It is in Manning's best interests to sign before FA start because he needs his team to know what other holes are on the roster and have the time to fill them. Manning has very little time left in his career. He needs the team he is signing with to be as ready to compete for a title as possible. If he drags this out into FA, he is limiting his new team's ability to improve the team around him. Plus, he loses suitors. Someone is going to sign Flynn, Orton, Henne, and Young. He is going to want to dictate where he goes, not be dictated to. I can almost guarantee he will be on a new team before FA starts...