Colts plan to start contract talk with Manning after draft

The Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay recently told reporters that the team is planning to start negotiations on a new contract with star quarterback Peyton Manning after the draft, with the purpose to make Manning the highest-paid quarterback in the league.

"We know Peyton’s going to be paid, along with (New England quarterback Tom) Brady, at the top of the league," Irsay said. "But it’s really important to make sure we get a deal that for the next four, five, six years works for the franchise."

Manning had surgery March 2 to relieve pain in his neck and he is expected to wear back his No. 18 Colts jersey in time to participate fully in the team’s offseason program that begins on April 12. Besides, safety Bob Sanders and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez are also expected to return from injury in time for training camp.

The best team of the decade 2000s

If you are to set a super NFL team that includes all the best players who gave best performance during the past ten years, what names would you put on the roster? Well, the league has already chosen the players they think must-have for the hypothetical super team.

While the 2010 Pro Bowl game is in lack of real stars, this so-called All-Decade team is full of big stars. If the team really exists, the 53 players wearing the team’s NFL jerseys will include big names such as Peyton Manning and Terrell Owens, and they are supposed to be coached by current New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick and retired Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy. The roster will run like this:

Quarterbacks: Tom Brady Peyton Manning
Running Backs: Shaun Alexander Jamal Lewis Edgerrin James LaDainian Tomlinson
Wide Receivers: Marvin Harrison Torry Holt Randy Moss Terrell Owens
Fullback: Lorenzo Neal
Tight Ends: Antonio Gates Tony Gonzalez
Offensive Tackles: Walter Jones Jonathan Ogden Orlando Pace William Roaf
Guards: Larry Allen Alan Faneca Steve Hutchinson Will Shields
Centers: Olin Kreutz Kevin Mawae

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Defensive Ends: Dwight Freeney Julius Peppers Michael Strahan Jason Taylor
Defensive Tackles: La'Roi Glover Warren Sapp Richard Seymour Kevin Williams
Linebackers: Derrick Brooks Ray Lewis Joey Porter Zach Thomas Brian Urlacher DeMarcus Ware
Safeties: Brian Dawkins Troy Polamalu Ed Reed Darren Sharper
Cornerbacks: Ronde Barber Champ Bailey Ty Law Charles Woodson

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Punters: Shane Lechler Brian Moorman
Kickers: David Akers Adam Vinatieri
Kick Returners: Joshua Cribbs Dante Hall, who can also play punt returner along with Devin Hester.

Peyton Manning remains the best

Peyton Manning won his fourth MVP honor Saturday, to be the first NFL player who had ever made it. Among the 50 votes to only four players, he alone received 39 1/2. The No. 2 candidate Drew Brews received only 7 1/2, while the other two, Philip Rivers and Brett Favre, respectively received 2 and 1.


“I’m very humbled and grateful to be honored with this award and I really feel like it is a reflection of our team,” said Manning. “I have to believe that starting 14-0 and having seven comeback wins has a lot to do with this award coming our way, and I’m very grateful to all the players and the coaches and our fans, who were a big part of it. There were a number of other extremely deserving candidates.”

Throwing for 4,500 and 33 touchdowns this season, Manning led the Colts to a 14-0 record before they rested starters in the second half of two games and finished 14-2. It is also impressive that the 33-year-old quarterback has started every game in his career, 192 in the regular season and 15 in the playoffs, all in Colts jersey. Comparing to Favre, who has won three MVPs, Manning’s consistency with the team seems much more valuable. Durable and dynamic, dependable and decisive, all the words could be used to describe Manning to explain why he is the most valuable.