If Peyton Manning is released, Redskins are expected to pursue him. Redskins also prepared to pursue free agents Matt Flynn and Kyle Orton.

There have been continued “whispers” all offseason that Peyton Manning is on the Redskins wish list, but none of these rumors have been stated with the same level of certainty – nor from any source of similar credibility – as what Schefter is saying.

Interestingly, while the first sentence is the real headline-grabber, the second sentence may actually be slightly more revealing. There has been a huge contingent of Redskins fans who believe they should (or will) select a quarterback with an early pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, namely Robert Griffin III from Baylor University.

But if the Redskins are targeting Matt Flynn or Kyle Orton in addition to Manning, this is likely a signal that head coach Mike Shanahan and the Redskins front office aren’t interested in waiting for a young QB to develop, and are more interested in finding a “ready-to-go” solution.

As per usual the Friday before the Super Bowl, Commissioner Roger Goodell gave his annual State of the NFL address, hitting on a number of topics that will point the way to the future for the league.

Below are some of the highlights of the news conference:

Player safety:

“We are focused now on how to improve every area of the game, from the game on the field to the fan experience and everything in between.”

“We will always make sure player safety is a main focus,” Goodell said. “We will continue to address medical issues. We will try to help our retired players, current players and future players by making the game safer.”

“We’re not going to relent on safety,” Goodell added later, saying “medical decisions will override competitive decisions.”

The league’s desire to return to Los Angeles:

“We’ve got to find a way to make it work for both parties,” he said. “We would like to be back in Los Angeles if we can do it correctly. I think that the [labor and TV] foundation can be helpful for coming back to LA. We now have a runway for 10 years. We know what our labor situation is and we know what our TV situation is.”

On the league is expanding its schedule of games on the NFL Network from eight to 13 for next season. It will include more Thursday night games earlier in the season:

“We think that’s great for fans and for teams to get that prime time exposure,” he said.

On playing the Super Bowl in Outdoor Stadiums with Cold Weather:

“I’m a big believer the game is played in all elements,” Goodell said. “It’s a great part of our history. There’s another side that believes when you get to the Super Bowl, the elements shouldn’t play a part.”

On all the Peyton Manning Talk This Week:

“The NFL has such tremendous interest and we’re here in Indianapolis and we all know what Peyton Manning means to the Indianapolis Colts, what he means to this community. I think it’s not unusual that you’re going to have that kind of interest in a great player and a team that has to make some difficult decisions in the next several weeks, so I’m not troubled by it at all. I don’t think it’s distracted from the event,” Goodell said.

On Games in London and the Rams Playing There:

“We’re going to play the London games,” Goodell said. ‘We hope it will be with the Rams and Patriots next year. There are issues that are going to have to get resolved. But we will be playing in London next year.”

Landry, who will be a free agent, has plenty of talent but the concerns could outweigh the benefits and force him to sign a limited contract that requires him to prove that can stay healthy. As for the Redskins, the back end of their secondary could look much different come next season. Landry’s a free agent and Oshiomogho Atogwe is dealing with a number of injuries.

Washington’s backup options currently consist of DeJon Gomes and Reed Doughty so you can expect to see them kick the tires on some of the available players in free agency or the draft.

The Redskins have announced the hiring of Raheem Morris as a defensive backs coach.

The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach agreed to take the job two weeks ago. The Redskins confirmed the move Monday, when he joined coach Mike Shanahan’s staff in Mobile, Ala., for this week’s Senior Bowl.

The 35-year-old Morris was fired by the Bucs this month. He had a 17-31 record over three seasons at Tampa Bay.

A Miami judge set the date on Friday, moving along a process that has been years in the waiting. Taylor died a day after he was shot in his Miami area home Nov. 27, 2007. Eric Rivera Jr., now 21, will stand trial and faces up to life in prison if convicted, according to the Associated Press.

Three other men charged in the murder will be tried separately and no trial dates have been set yet. A fifth man has pleaded guilty to murder and burglary charges and he will likely be a witness for prosecution.

General admission tickets likely don’t include every seat in FedEx Field, and the team didn’t say what – if any – increases there will be. General admission tickets currently range from $29 to $99. Season-ticket renewals will be sent out during the middle of this month, meaning soon. “We are sensitive to our loyal fans during these difficult economic times,” general manager Bruce Allen said.

According to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, Gano broke two bones trying to make a tackle after a 36-yard field goal try was blocked, he was hit from behind by defensive end Jason Babin on the play, and he continued to play in the game, kicking a field goal and extra point.

Per the report, the Redskins did not announce in the injury and Gano has remained in Washington to rehabilitate the injury, something that will require six to eight weeks. He will be a free agent, he made 31 of 41 field goals and special teams coordinator Danny Smith spoke highly of him. It remains to be seen if he is in the team’s plans.

Morris will coach the defensive backs, an area of the defense he coached in two stints with the Buccaneers. Morris was the assistant defensive backs coach from 2004-05, left for a season to be the defensive coordinator Kansas State before returning to the Buccaneers as the defensive backs coach in 2007.

The Buccaneers promoted Morris to head coach after the 2008 season and the Buccaneers went 10-6 in his second season. However, the Buccaneers would regress in 2011, with the team losing ten straight to close the season at 4-12. Morris was fired shortly after the season.

The 35-year-old Morris has a clause in his contract that Shanahan will not obstruct Morris from pursuing a defensive coordinator opportunity in the NFL in 2013, Stroud adds.

Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo has announced via his Twitter account that he has had successful shoulder surgery. “Just had successful shoulder surgery in Pensacola thanks everybody for their support! Now time for a speedy recover HTTR!” Orakpo lead the Redskins with nine sacks this year, ending the year with two against the Eagles before leaving the game early with the shoulder injury. It has yet to be revealed how long his recovery period will be.

The Redskins may be looking at Morris as a defensive backs coach.