For those with an interest in history, there are many people in and around the NFL who view the upcoming negotiations between quarterbacks Peyton Manning(notes) and Tom Brady(notes), and their respective clubs as akin to Fort Sumter in the Civil War.
It could be the beginning of a very ugly war between the players and the league. Specifically, it could indicate whether the NFL Players Association and league work out a new collective bargaining agreement or if players will be locked out by owners in 2011.
“If Manning [of the Indianapolis Colts] doesn’t get the kind of contract we all expect or, worse, doesn’t get a deal done at all, that really means it’s going to be war,” an agent said last week. “There has never been a player with more leverage than him. No one. If he can’t get a deal done at his price, we’re all in trouble.”
While some players such as the New England Patriots’ Vince Wilfork(notes), Jahri Evans(notes) of the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers’ Patrick Willis(notes) have signed high-dollar extensions this offseason, none of those guys are in the expected tax bracket of Manning and New England’s Brady, guys who could reset the wage scale in the NFL.
“Everything is based off what quarterbacks make,” an executive with an AFC team said. “That’s the top end in terms of the whole league … you might have some team where the quarterback isn’t always the top-paid guy, but the top guys in the league are always going to be quarterbacks and it’s going to work its way down from there.”
Manning and Brady, former league MVPs and Super Bowls champion passers widely considered the top two passers of their era, currently are heading into the final year on their contracts. While the Colts’ front office has openly discussed the desire to sign Manning soon, there is seemingly less reason for optimism between Brady and the Pats. Generally, the value of quarterbacks’ contracts is always important, but there’s even more attention paid to the Manning and Brady negotiations because of the collective bargaining agreement. While some people say that is only symbolic, many believe that monster contrast in the area of $25 million a year for Manning and perhaps $20 million a year for Brady would be a clear indication that football will be played in 2011.
“There’s no way I could see that any owner is going to spend that kind of money on one player and not have football,” the AFC executive said. “You spend $7 [million] or $8 million on somebody, OK, that’s just common-sense business. You spend $20 [million] or $30 million, you’re making a commitment.”
If Manning, who’s at the end of a seven-year, $99.2 million contract, is to sign a new long-term deal, the pact could easily include $50 million in guarantees, such as bonuses. Unlike base salaries, which are not guaranteed, the Colts would be paying Manning the guaranteed portion of his contract regardless of whether players are locked out next year.
While several teams have shied away from inking players to lucrative extensions this offseason, Manning’s situation is unique. He is a four-time Most Valuable Player. He has never missed a game with injury and he’s about as good a bet as you can have to play another four years at his current level. He has won one Super Bowl title and led his team to another. He probably will set every major passing record in the game by the time he is done. He is a team leader. Moreover, he is the top advertising face of the NFL
At least with Brady, who signed a six-year, $60 million contract in 2005, the Patriots can argue that he is an injury risk. Even so, Brady ranks only second to Manning and perhaps equal to Drew Brees(notes) of New Orleans in terms of overall leverage.
That means that there’s an expectation among so many players to see Manning cash in. Yeah, that may sound like greed. Welcome to the world. Players don’t play for free and their chance to make money is limited. They cheer for each other to make more and more.
But they also know that no one will make more than Manning right now.
“Peyton is the man,” Saints safety Darren Sharper(notes) said. “I’m not a quarterback, so I’m not getting quarterback money. But my [agent] can always argue, ‘If a quarterback makes this much, this guy should make this much.’ ”
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