Report: Peyton Manning Signs 5-Year, $96 Million Deal

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos have agreed to terms on a five-year, $96 million contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Shefter.

While the report is missing a key ingredient—guaranteed money—which will determine the real value of the deal, it’s highly unlikely Manning will actually receive $96 million over five years in Denver.

The inevitable first-ballot Hall of Famer threw for 54,828 yards with 399 touchdowns to 198 interceptions on 4,682 completions of 7,210 attempts in 208 consecutive regular season starts from 1998-2010.

Manning’s decision to head to Denver became a domino effect for teams and quarterbacks around the league.

Alex Smith feels slighted with the San Francisco 49ers (though he could very well return) and Colin Kaepernick could be the starter next year.  In Seattle, Tarvaris Jackson and Matt Flynn look to have an open competition for the starting position next season and a stiff battle looks to be brewing between Kevin Kolb and John Skelton with the Cardinals.

The Cleveland Browns are also now considering starting Colt McCoy this year and pursuing Matt Barkley next year and Ryan Tannehill ‘s and Tim Tebow’s names have even been tossed into the equation as well.  In addition, ’Phins fans are approaching the team’s headquarters with torches and pitchforks.

Talks are also heating up that Tim Tebow could be traded to New England (to become a gadget player), Jacksonville (to sell tickets), Miami (to battle for the starting position and help sell tickets) and Kansas City (to battle for the starting role with Cassel).  If Tebow headed to the Chiefs, I think it’s safe to say Brady Quinn might just feel like quitting.

“In the end, it could be another one-year ‘prove it’ deal, with a modest base salary, incentives based on playing time or other factors, and a mammoth balloon payment due in 2013,” Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes.  ”The deal also could have a ridiculously high fifth-year base salary that he’ll never earn.”

Did the Broncos overpay for Manning based on your immediate impression?  Should they kick Tebow out the door or let him learn from one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game?  Let us know your thoughts below!

Verse of This Piece: “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘Go fall into the sea.’  And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, God will do it for you.  So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you.”—Mark 11:23-24

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