The Sports Xchange

As quarterback contract figures rolled in this offseason, from Ben Roethlisberger to Russell Wilson and Cam Newton to Philip Rivers, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was an invested observer.

Manning is in the final year of his contract and early negotiations are ongoing this week as Rivers inked a deal that will pay him $65 million over the next three years, the highest total in the NFL for the 2015-17 seasons.

Manning and Indianapolis Colts’ franchise arm Andrew Luck are next in line, each in a contract year with an expected playoff contender.

Manning is reportedly looking to cash in with a deal that trumps the five-year, $99 million pact Roethlisberger got in Pittsburgh and Rivers’ four-year extension with $83.25 million in new money. Manning was the first player selected in the 2004 draft, which also included those two peers.

“It’s just never been something I really put a lot of thought into. I believe it will work itself out,” Manning said Monday.

The Giants are pushing to finalize the deal before the start of the regular season on Sept. 13. Co-owner John Mara said Manning has many quality seasons left.

“We’re going to try to lock him up,” Mara told WFAN. “We’re still having discussions with his agent and our goal is to still try to reach a contract with him, hopefully before the regular season starts or as soon thereafter as possible. There is no deadline on it right now.”