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What Big Ben’s New Contract Means For Eli Manning

By Jeff Lax

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Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reported yesterday that Ben Roethlisberger‘s new contract extension –one that will pay the quarterback approximately $20 million a year– could hasten and set the bar for Eli Manning‘s payday.  Schwartz indicated that Manning, too, is seeking a 4 or 5 year deal at $20 million per annum and that this price tag will not come down by the Giants merely waiting out his current deal.

Interestingly, in February, Schwartz penned a column in which he suggested the opposite– that it might be prudent for the Giants not to extend Manning this off-season.  Schwartz wrote then that it might be “unwise to saddle the organization with a mega-deal that a year from now could be viewed as a financial albatross.”

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Have the prospects for Eli’s contract really improved after Big Ben’s deal?

As the Giants Professor and GmenHQ have been reporting for the past week, multiple insiders have cast serious doubt on whether the organization has any inclination at all to extend Eli Manning and prefers to allow the two-time Super Bowl champion to play for his next contract in 2015.

Contrary to Schwartz’s suggestion about Manning’s value, several Giants beat reporters, including Dan Graziano and Jordan Raanan, have portrayed a view from within the organization that Eli’s price tag is unlikely to increase when he turns 35-years-of-age after the 2015 season.

But there may be more to it than that.

The Giants have long known that Ben Roethlisberger was likely to be extended this off-season at a rate of around $20 million. Yet the organization has not budged on a new deal for Eli.  The reasoning may lie in how Manning’s career performance matches up to Ben’s.  While many deem Manning and Roethlisberger –graduates of the fine 2004 quarterback draft class along with Philip Rivers— to be apt comparisons, there are others who view the quarterbacks as having vastly different levels of talent.

Roethlisberger has been a mark of reliability and consistency for the Steelers. In his eleven seasons, he has taken his team to the playoffs seven times, going to the conference championship four times, winning two Super Bowls, and playing in three. Manning has two Super Bowl rings, as well, but has been far  more erratic, failing to win a single playoff game in nine of his eleven seasons and qualifying for the playoffs only five times in his entire career.

Dec 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) reacts after a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

There is much to be said about Eli Manning’s Jeteresque role model status, while Roethlisberger has struggled with his share of disturbing off-the-field issues.  But there is little question that the latter has been a far superior and more consistent regular season quarterback.  Manning’s regular seasons have fluctuated wildly throughout his career.  Some have been strong, others almost unwatchable.  Ben has been a rock, year-in and year-out.

Statistically, there is little comparison between the two quarterbacks. Roethlisberger has a career quarterback rating (93.9) more than 11 points higher than Manning’s (82.4) and has passed at a completion rate (63.7%) far better than Manning’s (59.0%).  Meanwhile, Eli has tossed a whopping 185 picks compared to Ben’s stingy 131.

The Giants Professor says:  The Giants are just as aware of Roethlisberger’s consistent performance as they are of Eli’s up and down history.  The Steelers know what they can expect each year with Big Ben.  The Giants, as they are demonstrating with their disinterest in extending Manning this off-season, never really know which Eli Manning is going to show up, season to season, and even game-to-game.  It looks like the organization is going to take a “show-me” approach with Eli before they pay their quarterback Big Ben bucks.

Next: New York Giants: Making The Case For Dwayne Bowe

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