New York Giants: Eli Manning’s Turn to Cash In

Aug 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) looks on from the sidelines in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals in a preseason NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

They say bad things come in threes. So do the good things.

Now we are just waiting for the third part of this financial puzzle to be complete.

Back in March, the Pittsburgh Steelers re-upped veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a new deal. Five months ago, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the parties agreed to a five-year, $99 million contract which included a whopping Ben Roethlisberger will take home more than $35 million in bonuses and salaries in 2015.

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In the past few days, ESPN reported that San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had also signed a new contract. It’s for a reported $83.25 million over four years with $65 million guaranteed. Ed Werder of ESPN also reported that Rivers had a no-trade clause in the deal.

Aug 13, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason NFL football game at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

As we know, both Roethlisberger and Rivers were part of the now-fabled quarterback class of 2004. Big Ben was the Steelers’ pick at No. 11 while the New York Giants took Rivers seven picks earlier at No. 4 and then dealt his rights to the Bolts for…

Yes, let’s not forget the number-one overall pick in that draft that year in Eli Manning, selected by the Chargers but swapped for the rights to Rivers in one of the more celebrated trades in recent memory.

Now the two-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Super Bowl MVP is getting ready to see his current contract expire at the end of 2015. While Roethlisberger and Rivers are locked up for the next few years, when will we see the Giants get their franchise quarterback under wraps for the future?

As of Monday, it doesn’t appear to be anytime soon. Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News states that according to his source, there is a “significant gap” between the franchise and the 11-year veteran.

Aug 14, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) signals to his team mates they are going for a two-point conversion in the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Think about what we have seen by this passing trio to date. Manning ranks 13th (259), Rivers 16th (252) and Roethlisberger tied for 17th (251) in NFL history in terms of touchdown passes. The threesome are also ranked within the Top 20 all-time in passing yards, with Manning (39,755) ahead of Big Ben (39,057) and Rivers (36,655).

We have already mentioned Manning’s Super Bowl accomplishment while Roethlisberger has made three appearances in the Big Game and has two rings of his own. While Rivers has yet to lead the Chargers to the Super Bowl, he’s helped make the club a playoff contender since becoming the full-time starter in 2006.

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