They apparently tried manual gear extension, the main gear doors appeared to be open on landing.
As far as the cockpit rope evacuation, remember one of the FedEx MEM crashes where the crew was faulted for tossing out flight kits and Christmas presents before all the folks were out of the plane? Can't blame them for being anxious to get out with a report of flames trailing the plane on landing. Do the FedEx B-763's have door slides? Or inertial reels on the entry door?