Eli Manning Wants Huge Contract From New York Giants, Becomes Highest Paid NFL Player

Eli Manning wants to be the highest paid player in the NFL, and is in talks to extend a contract with the New York Giants, according to a report.

Manning, who has been with the Giants since acquiring him in a draft day trade in 2004, is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the league and will be playing in the final year of his current deal worth about $17 million in the upcoming 2015 season.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that there is a “significant gap” in the contract negotiations as the team is balking in giving Manning the huge deal.

The same report stated that Manning and his agent, Tom Condon, are prepared to tap the exclusive franchise tag on the quarterback in 2016 if no long-term is reached. On a one-year dial via the franchise tag, Manning will earn about $25 million for the 2016 season.

According to Spotrac.com, a site that records salaries of NFL players, the top five highest paid quarterbacks, by their yearly average salaries, include Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers at $22 million; Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson at $21.9 million; Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger at $21.85 million; San Diego Chargers’ Philip Rivers at $20.81 million; and Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton at $20.76 million.

Most of the QBs in the highest paid list have agreed to contract extensions in the recent NFL offseason.

Manning will be entering his 12th NFL season, all with the Giants, in 2015. For his career, he has never logged below 3,244 passing yards except for his rookie year when he played in just nine games. Last season, he registered 4,410 passing yards on 379 of 601 completions with 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Manning has helped the Giants to two Super Bowl titles, winning Super Bowl XLII against the New England Patriots, 17-14 in 2008 and Super Bowl XLVI also against the New England Patriots, 21-17 in 2012. Both times, Manning ran away with the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award.