As the 2015 NFL season opens up, teams are locking up their stars for beyond this season. Contract talks have been surrounding the likes of Eli Manning, Luke Kuechly, and A.J. Green, and all three of them got deals done in the past two days.
Manning was reportedly looking to become the highest-paid quarterback in the league, and after denying wanting that, he got paid a good amount on Friday. The New York Giants signed Manning to a four-year extension worth $84 million, $65 million of which is guaranteed. The Giants' star was entering the final year of his contract.
The deal will include a $31 million signing bonus, and will pay Manning $68.5 million over the first three years. The quarterback's $21 million annual average ranks him fourth among his position, behind the Packers' Aaron Rodgers, Seahawks' Russell Wilson, and Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger.
Another star that got paid is the position that is on the other end of the offensive connection, as Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green received a four-year contract extension on Friday. The deal will keep him with the franchise through 2019.
The contract is worth $60 million, and will keep Green with quarterback Andy Dalton, who was signed through 2020 last year. Both Dalton and Green were drafted in the first two rounds of the 2011 draft.
The signing came on the final day of the negotiation window, and the plan was to have a deal done before heading to Oakland for the season opener. If a deal did not get done, the team would've waited until the offseason to reach a deal.
The Buffalo Bills made a surprising record deal, signing defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to a six-year extension worth $108 million. The deal gives him $60 million guaranteed, and makes Dareus the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league history.
The deal was announced Thursday, but did not reveal the details until Sunday. The tackle was set to make $8 million this season.
The $15.4 million average annual salary is less than Ndamukong Suh of the Miami Dolphins. Dareus has Suh beat in guaranteed money, as the Dolphins' defensive end will receive $59.96 million.
The last big extension announced in the last few days came from the Carolina Panthers, as they signed middle linebacker Luke Kuechly to a five-year contract extension through the 2021 season.
The deal was announced Thursday, and will pay Kuechly $62 million, making him the highest-paid middle linebacker in the game. The Panthers' MLB has an NFL-best 473 tackles since being drafted in 2012. He is one of only three players to win the Defensive Player of the Year award within his first two seasons.
He was honored with the award in 2013, and won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2012. Kuechly beat out Billy Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks with his $12.4 million annual salary.
Now that the deals are done, the stars have been paid, and the negotiations are put to rest, it's time to play football. The 30 remaining teams are set to kickoff the 2015 campaign, as they begin their hopeful trip to Super Bowl 50.
Manning was reportedly looking to become the highest-paid quarterback in the league, and after denying wanting that, he got paid a good amount on Friday. The New York Giants signed Manning to a four-year extension worth $84 million, $65 million of which is guaranteed. The Giants' star was entering the final year of his contract.
The deal will include a $31 million signing bonus, and will pay Manning $68.5 million over the first three years. The quarterback's $21 million annual average ranks him fourth among his position, behind the Packers' Aaron Rodgers, Seahawks' Russell Wilson, and Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger.
Another star that got paid is the position that is on the other end of the offensive connection, as Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green received a four-year contract extension on Friday. The deal will keep him with the franchise through 2019.
The contract is worth $60 million, and will keep Green with quarterback Andy Dalton, who was signed through 2020 last year. Both Dalton and Green were drafted in the first two rounds of the 2011 draft.
The signing came on the final day of the negotiation window, and the plan was to have a deal done before heading to Oakland for the season opener. If a deal did not get done, the team would've waited until the offseason to reach a deal.
The Buffalo Bills made a surprising record deal, signing defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to a six-year extension worth $108 million. The deal gives him $60 million guaranteed, and makes Dareus the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league history.
The deal was announced Thursday, but did not reveal the details until Sunday. The tackle was set to make $8 million this season.
The $15.4 million average annual salary is less than Ndamukong Suh of the Miami Dolphins. Dareus has Suh beat in guaranteed money, as the Dolphins' defensive end will receive $59.96 million.
The last big extension announced in the last few days came from the Carolina Panthers, as they signed middle linebacker Luke Kuechly to a five-year contract extension through the 2021 season.
The deal was announced Thursday, and will pay Kuechly $62 million, making him the highest-paid middle linebacker in the game. The Panthers' MLB has an NFL-best 473 tackles since being drafted in 2012. He is one of only three players to win the Defensive Player of the Year award within his first two seasons.
He was honored with the award in 2013, and won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2012. Kuechly beat out Billy Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks with his $12.4 million annual salary.
Now that the deals are done, the stars have been paid, and the negotiations are put to rest, it's time to play football. The 30 remaining teams are set to kickoff the 2015 campaign, as they begin their hopeful trip to Super Bowl 50.
