Colts quarterback Peyton Manning remains unsigned, but he says he has no intention of holding out for a record-breaking contract.
In fact, in response to Colts owner Jim Irsay saying he’ll make Manning the highest-paid player in league history, Manning said he’s willing to take less -- as long as the savings go toward paying other players.
“While I appreciate Jim Irsay offering to make me the highest-paid player,” Manning told the Indianapolis Star, “I told him I’d rather he save that money and keep whoever it is . . . Joe Addai, Charlie Johnson, whoever that may be. I’m willing to take less than they’ve offered if they are going to take that money to keep players we need to keep and go get other players. All I want is for them to have the cap and the cash to keep the players they want to keep and to sign other players.”
Manning says he expects his contract to be done “Today, tomorrow, definitely by Sunday.” And he disputes reports that he’s looking to be the highest-paid player in the league.
“The numbers that are being floated out there, the rumors of what I’m asking for . . . that’s not from me,’’ he said. “I’ve never said one word about the contract. I told [Irsay and Polian] them my cap numbers can be as low as they want them to be in being creative with the salary cap.’’
If Manning is really willing to make his cap number “as low as they want,” he’s free to take a league minimum salary. Something tells me he won’t do that.
But he insists he won’t hold out, either. So expect the deal to get done this weekend.