The Dallas Cowboys aren’t the only team in the NFC East that have a lot of rumblings and rumors going on. The New York Giants are hoping for a better season in 2015, but they’ve really got to look ahead to their future, too. One of the biggest things to focus on is getting a deal with quarterback Eli Manning done and making sure he stays where he needs to be.
Manning is, indeed, entering the final year of his contract with the New York Giants, and as of late June, there is no new deal in place. If one isn’t agreed upon by July 15, the Giants could end up placing the franchise tag on Manning for 2016.
According to agent Tom Condon, negotiations are going to start very soon with the Giants on what will likely be Eli Manning’s final NFL contract. He believes the Giants will get the deal done with his client and it won’t be a cheap one.
“It’s an extraordinarily hard position to fill, as you know. You actually have some leverage with the quarterbacks. The only problem is there’s a salary cap. But let’s face it, sooner or later…”
“Sooner or later” meaning that all big-name quarterbacks eventually get the money that is coming to them. Manning is a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and has never missed a single game now, to the age of 34.
The NY Daily News states that Condon knows Eli Manning will get the money he deserves because top quarterbacks are hardly ever available. If they choose not to strike a large deal with Manning, where would the Giants turn?
“The interesting part about it is, since 1993, the inception of free agency, has there ever been an elite quarterback hit the open market? Peyton (Manning did in 2012), but he had four neck surgeries and no idea if he would ever be well enough to play. Drew Brees, when he went to New Orleans (in 2006), he had 15 studs in his shoulder, in his throwing arm (from a hit he took in the final game of 2005).
There’s nobody else that’s ever come up. They just re-do you.”
ESPN reports that if a long-term deal isn’t struck and it comes to the franchise tag being placed on Manning, it would be around $20 million. Six NFL quarterbacks are currently after more than $20 million per season with their current contracts — Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Drew Brees, Joe Flacco, Aaron Rodgers, and Ben Roethlisberger.
Only one of those six — Roethlisberger — can match Eli Manning’s two Super Bowl rings.
Eli Manning has proven himself with the New York Giants, but he has had some shaky times and dealt with a lot of interceptions here and there. Still, it’s hard to find a veteran quarterback with his experience and championship caliber, so the rumors may be just that and the Giants are likely looking to keep one of the NFL’s top signal-callers.
[Image via Jeff Zelevansky / Getty Images]