[Mr. Bird]

Manning had the choice to sit out a year and play for whom ever he wanted

Only if he went undrafted next year; a team retains rights to their draftees for the year. Bo Jackson sat out a year, but was drafted by the Raiders the next year. Manning would not obtain free agent status unless no one drafted him, an unlikely scenario.

[threat matrix]

But couldnt Manning have just put the word out that he did not want to be drafted by any team next year? (except the one that he would sign for)