Eli Manning Signs Extension with New York Giants

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has decided to sign a six-year extension contract with his team, worth over $97 million, which should make many Giants fans very happy. The extension makes Manning one of the highest-paid players in all of football. Not all the details of the contract are known yet but Eli will make more than $15 million a season, with $35 million being guaranteed. The contract is expected to be signed later today. Manning is best known for helping lead the Giants to improbable victory in Super Bowl XLII.

The contract makes Manning the second highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, only behind Cincinnati's Carson Palmer, who makes about $16.2 million in a single season. Eli now makes more than the top quarterbacks in the NFL, including older brother Peyton Manning. Peyton makes $14.1 million a season, but may get an extension as well in the near future.

After a great four years in college football, playing for Ole Miss, Manning would be the first overall draft pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. When Manning expressed his refusal to play for San Diego, he would be traded to the New York Giants, in exchange for Philip Rivers and other draft picks. In his rookie season, Manning was usually the backup quarterback and saw limited playing time. But in his second NFL season, Manning became the starter for the Giants. He turned around a Giants team that finished with a record of 6-10 in 2004 and helped the Giants win the NFC East division title in 2005, with a record of 11-5, and a postseason birth. Eli finished the season as one of the best quarterbacks in passing yards and touchdown passes. The Giants would lose to the Carolina Panthers in the postseason.

In his next season with the team, Manning had a very rocky season, taking the Giants to an 8-8 record and a wildcard birth. The Giants were eliminated in their first postseason game again, this time against the Philadelphia Eagles. Manning ended the season with 24 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. The 2007 NFL season again started poorly for Eli and the Giants with the team losing their first two games. But the team rebounded with six consecutive wins to get to 6-2. The Giants once again qualified for the playoffs. The Giants finally won a playoff game, when they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-14. In their next playoff game, the Giants faced off against the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys. The Giants pulled off their second consecutive upset, beating Tony Romo and the Cowboys. Then, in the NFC Championship Game, the Giants pulled off another upset, beating the Green Bay Packers 23-20 on an overtime field goal.

The Giants were headed to their first Super Bowl since 2000 against the undefeated New England Patriots. The Giants won Super Bowl XLII, beating the Patriots 17-14 and Manning being named MVP. Manning led the Giants to a late fourth-quarter drive which resulted in a touchdown with only two minutes left, to secure the victory.

Manning carried the momentum into the beginning of the 2008 NFL season, helping the Giants start the season with a record of 9-1. The Giants won the NFC East title again, finishing the season with a record of 12-4, having a first-round bye, the #1 seed in the NFC, and homefield advantage in the playoffs. Even with all these advantages, the Giants would lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs, 23-11. In Manning's first four seasons as a starter with the team, he has taken the Giants to the playoffs each season.

Manning's accomplishments include winning the Cotton Bowl Offensive MVP Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Maxwell Award in college. While being a pro NFL QB, Manning has been selected to the Pro Bowl once in 2008, and is a Super Bowl XLII winner, also winning the Super Bowl XLII Most Valuable Player Award.

Manning has been improving every season as a pro, and has started the last 71 games for New York, the third longest streak among active quarterbacks. The Giants will be favorites to win the NFC East again this season. They will be the team to beat, as always.