NY GIANTS MAKE ELI MANNING NFL’S HIGHEST PAID PLAYER

The New York Giants have made quarterback Eli Manning the NFL’s highest paid player by offering him a six year, $97.5 million contract extension.  Manning will earn just over $15 million a year, and $35 million of the contract is guaranteed.  Should Manning play through the end of his contract he’ll be a Giant until 2015, meaning there’s a decent chance he’ll play his entire career with the team.

Manning will earn roughly $200,000 per season more than Oakland Raiders’ cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha who agreed to a 3 year, $45 million contract earlier this summer.  He’s also got the upper hand on his older brother, Indianapolis Colts’ QB Peyton Manning who earns just over $14 million per season.  Though the full term of his deal makes him the league’s highest paid player he’ll earn less this year than the Carolina Panthers’ Julius Peppers and the Cincinnati Bengals’ QB Carson Palmer, each of whom will pull down slightly more than $16 million.

While Manning and his agent have been tight lipped in the media about the deal, Giants GM Jerry Reese spoke in glowing terms of his team’s $97.5 million investment:

"He is a franchise quarterback. He has done everything we asked him to do. He has come in, taken a lot of flak from you guys in the media and he just keeps going. He does what we ask him on the field and he does what we ask him to do off the field. He is a good football player."

Reese also dismissed concern that the huge contract commitment would put additional pressure on Manning:

"He is used to that. He won't get more pressure than he already has in this market. He knows how to handle pressure and he has done it before. I don't expect to see any difference in his attitude and his work ethic. He works hard. He expects a lot from himself. He knows what his role here is with us and we expect him to continue it for a long time."

Manning definitely has a number of qualities that justify this level of investment.  He’s produced on the field, leading the Giants to a Superbowl championship and four straight postseason appearances.  He also became the first Giant QB in history to throw for 3,000 yards and 20+ touchdowns in four consecutive seasons. He’s also shown a great deal of durability, starting 71 consecutive games—the third longest streak in the NFL.  He’s got solid leadership skills and is well liked and respect by not only his teammates but also by the notoriously tough New York media.

Manning will earn just over $9 million this season, the final year of his rookie contract.  The new deal will kick in with the 2010 season.