Colts will give Harrison $22M bonus

[Nick]

Colts will give Harrison $22M bonus
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Jay Glazer / FOXSports.com
Posted: 5 hours ago

Marvin Harrison has now officially benefited from Peyton Manning's stellar season. League sources tell FOXSports.com that the Colts and Harrison have agreed to a seven-year, $66 million extension with a stunning $22 million in guaranteed bonus money.

The deal averages about $9 million per year during the first four years, including bonus money, but is still relatively cap-friendly.

Calls to Harrison's agent Tom Condon and the Colts have not been returned.

The Colts are now in position to retain all three members of their Triple Threat. With Harrison's deal done, the Colts can now turn their attention to fellow free agent-to-be Edgerrin James. If they don't get a deal done with James, they can use the franchise tag to retain his rights.

In 12 games this year, Harrison has 67 receptions for 870 yards and 12 touchdowns. During a Monday Night Football game against the Vikings in Week 9, he and Manning hooked up for the 664th time, breaking the NFL record for most completions by a quarterback-receiver tandem.

Earlier in that same game, Harrison collected his 800th catch. It took him just 131 games to reach that milestone, 23 fewer than the next quickest receiver, Jerry Rice.

It's possible Harrison could be involved in one more milestone this season. Manning has thrown for 44 touchdowns this season, just four shy of the NFL record set by Dan Marino in 1984.

[DJRamFan]

IF they can't afford Edgerrin James (although I think they will), they made the right choice. Unfortunately, the defense will go deeper in the hole.

[Nick]

Depending on the kind of cap room they're looking at, a tag-and-trade to Miami might not be a bad option, and then they could stockpile some younger talent and cut some older more expensive chains loose.