Peyton Manning and Tom Brady will face each other for the 17th time this weekend with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. But there is one area where Manning has already won, career earnings.
By the end of this season, Manning will have made $244.7 million in his career, according to data collected by Spotrac, and is the highest-paid player in NFL history. And Manning may not be done. If the Broncos win on Sunday, Manning will take home a $2 million bonus. Another $2 million bonus will kick in if the Broncos win the Super Bowl. Manning does have a $19 million salary for the 2016 season, but even if he is back with the Broncos - something that is not assured - his salary will almost certainly be renegotiated.
Meanwhile, Brady is the third-highest-paid player of all time, but he is still $82.0 million behind Manning who has played two more years and came out of college as a top draft pick. Brady still has two years left on his deal and if he completes that contract, his earnings will grow to $181.8 million.
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