDIANAPOLIS — Former Indianapolis Colts vice chairman Bill Polian said Peyton Manning threw with good velocity and accuracy during a late December workout. Polian said that regardless of whether Manning returns to the Colts, he remains determined to play next season.

“I’ve said before that if it’s humanly possible to play, I think he wants to,” Polian said to a group of reporters Thursday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine. “He’s a great competitor. He doesn’t like the way last year went for him.

“The last time I saw him was on the 30th or 31st of December. He threw the ball, and he threw quite well. The ball had good velocity. He was accurate. He was able to stand on the left hash and throw to the right sideline and vice versa. He didn’t get much beyond 25 to 28 yards, but the throws that he made were accurate, on the money, had good velocity.

“I wouldn’t characterize it in terms of a number—was he 80 percent? I couldn’t do that. But I was impressed with the workout. And clearly he had come a long way from where he was in September. He still had a ways to go. From what I understand, he continues to improve, at least that’s what people tell me. How soon he’ll be back 100 percent, I don’t know. But from my perspective, watching him that day, I was pleased.”

Most NFL people believe Manning and the Colts will part ways before the Colts are due to pay him a $28 million bonus on March 8. Polian’s comments will do nothing to diminish the market for Manning’s services should he become a free agent.

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The Denver Broncos are at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis to check out the draft class of 2012. But upon his arrival, coach John Fox needed to answer a flood of media questions about Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn.

Quinn, who will be an unrestricted free agent next month, has been playing damage control since Tuesday for the disparaging remarks he made about Tebow’s success in a interview with GQ magazine.

Fox addressed the issue with reporters at the Combine on Thursday.

“Sometimes, things get lost in translation,” Fox said about Quinn’s quotes, which suggested that Tebow was the beneficiary of “a lot of luck” in his ability to lead the Broncos to an AFC West title. “I know that their relationship is very close, and they obviously have a lot of respect for each other. They’re very good teammates to each other, and that’s what I know.”

— SN’s Clifton Brown: Quinn pays for ‘moment of honest’

Quinn was freer to speak his mind in print, knowing that despite the fact Fox “still likes him,” he probably won’t be re-signed by the Broncos. The Denver Post reports the team will be looking to add two free-agent quarterbacks to back up Tebow.

John Fox stands by Tim Tebow. (AP Photo)

“Numbers wise, that’s accurate,” Fox told the Post’s Mike Klis on Monday. “Who, what, where, when, what market? It’s still way too early how we get those quarterbacks.”

Although it’s unlikely Quinn will brought back, one thing is clear: Tebow is entrenched as the starter for Fox going into training camp. While Quinn is busy Tweeting to defend his comments, Tebow is already hard at work improving as a passer, currently getting instruction from UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone.

“We’re excited about the fact that he’s out there working out, and he’ll be better for that,” Fox said at the Combine. “That’s just the kind of young man he is.”

The Quinn-Tebow controversy soon will be buried in the past. Fox wisely preferred focusing on the future of his current franchise quarterback rather than that of his departing reserve.

“The reality is Tim’s a very good competitor, a very good player … at a position that takes some time (to play well),” Fox said. “We’re in the middle of that process.”

Because of Tebow’s second-year success, you can bet the Broncos won’t be scouting potential first-round and second-round quarterbacks the way they did a year ago.

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By cutting a deal to restructure left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson’s contract, the New York Jets have freed cap space ahead of the start of NFL free agency. Media reports peg the savings at $7.5 million against the cap.

Ferguson signed a six-year, $60 million contract extension last summer that the Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., says will keep him under contract through 2017. The crux of the alteration is in turning $9 million of Feguson’s base salary into a signing bonus, which is spread over the contract’s term, according to the Star-Ledger.

Why make the change? The Jets were pressed against the salary cap. This provides them room to address their offseason needs in free agency.

Numerous media reports suggest other Jets players also could be approached for contract restructuring.

In examining the Jets’ offseason plans, SN correspondent J.P. Pelzman listed five needs, three of them on defense —safety, outside linebacker and nose tackle. With more cap space, the team can seek help at those positions if they are not addressed in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Ferguson, 28, is a six-year veteran and three-time Pro Bowl selection. Ferguson’s contract means he is in the team’s long-term plans. Money spread over the contract will be due him even if the team lets him go before 2017.

First word of the deal came from the New York Daily News.

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INDIANAPOLIS — A humble coach Rex Ryan showed up Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine. He admitted he made a mistake at last year’s Combine when he guaranteed his New York Jets would reach the Super Bowl.

Instead, they finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs while star receiver Santonio Holmes became a locker room problem.

No guarantees? Not this year, Rex Ryan says. (AP Photo)

Ryan described last season as “terrible” and said his guarantee put undue pressure on the team. So this time, no guarantee.

“We all feel terrible about the results, how the season ended,” Ryan said. “There’s some lessons well learned. We’re going to fix it. I know I’m the guy for the job to do it.”

But here’s something else that Ryan would not guarantee — that the Jets would not pursue Peyton Manning should he become available. Quarterback Mark Sanchez is also under fire after a subpar year, raising the possibility that the Jets could court Manning if he becomes a free agent.

Asked why he would not kill the Manning-to-Jets rumors, Ryan responded this way.

“Peyton’s under contract to a different team, so I can’t talk about him specifically,” Ryan said. “But with our organization, we will look at everybody. There’s a list of 10 free-agent quarterbacks that I’ve looked at. There’s the draft guys I’ve looked at. We have great corners, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to do our due diligence, regardless of the position. We will do, always, what’s in the best interest of our organization. That means we’re going to be prepared. We’re going to look at any possibility that’s out there.’’

It’s going to be an interesting offseason for the Jets.

More J-E-T-S

— Ferguson contract redo creates salary cap space
— How Tony Sparano hiring rates among new coordinators
— Offseason plan: Youth, character infusions required

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INDIANAPOLIS—Tight ends at this year’s combine love how the NFL game is trending.

More teams utilizing two tight end formations. Tight ends stretching the field and becoming breakout stars such as Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez of the Patriots, or Jimmy Graham of the Saints, or Jermichael Finley of the Packers.

Stanford tight end Cody Fleener is one of many incoming tight ends who love where the NFL game is trending. (AP Photo)

A handful of tight ends in this year’s draft have a chance to make an instant splash, including Dwayne Allen of Clemson, Orson Charles of Georgia, Coby Fleener of Stanford, Ladarius Green of Lousiana-Lafayette and Deangelo Peterson of LSU. According to several scouts, a strong combine could lift any of them into the high second round, if not the late first round.

There’s no clear favorite among the tight ends to be the first one taken. And that makes the combine important for all of them.

Charles (6-3, 241 pounds) is not the physical specimen that Gronkowski is, but Charles excels at getting downfield in the passing game.

“I think I can win most one-on-one battles against linebackers and stretch the field,’’ Charles said. “It really doesn’t matter to me if I’m the first tight end taken or not. I just want to play. I feel I can do the things Hernandez and Gronkowski do.

“I haven’t heard anything about where I’ll be drafted. I’m just going to do the drills on Saturday and leave it in God’s hands. But I want teams to know that I can block. I love to block. I’m not just a guy who can catch passes all day.’’

Fleener will not run at the combine due to an ankle injury, but he plans to run at Stanford’s pro day on March 22. He has played in a pro style offense at Stanford, catching passes from the Andrew Luck, the favorite to be the top pick in the draft.

“Some of the throws he made were unbelievable,’’ Fleener said of Luck. “It happened almost on a daily basis in practice. I’m proud of what all of us were able to accomplish at Stanford when we were there.’’

A tight end that can cause matchup problems for linebackers and safeties has become an important commodity in the NFL. A few more are likely to be found in this draft.

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INDIANAPOLIS—Tight ends at this year’s combine love how the NFL game is trending.

More teams utilizing two tight end formations. Tight ends stretching the field and becoming breakout stars such as Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez of the Patriots, or Jimmy Graham of the Saints, or Jermichael Finley of the Packers.

Stanford tight end Cody Fleener is one of many incoming tight ends who love where the NFL game is trending. (AP Photo)

A handful of tight ends in this year’s draft have a chance to make an instant splash, including Dwayne Allen of Clemson, Orson Charles of Georgia, Coby Fleener of Stanford, Ladarius Green of Lousiana-Lafayette and Deangelo Peterson of LSU. According to several scouts, a strong combine could lift any of them into the high second round, if not the late first round.

There’s no clear favorite among the tight ends to be the first one taken. And that makes the combine important for all of them.

Charles (6-3, 241 pounds) is not the physical specimen that Gronkowski is, but Charles excels at getting downfield in the passing game.

“I think I can win most one-on-one battles against linebackers and stretch the field,’’ Charles said. “It really doesn’t matter to me if I’m the first tight end taken or not. I just want to play. I feel I can do the things Hernandez and Gronkowski do.

“I haven’t heard anything about where I’ll be drafted. I’m just going to do the drills on Saturday and leave it in God’s hands. But I want teams to know that I can block. I love to block. I’m not just a guy who can catch passes all day.’’

Fleener will not run at the combine due to an ankle injury, but he plans to run at Stanford’s pro day on March 22. He has played in a pro style offense at Stanford, catching passes from the Andrew Luck, the favorite to be the top pick in the draft.

“Some of the throws he made were unbelievable,’’ Fleener said of Luck. “It happened almost on a daily basis in practice. I’m proud of what all of us were able to accomplish at Stanford when we were there.’’

A tight end that can cause matchup problems for linebackers and safeties has become an important commodity in the NFL. A few more are likely to be found in this draft.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Robert Griffin III has already stood up to one test at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Ending concerns about his height, Griffin officially measured 6-2 3/8, 223 pounds Friday morning. Some feared that the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor would measure shorter than 6-2, his listed height at Baylor.

Concerns about Robert Griffin III’s height were put to rest with his measurement on Friday. (AP photo)

While some shorter quarterbacks have done very well in the NFL, most scouts prefer quarterbacks to measure at least 6-2, to help them see throwing lanes downfield.

Had Griffin measured shorter than 6-2, it would have been a check mark in the negative column for those not convinced about his ability to be a franchise quarterback.

Now the focus will shift from Griffin’s height to other parts of his talented skill set.

Teams interested in trading up to the No. 2 spot—which the Rams are likely to trade—to get Griffin have yet another reason to covet him.

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INDIANAPOLIS — The St. Louis Rams have plenty of leverage with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.

Plenty of teams are looking for a quarterback, but the Rams aren’t one of them because they still believe Sam Bradford will work out fine as their long-term franchise guy.

Jeff Fisher and the St. Louis Rams have plenty of leverage with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. (AP Photo)

Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III are the draft’s top two quarterback prospects. So no matter which quarterback the Colts take at No. 1, teams will be calling the Rams about trading up to No. 2. The Rams will not hang up the phone.

“We have options,’’ Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “We’re in a situation where we’ve got a number of clubs (that) have expressed interest. If a deal’s good, it could be done before the draft. We’ll be prepared.”

If nobody meets the Rams’ asking price for No. 2, they can stay there and perhaps draft a weapon for Bradford like Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

However, between now and April 26, Fisher and the Rams front office figures to spend much time on the phone.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Denver Broncos executive vice president John Elway is eager to see Tim Tebow throw once offseason minicamps begin during the spring.

Elway said he has not spoken to Noel Mazzone, UCLA’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, who has been working with Tebow this offseason. NFL rules limit how much offseason contact teams can have with their players.

John Elway said he had no doubt that Tim Tebow is working hard to improve. (AP Photo)

Elway said he had no doubt Tebow is working hard to improve.

“The one thing I don’t have a concern with is the fact that Tim Tebow is going to do everything he can this offseason to get better,” Elway said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “If that’s out working with Mazzone, whatever he’s doing, I know that he’s going to do everything he can to get better.”

Elway admitted Tebow’s throwing accuracy must improve for the Broncos to become more productive.

“There’s things we have to get him to do within our offense to be more successful,” Elway said. “We want to see strides in Tim and his ability to get better in throwing the football downfield from in the pocket. That’s something we have to do to get better as an offense. To be able to add that threat makes everything else he does that much better.”

Elway wants to add one or two other quarterbacks to Denver’s roster. However, Elway is not convinced that Tebow’s backup must play a similar style.

“I don’t know that we’re looking for one like Tim, or your ordinary dropback, or someone in between,” Elway said. “When I look at Tim, and I look at our offense, we can do it with either one—a guy like Tim or more of a dropback-type guy. We feel like either one’s going to fit.”

In the meantime, Elway hopes Tebow is learning to fit more throws into tight spaces.

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Not surprisingly, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck announced Friday that he won’t throw at the Scouting Combine.

In the days leading up to the Combine, Luck had left open the possibility he would go through passing drills on Sunday—the day all quarterbacks are tested. In the end, like most big-time quarterback prospects, he decided to put off his passing show until his pro day (March 22 at Stanford).

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck announced Friday that he won’t throw at the Scouting Combine. (AP Photo)

Last year, Cam Newton went against the trend and threw at the Combine. Although he didn’t throw well, it obviously didn’t damage his draft stock—especially after he threw much better at his pro day.

The Colts are expected to take Luck with the first overall pick. He said he wouldn’t have a problem playing behind Peyton Manning if the unexpected happens and Manning returns to Indianapolis.

“If I have the opportunity to learn from a guy like that, of course, you’re going to take advantage of it,” Luck told the media at the Combine.

Earlier on Friday, Luck was measured at 6-4, 234 pounds, which was no surprise. However, the stock of the other top quarterback prospect, Robert Griffin III, appears to be rising after he turned out to be taller (6-2, 3/8) than expected. But Luck says he isn’t competing against Griffin.

“The great thing about football, it’s a team game,” Luck said via ProFootballTalk.com. “It’s a team game. I think Robert’s a great quarterback, a great competitor, a great guy, really easy to get along with. I don’t get motivated by competing against him for something. I think it’s different—not one player versus another by any means.”

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