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The New York Giants and their franchise QB Eli Manning, the MVP of Super Bowl XLII, have agreed to a seven-year contract that will make Manning the league's highest-paid player, per Ralph Vacchiano of the NY Daily News.

Over the seven years, Manning will receive $106.9 million for a record-setting average of $15.27 million per season. The contract reportedly has $35 million of guaranteed money.

Manning, who was the top overall draft pick in the 2004 NFL draft, had one year remaining on his existing contract so the new deal is a six-year extension over the $9.4 million he was due to earn this season.

Although Manning made his first trip to the Pro Bowl last year and won the Super Bowl MVP the prior year, does he deserve to be the highest-paid player in the league? Or even his family?

Giants General Manager Jerry Reese does.

“Sure he does,” Reese said today, according to Vacchiano. “He’s a franchise quarterback. He’s come in, he takes a lot of flak from you guys and he just keeps going. He does what we ask him to do on the field. He does what we ask him to do off the field. He’s a good football player.”

Statistically, Manning had his best year in 2008. He had a QB rating of 86.4, completed over 60 percent of his passes and threw 21 touchdowns while only throwing ten interceptions.

And Manning has been a winner getting the Giants to the post-season in four of his five seasons including the 2007 championship season.

However, without the weapons (no pun intended), he's just an average quarterback. Without Plaxico Burress in the final six games counting playoffs, Manning threw three touchdowns and five interceptions.

This type of contract should be given only to a special quarterback. Not one that is only good -- not great.