The Sports Xchange

Tom Brady was present for all of the 10-hour-plus appeal hearing for his alleged role in Deflategate and the New England Patriots quarterback reportedly performed at the top of his game.

A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that “Tom Brady’s greatest ally today was Tom Brady.”

Sources also told Schefter that Brady came off as “very genuine, earnest and persuasive” as he addressed every issue raised in the league-sanctioned Ted Wells Report during Tuesday’s long meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and one source called it “an A-plus performance.”

The NFL suspended Brady on May 11 for the first four games of the 2015 season in connection with the Patriots using underinflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts in January. The Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl.

—The Denver Broncos and Houston Texans have denied reports that they briefly entertained the idea of a trade involving quarterback Peyton Manning.

Two radio stations — 94.1 FM Denver and SportsRadio 610 in Houston — reported that the teams engaged in brief discussions before Manning agreed in March to take a pay cut to stay in Denver. His salary dropped from $19 million to $15 million, with the balance available in playoff-based incentives. The Broncos reportedly sought a $10 million reduction.

On Tuesday night, 94.1 FM Denver host Benjamin Allbright said the Broncos — now coached by former Houston coach Gary Kubiak — initiated talks because some in the Broncos’ organization wanted to hand the QB job to Brock Osweiler, the team’s 2012 second-round pick. The Broncos, including general manager John Elway, emphatically denied the report, and Texans sources also told the Houston Chronicle that it was not true.

SportsRadio 610 reported on Wednesday that a source said the teams had “very preliminary” talks.

—Payouts from the NFL concussion lawsuit might not be made until next year due to appeals in the case.

About 90 former players are appealing a federal judge’s approval of the settlement that would cover about 21,000 former players, The Associated Press reported Wednesday. The appeals must be filed by Aug. 15, and responses are due in September.

In April, U.S. District Judge Anita Brody approved the deal that would require the league to pay an unlimited amount for concussion-related medical conditions over the next 65 years. It would pay about $190,000 per person, with some eligible for as much as $5 million, depending on age and severity of condition.

—The Tennessee Titans reportedly have agreed to a 20-year naming-rights deal with Nissan North America and will change the name of their stadium from LP Field to Nissan Stadium.

A press conference is expected to be held Thursday, and branding changes will begin immediately, The Tennessean reported Wednesday.

The connection with Nissan is natural, as the automobile maker’s North American headquarters is in Franklin, Tenn., and the Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly plant employs more than 8,400 workers.

The Titans’ 10-year deal with Louisiana-Pacific Corp. was set to expire soon.

—The Cincinnati Bengals signed free-agent quarterback Keith Wenning.

The 6-foot-2, 223-pound Wenning, who played at Ball State, was a sixth-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2014.

Wenning spent his rookie season on Baltimore’s practice squad and was waived on May 12.

—Cornerback Antoine Cason, who hasn’t signed with any team this offseason, will not play in 2015 after undergoing surgery.

Cason posted a picture of his heavily bandaged right foot on Instagram without a specific explanation of the injury.

Cason, a first-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in 2008, began the 2014 season with the Carolina Panthers and started 11 games before getting cut due to poor play. The Baltimore Ravens then signed Cason and he played two games. He had 55 tackles, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery last season.