Once again, NO player restructures ever without gaining something in the deal. Manning DID NOT take a pay cut. His deal was simply restructured to open a bit of cap for the 2015 season.

2015 - $15M base salary + $2.5M restructuring bonus = $17.5M cap hit

2016 - $19M base salary + $2.5M restructuring bonus = $21.5M cap hit

The supposed $4M pay cut was actually at the very least a $1M increase in pay spread over the two years. In addition, the possible $4M in bonuses could make it a $5M increase in pay.

Believe me, Brees would go for this type of deal in a minute. Any player would. No star player ever takes a true pay cut, nor should they. Thinking they do is either naivety or stupidity. The media usually falls into the second category. I hope some of our fans fall into the first, instead.

Once again, NO player restructures ever without gaining something in the deal. Manning DID NOT take a pay cut. His deal was simply restructured to open a bit of cap for the 2015 season.

2015 - $15M base salary + $2.5M restructuring bonus = $17.5M cap hit

2016 - $19M base salary + $2.5M restructuring bonus = $21.5M cap hit

The supposed $4M pay cut was actually at the very least a $1M increase in pay spread over the two years. In addition, the possible $4M in bonuses could make it a $5M increase in pay.

Believe me, Brees would go for this type of deal in a minute. Any player would. No star player ever takes a true pay cut, nor should they. Thinking they do is either naivety or stupidity. The media usually falls into the second category. I hope some of our fans fall into the first, instead.

What Will The Broncos Do With Extra Money?

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos have agreed on a new contract for the 2015 season in which the five-time NFL MVP will take a $4 million pay cut to provide more cash for the team to do business on the free-agent market, which opens with the new league year Tuesday.
Manning will make $15 million in base salary in 2015, league and team sources said, down from the $19 million he was scheduled to earn.
All that remains is for Manning to pass a physical exam, which he is expected to take Thursday, sources said. After that, he will sign the contract. The contract includes incentives that could take it back to $19 million -- $2 million for winning the AFC Championship Game and $2 million for winning the Super Bowl.

When the deal is finalized and signed, it will be Manning's 18th year in the NFL since the Indianapolis Colts selected him as the first pick in the 1998 NFL draft. He missed the 2011 season with a neck injury.

Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos agree on $4 million pay cut for 2015 - ESPN


I wonder what other grossly overpaid player should do for his organization? Yeah, Drew, talking to YOU. How committed are you to winning?

I remember when Drew was negotiating his contract and some Saints fans were furious because the team seemed to be playing hardball with him. There were cries for Loomis to pay the man. He had played for a relatively low salary for us and took us to the Super Bowl and won it. I don't understand all the complaints about his salary now. Most of us wouldn't voluntarily take a pay cut pay cut just so our company could hire better qualified people. The implication that Drew is greedy or doesn't care about going to another Super Bowl is ridiculous. If the Saints organization can't find the money to sign free agents and he is asked to restructure, I feel certain he will. But, like the other QBs, I'm sure he will not actually take a pay cut but, instead, will just spread the impact of his contract out. I don't care who else they sign, without Drew our chances of another Super Bowl in the near future are very slim. I think he deserves every penny he is being paid especially when you look at Romo who has a salary commensurate with Drew's.