Colts' Luck Signs Extension Through 2021

By ESPN

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay stuck to his word and secured franchise quarterback Andrew Luck's long-term future with the organization before the start of the 2016 season.

The Colts announced Wednesday that Luck had signed an extension through the 2021 season that will make him the highest-paid player in the NFL, based on guaranteed salary.

The NFL's previous biggest contract was the five-year, $110 million deal the Green Bay Packers gave quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2013. Last summer, the Seattle Seahawks gave quarterback Russell Wilson a four-year, $87.6 million extension that included $60 million in guaranteed money.

Sources told ESPN that Luck is guaranteed $87 million with this extension. The previous most-guaranteed money for any NFL player was $65 million for both Eli Manning of the New York Giants and Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers.

"I am thrilled and excited to continue with this great organization," Luck said in a statement. "I am thankful to the Irsay family and Mr. Irsay for providing me with this great opportunity and the trust that they've shown in me. I can't wait for this season to start."

The No. 1 pick in 2012 out of Stanford, Luck took the NFL by storm the moment he stepped onto the field. He made the franchise's transition from Peyton Manning a smooth one by leading the Colts to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons, reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2014 and claiming back-to-back AFC South titles.

NFL Players Association Resists Interviews

The NFL Players Association continues to resist the NFL's attempt to interview the active players named in a six-month-old Al-Jazeera America report on performance-enhancing drugs, but retired quarterback Peyton Manning is likely to cooperate if requested.

The players' union sent four letters Tuesday -- one on behalf of each player -- in response to the NFL's letter last week asking to interview those named in the report. Those players are Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers and free-agent linebacker Mike Neal.

The union's letter Tuesday was addressed to Adolpho Birch, the league's senior vice president for labor policy, and it requested that the league provide "any credible evidence [e.g., verified documents or verified testimony of witnesses] that warrants an interview" of the players involved.

The NFL has declined to comment, other than spokesman Brian McCarthy saying, "We will respond to the letter."

Manning, who announced his retirement following the Denver Broncos' victory in Super Bowl 50 in February, is in a different category from Harrison, Matthews, Peppers and Neal.

As a retired player, Manning has no obligation to cooperate in the league's investigation. But sources familiar with his thinking point out that Manning called for an investigation into the Al-Jazeera report months ago, when it first came out and he angrily denied its contents. For that reason, he's likely to cooperate and submit to an interview.

The NFL confirmed to ESPN on Monday that it plans to interview Manning, in addition to the four active players.