Colts owner Jim Irsay says the framework is there to make Peyton Manning the highest paid player in the NFL. In a press conference today, Irsay said an offer was already on the table that was bigger than Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady’s current deal that pays him an average of $18 million per year with $48.5 million guaranteed.
“Brady and him have been compared to each other through the years and are kind of bound at the hip by what they’ve done. That contract is done I’ve made an offer higher than that contract and I anticipate it getting done,” said Irsay.
Whether or not Manning’s best years are behind him is another hitch in the long term deal. Manning will turn 35 next month which has Irsay looking at a 6 year contract as a possibility for the 11-time Pro-Bowler.
“It’s really uncertain about how long he can play at a really high level. We hope it can be a long time and he can break (Brett) Favre’s records and win Super Bowls.”
The Colts have already placed a franchise tag on Manning while they work out on a contract. If that stands for the 4-time NFL MVP he would get paid an average of the top 5 QBs in the league, putting him at $23 million next season.
