The NY Giants and quarterback Eli Manning could get a contract extension done ahead of training camp this summer and it comes as JPP could holdout from camp before signing his contract, while Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz are in line to open the season healthy for Manning and the New York offense.
The Giants main issue this offseason has been JPP and his contract situation and now the team is looking to lock up Manning heading into camp. Jason Pierre-Paul was injured in a fireworks accident this offseason and he is still recovering from an amputated finger and fractures in his thumb. Pierre-Paul could stay out and away from camp until he is ready to sign his franchise tender and as that is going on, the team is working to lock up Manning.
Earlier in the offseason Manning said he was comfortable playing out the final year of his contract and that he was not worried about free agency or the Giants QB situation. Manning is usually unflappable when it comes to things on and off the field and he said there was no added pressure to get a deal done. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Giants now are looking to get a deal done with Manning and it could come over the next few weeks. Rapoport writes that the team "hopes" to get an extension locked up with the quarterback.
Manning is making $17 million in salary and counts for nearly $20 million on the cap, but Pro Football Talk reports that the cap number likely would come down if Manning signs an extension. Manning is coming into the final year of his deal at the same time as fellow 2004 draft pick Philip Rivers, while Ben Roethlisberger already got a deal from the Steelers. Big Ben was locked up on a five year deal that had a $30 million signing bonus and Manning could be looking for something in the same range.
JPP and his situation is still being resolved and he likely will wait until he can pass a physical to sign his deal and show up. Pierre-Paul can wait until the start of the season to sign his tender. According to Giants.com, Cruz is expected to play in the preseason of he is healthy and that means he likely will avoid the camp PUP list. Beckham could be held out while dealing with a hamstring issue, but he also dealt with that last season and was fine once healthy. The Giants are expecting Cruz and Beckham on the field for Manning in Week 1.
Manning had a strong season in 2014 after the worst one of his career back in 2013 and he looks like he is very comfortable in the Ben McAdoo offense coming into year two of that. The $99 million extension for Roethlisberger could be on the high side for the Giants, but the team clearly would like to have their QB situation locked up for the coming years. Manning had a career best 63 percent completion rate last season and he lowered his interceptions from 27 to 14. Manning also had his highest total of TD oases in five years and threw for his second most yards in his career with 4410 passing yards.
