Life is really good for Eli Manning right now. Wednesday ESPN reported that the New York Giants quarterback agreed to a contract extension.
The new extension is more than your typical raise. The New York football team will be keeping Manning through 2015 for a whopping $97.5 million.
The six-year deal will pay Peyton’s younger brother an average of about $15.3 million per season. According ESPN the deal will make Eli the third highest paid player in the NFL.
That is definitely steep price, but for it’s not as if Eli isn’t an elite player. The franchise quarterback has led the Giants to a super bowls and has led them to the playoffs each of the last 4 seasons.
And to add to the story the deal gives Eli a more lucrative than his older brother Colt’s superstar Peyton Manning. However don’t feel bad for big brother he still makes over $14 million a year.
Reports say the deal guarantees Manning $35 million no matter what, which in the dangerous world of the NFL is an important factor. Efforts by various news outlets to contact Manning’s agent Tom Condon have not been successful.
Our Take
It’s an outrageously large contract, without a doubt, but if the Giants are willing to pay it then good for Eli. Many people have a problem with the large salaries paid to athletes, but I feel if the owners are willing to pay that much then it only makes sense for the athletes to try to make as much as possible. After all, one injury could take everything away.
One thing I find interesting is that the deal would put Eli Manning near the top in terms of highest paid NFL stars. When I think of best players in the league, I wouldn’t necessarily think of Eli as being in the top three.
However, according to the ESPN article’s chart, Manning, Julius Peppers of Carolina, and Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer are the three players making the most per year. All three are stars, to be sure. But they are definitely not the three best in the league.
Additionally, as great as Eli is his older brother Peyton is a much better quarterback. The one thing I can take away form all this is that Eli’s agent deserves (and is undoubtedly receiving) a huge pay-raise. Good for him.
