Colts Planning on Record Deal for Manning
With the Colts preparing for the Super Bowl this week, at least one person in the Colts administration is keeping his eye on the long-term future of the franchise.
Colts owner Jim Irsay confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations to retain Colts QB Peyton Manning, locking him up as a Colt for life, will after the season ends, with Manning’s soon-to-be deal assured to be record-breaking.
“You know it’s going to get done,” Irsay said during media day interviews. “I think it’s clear, and we’ll start on it this summer. That’s been the way we do things [to hammer out an extension when a player is entering the final year of his contract]. And it’ll be the biggest [contract] in history; there’s not much doubt about that.”
Manning’s contract is set to expire after the end of the 2010 season, ironically right along with Patriots QB Tom Brady’s deal. The Colts said that they will keep a close eye on the Patriots/Brady negotiations, but that they fully expect to give Manning as much money as they possibly can.
“It simply comes to one question, and that’s replaceability,” Irsay explained. “Everything is based on the replaceability factor. You make decisions based on who you can afford to target and keep. … Other guys you really want to [re-sign] you might have trouble doing it, because of what it costs you, and how much attention they’re getting [from other teams in free agency]. We don’t have that luxury and we’ve had to work hard.”
With 2010 looming as a potentially uncapped year, Manning could be in line to receive an absurd amount of money. ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli suggested that Manning could command $20 million/year, with a $50 million signing bonus.
