Although he hasn't got his contract yet, we all know Peyton Manning will become the highest-paid player in the league history soon

Jim Irsay will have to wait until after this season until his star franchise quarterback Peyton Manning will get his new deal, according to the Associated Press. The Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback looks to become the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Irsay said he was set to give Manning his contract during the team’s bye week, but Manning and his agent insisted that they will have the deal done after the season. Nice sign of unselfishness, don’t you think?

“Any negotiation is a two-way street and we were ready to roll and we had a proposal, but they wanted to wait,” Irsay said. “That’s OK because every player is different. We had a bye week, and we thought we could have gotten [negotiations] rolling.”

Manning’s deal will expire after this season. Irsay hopes that Manning is a Colt for the rest of his career.

Manning will make his 199th career start tonight against the Houston Texans, hoping to get revenge on them at home after an embarrassing lost at Houston, led by Arian Foster. Whoever wins this game takes control of the AFC South division.

Manning is the only four-time MVP in the league. The Colts look to franchise-tag Manning if necessary. But it might not happen, since Manning will get his maxed-out contract.

“He is going to be the highest-paid player in the league,” Irsay said Monday. “Look, we love him, and we’d like to see his career end here.”

The Colts look to sign much higher than New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady’s recent contract, which was a four-year $48.5 million contract extension.

Manning will get his contract, but the question of what time?

“During the season, Peyton wants his only focus to be on preparing for football games,” agent Tom Condon told The Associated Press.

The only thing that could mess up the contract is the CBA. A new collective bargaining agreement stands in the way. But Condon doens’t see anything slowing down the contract.

“It’s probably not any more or any less difficult because of that,” Condon said.

Many of us NFL fans remember the little Warrick Dunn as one of the best running backs to play the game of football. Probably one of the bests to ever strap on some cleats and step foot on turf.

Dunn was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the 1997 NFL Draft as the twelfth overall pick, coming off a great career from Florida State. The 5’9″, 190-pounder played until 2001 before moving to Atlanta to play with the Falcons. He teamed up well with quarterback Michael Vick and played with Atlanta until the 2007 season when he returned to play with the Bucs in 2008, which would result in his final season.

He is now 35 years old and hasn’t stopped in his life with football. Dunn has had several accomplishments in his career, becoming a three-time Pro Bowler, became Offensive Rookie of the Year, also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2004. He would finish with rushing for 10,600 yards along with 49 touchdowns.

Dunn has had impact on many people’s lives. He started a foundation called the Warrick Dunn foundation where he helps impacted people’s lives. He has great things involved with it like Homes for the Holidays along with a yearly golf charity event. Dunn has made huge impact in charities, which earned himself as one of the recipient of the Heisman Humanitarian Award. Dunn was honored of this.

“I was surprised to be selected and honored with such a prestigious award. I’m always willing to help my foundation and this award is sure to gain a lot of attention for our mission,” Dunn told me in an exclusive interview with him. Dunn has had several accomplishments with his foundation, which you can read about at wd-ff.org.

Dunn’s former teammate, Michael Vick, as we all know was arrested for dog fighting and animal cruelty. As he returned, signing the Philadelphia Eagles to a two-year contract, he didn’t do much in his first season with the team. However, he has made some solid impact this year, becoming a starter and already one of the early candidates for the NFL Most Valuable Player award. Dunn is very happy for him.

“He’s taking the steps to better his life on and off the field,” Dunn said.

With a lot of impact on his former teams, I asked Dunn of what he feels towards his former teams. Dunn replied with a nice, quick, and short response, showing a lot of love for a certain team.

“It’s all about the Falcons for me!” he replied.

I can see why, as Dunn was promoted as one of the limited partners and owners of the Atlanta Falcons, working with the head office and with several big names like Arthur Blank. Dunn is doing all he can to help the Falcons. He was very honored of being promoted by Atlanta, after doing so much for them in his playing career.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity and I’m honored. I look forward to learning more about the business side of pro football,” he said.

Dunn looks to do all he can to help the Falcons and his foundation to become a success. He already has some main goals in mind for both.

“Expand services/win a Super Bowl!” he said.

I believe Dunn can do so. He’s had a lot of success and is a role model for so many. I wish all the best to him and wish the best of luck forward to him with the Falcons and with the foundation. I appreciate his time in letting me do this interview him. It was a real honor to do an interview with Mr. Dunn!

Thanks to Jenn Maxwell, one of the spokesman for the Warrick Dunn foundation, for helping me set up the interview with the All-Pro running back. Please visit wd-ff.org for more about the foundation, along with much much more!

Looking at the statistics alone it is hard to argue with Manning being given a 4th MVP award. Only one quarterback threw for more yards than Peyton’s 4500 yards. His completion percentage of 68.8% ranks behind only Drew Brees, the only guy to throw for more touchdowns as well.

MVP is not all about the statistics though. Perhaps it was that string of 4th quarter comebacks during the midpoint of the season had to have something to do with so many votes going Peyton’s way. Maybe it was the fact that he was able to do what he did with only one marquee receiver. Until this year only Garcon and Collie’s parents were aware these guys played professional football; now these guys are household names. For much of the season the Colts had a pretty anemic running attack as well (though Addai came on strong at the end of the season). Oh yeah, the guy had a new coach to deal with too.

Speaking of that coach, Jim Caldwell has to be in the running for the Coach of the Year. No one would have been surprised if the Colt’s had fallen of this year. Losing a leader like Tony Dungy was a pretty big hit to take. Instead these guys rattle of 14 straight wins, losing only because they decided not to try to win.

That move at the end of the season, sitting the starters in the game against the Jets could be what loses it for Caldwell, depending on who you talk to. Not making an effort to go for perfection rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, mostly fans. Those same fans have been pretty vocal about their disappointment in Caldwell. Although the fans do not get a say, they can sway voters.

It will all depend on whether the voters appreciate why Caldwell made the call when he did. From a coaching aspect, the stars did not need to be in the game at that point; it will be the perception of Caldwell’s decision process that will make the difference. Did he take them out at the right time? Should he have taken them out at all? Should they have even played that game? If the Colts were to lose in the first round though, Caldwell would most assuredly be out of the running.

Caldwell is up against some stiff competition this year. There were a number of stellar coaching efforts this year in the NFL- Jeff Fisher bringing the team back from 0-6 to finish 8-8; Marvin Lewis leading the cellar dwelling Bengals to the division title; Gary Kubiak  getting the first winning season in Texan’s history. If he does get the nod for Coach of the Year, it will be the first time since Dick Vermeil and Kurt Warner did it back in 1999 that the MVP and Coach of the Year come from the same team.