Head of the Class: Eli Manning only looking for a deal similar to Rivers, Big Ben ... http://t.co/FWa138JP9t
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) August 19, 2015
Eli Manning doesn't necessarily want to be the highest paid player in football. But he does expect to be at the top of his class.
That's the real benchmark in the contract negotiations for the Giants quarterback, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
Both Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger, the other two quarterbacks from the first round of the 2004 draft, have already received lucrative contract extensions this off-season worth in the neighborhood of $21 million per season.
Manning is looking to be paid at least as much as, and likely more than, both.So far the Giants offer hasn't been in that financial neighborhood, which is why a source told the Daily News there remains a “significant gap” between the two sides in negotiations. Roethlisberger got a four-year, $87.4 million extension in March that included -$65 million in guaranteed money. Rivers got a four-year, $83.25 million extension with $65 million guaranteed on Sunday night.
No matter how the new deal works out for Manning, at least he'll have his Gatorade money.