The key to Manning’s deal?

Real nice work by Mock on the relation between Bradford’s deal and Manning’s

The good news is that Bradford’s deal will need to be finalized by July 28th for him to open camp with the Rams — both parties have expressed great interest in that taking place.  That could mean real progress on Manning’s contract will start at or around the same time.

Keep in mind the importance of Bradford’s deal on a broader scale.  With the collective bargaining agreement in a state of flux at this point, the future for rookie contracts could be fundamentally altered.  This means that if Manning or other veterans do not use Bradford’s deal to fuel their own contract discussions, they may not have another opportunity in the future.

We should know by July 28th just what we might expect Manning’s contract terms to look like.  If Schefter is right — he often is — Manning and other stars may use the $45-50 million in guaranteed money to guide the undecided portions of their contract demands.