Eli Manning Cashes In Big Time

Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning is a rich, rich man tonight.

The Giants have finalized a six year $97.5 million deal with Manning that will pay him $15 million a season.

Manning is also guaranteed to make more than $35 million in the contract; this is by far one of the richest contracts in the NFL. Only Julius Peppers of the Carolina Panthers ($16.7 mil.) and Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals ($16.1 mil.) make more money per season than Manning. Not even Eli's brother Peyton, nor Tom Brady, make as much as Eli will be making into the foreseeable future.

This has been a topic of discussion for the Giants for a few months, and now it is finally a fait accompli. There are those who will question the deal since Manning had a bad second half to the 2008 season that concluded with a 23-11 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the playoffs.

However, Manning is a Super Bowl MVP. Without his heroics in the 2007/2008 playoffs, the Giants would never have sniffed a Super Bowl championship. Right now, he deserves every penny. Not bad for a guy who was once considered by the Giants fan base, and many experts as well, a losing player who would never get out of his brother's shadow. ESPN REPORT.