5 years 95 million
We couldn't afford him. Period.
We couldn't afford not to sign him.
With all the turmoil we have been for over a decade, people are not buying tickets. This franchise desperately needed to sign Manning in order to spur some interest in the team, fill seats, fill boxes, sell jerseys, get more prime-time coverage, etc etc....
Barring a deep playoff run, this team is in serious financial distress. And do we really see that happening in the next 3 years?