The 6-foot-2, 197-pound Hixon entered the NFL with the Denver Broncos in 2006 with as an undrafted free agent out of Akron, but only played in four games and had no receptions in two seasons there.

WSJ: Agent: WR Hixon agrees to terms with Panthers

The Denver Post, citing an unnamed NFL source, said Manning called former Broncos quarterback John Elway, who is now the team's executive vice president for football operations, to say he wants to play for the Broncos and wants to negotiate exclusively with the team.

CNN: Broncos: Peyton Manning talking with team about contract

It may be hard to remember this now, but just 16 months ago, he had led the Denver Broncos to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL playoffs, the high water mark of a season in which Tebow, playing some gutsy old-school football, energized the NFL. As many have pointed out, he did what his replacement, Peyton Manning, did not by winning a playoff game for the Broncos.

FORBES: The Four Things Tim Tebow Could Do With His Life Now