Both ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter reported on Monday morning that free agent Peyton Manning has chosen the Denver Broncos as his next team. The two sides will start negotiating a contract, but according to the ESPN report, the deal is expected to get done.
So what kind of contract can Manning expect?
It should be one similar to the five-year, $90 million deal he agreed to with the Indianapolis Colts last year. In that contract, a huge signing bonus was due on March 8 of this year, which is ultimately what helped push Manning out the door in Indianapolis.
Teams that were in the Manning sweepstakes knew the price tag ahead of time, so the money shouldn't be a major issue. The Denver Post reported over the weekend:
A third NFL source indicated that all involved teams are comfortable working off Manning's previous contract with the Indianapolis Colts, which was five years for $90 million, or an average of $18 million per year. Additionally, Manning was to receive $61.8 million through the first two years of his contract with the Colts.
Manning was also reportedly willing to give his next team some insurance on the contract in the instance he doesn't heal as quickly as hoped.
For more on the decision, visit SB Nation's Broncos blog, Mile High Report. And for more on Denver sports, check out SB Nation Denver.