MySports Today

It’s a match made in heaven.  Quarterback Eli Manning signed a new 6-year extension with the Giants which will pay him an average salary of $15.3 million over the next 6 years.  The 6-year deal is worth $97 million, including an estimated $35 million in guaranteed money.  After dealing with all the turmoil surrounding former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress’ indictments and current Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce’s involvement with Burress’ gun possession charges, the Giants  welcomed a positive announcement about the team’s future.

The deal with make Manning the highest paid player in the NFL (Manning’s older brother Peyton makes an average salary of $14.17 million).  Manning was in the last year of the deal he signed as a rookie back in 2004 – he would have made $9.4 million this year.  Manning indicated that he wanted to remain a Giant forever, and the 2 sides have been negotiating the contract for months now.  Manning led the Giants to the upset Super Bowl over the undefeated New England Patriots in 2008 – he was named the Super Bowl MVP that year.  Manning made his first Pro Bowl in 2009, throwing for 3,238 yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions (10 less interceptions than he threw in 2008).  Manning has started 71 consecutive games as the Giants quarterback, which put him among the top 3 active quarterbacks at the end of last season.  Manning also became the 1st Giants quarterback to throw for at least 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in 4 straight NFL seasons.

The stats don’t lie.  Manning has lived up to the high expectations when the Giants swapped Phillip Rivers for Manning back in 2004.  Manning has shone under the bright lights of Broadway and delivered a Super Bowl Championship for the New York Giants franchise.  Manning works hard, stays out of trouble and delivers on the field both physically and as a team leader.  The bold move paid off for the Giants brass, and it was smart for both sides to get a deal done before the season started to avoid any distractions.  Is it too good to be true?  Guess we’ll have to wait and see…

All good things must come to an end.   As widely reported earlier this week, the Indianapolis Colts made it official on Tuesday, releasing wide receiver Marvin Harrison after an amazing 13-year run with the Colts.  Colts owner Jim Irsay met with Harrison one more time today in an effort to convince Harrison to re-work his contract to fit within the team’s financial budget for the 2009 NFL season.  But when Harrison refused to accept a pay cut, the Colts decided to release the veteran.  Harrison has the highest salary-cap hit of any NFL wide receiver – sitting at a whopping $13.4 million for the upcoming campaign. The move will save the Colts around $6 million in salary cap space for the 2009 NFL schedule.

Harrison turns 37 years old in August.  He is the Colts all-time receptions leader with 1,102 career receptions.  But in 2008, Harrison had his least productive year with the Colts in a season in which he was not injured.  Harrison only had 60 receptions for 636 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Harrison has the 2nd most career receptions in NFL history.

The Colts will move on with Peyton Manning leading the charge.  Manning’s primary receivers will continue to be Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark.