Peyton Manning NFL's Highest-Paid Player

By Jon E. Dougherty at 18 Aug 2011

(Newsroom America) -- Indianapolis Colts' star quarterback Peyton Manning will end this year as the league's highest-paid player after inking a deal shortly after the player lockout ended worth $90 million, according to Forbes Magazine.

Manning, who has been the league's Most Valuable Player four times during his career, signed the five-year deal which will earn him $23 million in total for 2011.

Second on the list, according to the Forbes report, is St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, who will earn $18.4 million, while New England Patriots signal caller Tom Brady is third at $18 million.

After assessing reports from various sports Web sites and other data, Forbes said teams had spent heavily on quarterbacks and the defensive line.

The NFL and the players ended an oft-bitter four-and-a-half month lockout last month, just a few weeks before the preseason was set to begin, after finally coming to an agreement on how to divide up the more than $9 billion in revenue the league generates annually.

Week 1 of the four-week preseason began last week and play resumes again Thursday.

The top five highest paid players noted in the Forbes report are as follows:

1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, quarterback, $23 million

2. Sam Bradford, St. Louis, quarterback, $18.4 million

3. Tom Brady, New England, quarterback, $18 million

4. Michael Vick, Philadelphia, quarterback, $15.9 million

5. Richard Seymour, Oakland, defensive lineman, $15 million

Contact Jon E. Dougherty

Newsroom America Twitter Feed