Eli Manning Denies Wanting To Be Highest-Paid NFL Player

Giants QB Eli Manning was asked on Wednesday about the recent report that he is looking to become the highest-paid player in the NFL.

“No. That’s never come out of my mouth,” Manning said, via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. “I’ve never said it to my agent.”

Manning added that his agent never claimed that this was a goal of his either.

“It was never said by him, claiming this was the goal,” Manning said.

Several have made the case that Manning actually has enough leverage with the Giants to push for a deal at least close to Aaron Rodgers‘ $22 million per year salary.

Vacchiano reported earlier in the week that there is a “significant gap” between the Giants and Manning’s representatives regarding a long-term contract extension at this point in time.

While there’s really no rush to get a deal in place, Vacchiano mentions that most people felt that negotiations would be much further along than they currently are.

Vacchiano considers the “significant gap” between the two parties to be “bizarre” given that the recent contracts signed by veteran quarterbacks has set the bar for his next deal.

Last weekend, Chargers QB Philip Rivers walked away with a four-year contract extension worth a reported $83.25 million and an NFL-high $65 million guaranteed.

The Giants are unlikely to get a big discount from Manning, so it seems likely that he’ll be the next quarterback to be making around $20 million per year.

Manning, 34, has one year remaining on his seven-year, $106.9 million contract that included $35 million guaranteed. His base salary for the 2015 season sits at $17 million to go along with a staggering cap figure of $19.75 million.

In 2014, Manning threw for 4,410 yards while completing 63.1 percent of his passes to go along with 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 18 quarterback out of 39 qualifying players.