Eli Manning Contract: Giants QB Deserves To Be Highest Paid Player [CHART]

Recent reports that Giants quarterback Eli Manning was itching for a contract extension that would make him the highest paid player in the league seemed out of character based on his mild-mannered track record. That's because they weren't true, according to Manning.

"Never been said, never come out of my mouth, never said it to my agent, never said it, so I don't know where the reports are coming from,'' Manning told The New York Post. Manning also said he doesn't deal with negotiations, and that huge paydays for his fellow draft mates Philip Rivers (Chargers) and Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) don't affect what he works out with the G-Men..

Giants 2015 Fantasy Football Preview

"I don't compare myself with other quarterbacks by their salary and by their contract,'' Manning said. "Again, I've been blessed to play in this league this many years and still blessed to play this year. I'm going to do my job, that's all I can concern myself with."

Now is a good time for Manning to try and get paid. 2014 marked a career-high in passing yardage (4,410), and his 30 touchdown passes were one off his best total. He also has two Super Bowl rings, and two Super Bowl MVPs to brag about at the negotiating table. Actually, it would be his agent Tom Condon that would do the bragging, but Manning said Condon wouldn't have said that either.

JPP Remains In The Giants' Plans Despite Mangled Hand

"I don't know how negotiating goes, what's being asked and this and that. I don't think I want to know. But that was never said by him, claiming that this is the goal of what we're trying to do.''

Here are the top-10 contracts based on their total value.

Player	Total Value
Jay Cutler	$126.7 M
Joe Flacco	$120.6 M
Ndamukong Suh	$114.3M
Colin Kaepernick	$114 M
Calvin Johnson	$113.4
Aaron Rodgers	$110 M
Tony Romo	$108 M
Cam Newton	$103.8 M
Matt Ryan	$103.75M
Justin Houston	$101 M

The list changes a bit when it's broken down into guaranteed money, however, which is where a veteran like Eli Manning can really be a stickler.

Player	Guaranteed Money
Philip Rivers	$65 M
Russell Wilson	$61.5 M
Colin Kaepernick	$61 M
Cam Newton	$60 M
Ndamukong Suh	$59.9M
Tony Romo	$55 M
Jay Cutler	$54 M
Aaron Rodgers	$54 M
Calvin Johnson	$53.2M
Justin Houston	$52.5M

The chart shows a few things. First, the Packers managed to lock up the best QB in the NFL for a relative bargain, The Bears and 49ers paid Jay Cutler and Colin Kaepernick, respectively, more in total value and in guarantees than seven QBs who have won Super Bowls. That's not great. But most importantly, if you're a high-upside quarterback with a good track record, it's hard not to be paid astronomically well.

Maybe being the highest-paid player in the league isn't that important to Manning, but it's within reach so he might as well shoot for it. If Rivers can break records for guaranteed money, then why shouldn't a two-time Super Bowl MVP get a little greedy?