Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is still undecided on whether or not he will play in 2015-16, but a decision is "expected" to come next week, according to a report from Chris Mortensen of ESPN, via Pro Football Talk. More than that, Mortensen expects that Manning will elect to suit up for his 18th NFL season.
Peyton Manning decision could come soon, Roger Goodell made $35 million in 2013 and other NFL news
Peyton Manning’s decision on whether or not he will play next season should be coming soon, plus more NFL news from Friday.
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Manning, the oldest starting quarterback in the NFL at 38, met with the Broncos and John Elway on Thursday, though a decision was not reached at that meeting, according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post. Manning’s future depends on various medical examinations to determine whether or not his neck (and the rest of him) can hold up to the rigors of a full NFL season.
He’s already begun his training regime, with an earlier report suggesting that his workouts were conducted “with intent to play.” On March 9, Manning’s $19 million 2015 salary becomes fully guaranteed, so the Broncos need a decision from him before that date. With this report, they should get it much sooner.
Goodell makes bank
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell gets a whole lot of flack and is often under fire for various happenings in the NFL, whether they’re his doing or otherwise. But if you’ve ever started to feel sorry for him, understand that the man is well-compensated. Goodell was paid $35 million in 2013, according to a tax return the league will file on Tuesday, which was reported by Daniel Kaplan of the SportsBusiness Journal.
As noted in a tweet from Kaplan, the $35 million does not cover 2014, when Goodell was criticized more than ever before due to the league's handling of various on and off the field issues, notably the domestic violence scandals (and further notably, the Ray Rice incident). His pay is set by an owner compensation committee consisting of Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Goodell’s payout for 2014 will be determined by the committee in March.
Fairley found not guilty of DUI
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley is generally in the news as much as teammate Ndamukong Suh, and they're both set to hit the open market when free agency begins. But Fairley, while effective on the field, has had multiple injuries and off-the-field problems dominating his headlines. One of those issues is now settled, however, as Fairley was found not guilty of driving under the influence following a three-day trial, according to Jacqueline Quynh of WKRG News.
Fairley was found guilty of reckless driving and will have to pay a $500 fine. It’s unclear if there will be any punishment from the league for the incident, which occurred in May 2012 when Fairley was pulled over while speeding. Regardless, given the less-serious charge Fairley should see plenty of interest on the open market this offseason.
Jennings undergoes knee surgery
Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings had arthroscopic knee surgery recently, according to ESPN Chicago. The surgery was described as a "simple clean out," and he is not expected to miss any time in Chicago's various offseason programs. Jennings was one of the top cornerbacks in the league in 2012 and 2013, but fell wildly short of expectations last season.
At 31 years old, there’s not a whole lot of tread left on the tires so this surgery might be considered more of a red flag than usual. Jennings signed a big four-year contract worth $22.4 million in January 2014.
Cleveland releases McQuistan
The Cleveland Browns released offensive lineman Paul McQuistan on Friday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. McQuistan was a former starter for the Seattle Seahawks, but when the Browns signed him last offseason, they were unable to get him to be anything other than a backup, and one who under-performed when he saw the field at that. He played in 14 games, but made only one start. He was set to make just shy of $1.4 million in 2015, and the Browns will save all of that in cap space with his release.
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