Eli Manning Gets a Contract Extension From the Giants

It seems like Eli Manning is staying with the Giants for good. The quarterback has agreed on a 4-year, $84 million extension, and the deal is expected to include $65 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause. Now, if Manning (who is currently 34) is able to play into his 40s, this contract makes him a Giant for life, given the fact that this contract would end as he turns 39.

According to The New York Post, Manning's contract includes $65 million guaranteed money and a signing bonus of $31 million, which allows the Giants to lower Manning's scheduled 2015 salary of $17.5 million and reduce his 2015 salary cap number. Manning will receive $68.5 million in the first three years of the deal. His five-year total of $105.5 million is the highest for a player in a five-year span.

According to NFL.com, other players with similar deals include Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and the NFL's highest-paid signal-caller, Aaron Rodgers ($22 million). Manning's $21 million average per year salary is slightly behind Wilson ($21.9 million) and just ahead of Rivers (20.8 million), making Manning the 3rd highest paid player in the NFL.

Although Manning is no longer considered one of the NFL's top quarterbacks, this contract is more about the Giants' franchise, rather than Manning's current talent. After being with the Giants for 11 seasons, (this season marks his 12^th), he is still getting treated like one of the NFL's top quarterbacks. Why shouldn't he be treated like one? He has never missed a start in 11 seasons, he holds nearly every Giants passing record and, of course, he owns two Super Bowl MVP awards. So it only makes sense for the Giants to lock him in for four more years, especially considering the way he handles himself under the intense scrutiny of the New York media!