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The best three (arguably) quarterbacks in the league could all see their current deals reworked this offseason as the NFL enters an uncapped season for the first time in about two decades.Drew Brees and Peyton Manning will definitely be receiving new contracts, while Tom Brady will likely receive a new deal. Jim Irsay, the Colts' owner, has said that Manning will be the highest-paid player in the NFL, likely causing a collective groan from the Saints and Patriots.
Brees and Brady will likely wait to see how much Manning's mammoth contract will be worth, then ask for something around that same number.
Manning made $14 million in base salary this season, Brady made $5 million, and Brees made about $4.5 million. Those numbers could balloon to about $16-18 million for Manning, and about $14-16 million for Brees and Brady.
Manning won his fourth MVP this season while taking his team to the Super Bowl and leading them to a 14-0 record before the team began sitting starters during the last two weeks of the season. He's the best quarterback in the league today, possibly of all-time, and deserves to be paid as such.
As Irsay said, it's a "no-brainer."
Brees set an NFL record for completion percentage this season (70.6 percent) -- even though it's debated whether or not an asterisk should be placed next to the record because he only played 15 games. He also led the league in touchdowns (34) and passer rating (109.6).
Brady also had a very good season with over 4,300 passing yards, 28 TD's and 13 INT's, while completing nearly 66 percent of his passes.
All three of these quarterbacks are deserving of new contracts, but don't expect the numbers to get too out of hand. Even without a salary cap in 2010, owners are aware that a salary cap will eventually be back and when it is all contracts will have cap repercussions.
