Eli Manning Signs 6-year, $97 million Deal, Now Makes More Than JaMarcus Russell

$ Eli Manning $: The Giants’ QB inked a 6-year, $97 million deal this morning according to Chris Mortensen. Eli’s guaranteed $35 million. According to these 2008 salary figures, Manning’s new deal will make him one of the five highest-paid players in the league. Very wise of Manning’s agent to get this done before the season. Why? His starting WRs this year are Steve Smith (the one from USC, not the star in Carolina) and Domenik Hixon. Combined, they have 109 career catches and three TDs. [Wes Welker of the Patriots had 111 catches last season.] Yes, they drafted Nicks and Barden, and 2nd-year pro Mario Manningham should be in the mix, but that is a motley crew with no experience. The defense will be fierce, but the offense could struggle, and we expect Manning to revert back to the much-criticized QB he was the year before New York won the Super Bowl.