Image: Mark C. Austin/Flickr

Salary: $17 million
Endorsements: $300,000
Total: $17 million

Contract: $48 million

 

9. Kelvin Hayden

Image: DrSpiegel14/Flickr

Salary: $17.48 million
Total: $17.5 million

Contract: $43 million

Colts: At only 26, Hayden is all potential—and he’s getting paid handsomely for it.

 

8. Drew Brees

Salary: $12.99 million
Endorsements: $5 million (est.)
Total: $18 million

Contract: $60 million

Saints: After several years with the San Diego Chargers, Brees joined the Saints, where he broke 7 single-season and career team records. The Saints aren’t doing too bad, either. In his spare time, “Breesus” helps out with charity efforts, including his Dream Foundation, which mentors kids, helps with child care, and rebuilds playgrounds. No wonder he’s going to be this year’s Mardi Gras King of Bacchus.

 

7. Tom Brady

Image: Keith Allison/Flickr

Salary: $8 million
Endorsements: $10 million
Total: 18 million

Contract: $60 million

 

6. Chris Long

Image: minds-eye/Flickr

Salary: $19.1 million
Total: $19.1 million

Contract: $56.5 million

 

5. Kurt Warner

Image: John Trainor/Flickr

Salary: $19 million
Endorsements: $500,000 (est.)
Total: $19.5 million

Contract: $23 million

 

4. Donovan McNabb

Salary: $25 million
Total: $25 million

Contract: $115 million

 

3. Phil Rivers

Image: Whodeyrevolution

Salary: $25.5 million
Endorsements: $500,000 (est.)
Total: $26 million

Contract: $92 million

2. Eli Manning

Image: Alexa627/Flickr

Salary: $20.5 million
Endorsements: $7 million
Total: $27 million

Contract: $106.9 million

When the New York Giants replaced Kurt Warner with Eli Manning, Peyton’s introverted younger brother, in 2005, fans were rife with doubt. That ambiguity disappeared in 2007 when Eli took the Giants to Super Bowl XLII victory, gaining the MVP title for himself. The younger Manning continues to prove that he’s a force to be reckoned with on the field.

1. Peyton Manning

Image: mind-eye/Flickr

Salary: $14 million
Endorsements: $14 million
Total: $28 million

Contract: $92 million

Colts: Peyton has this #1 spot on LOCK!!  lol

The Indianapolis Colts QB has proven himself as one of the best quarterbacks of all time.

25. Glenn Dorsey

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Salary: $13.07 million
Total: $13.07 million

Contract: $51 million

24. Maurice Jones-Drew

Image: dabruins07/Flickr

Salary: $13.1 million
Total: $13.1 million

Contract: $31 million

23. James Harrison

Salary: $13.36 million
Total: $13.36 million

Contract: $51.75 million

22. Roy E. Williams

Salary: $13.66 million
Total: $13.66 million

Contract: $54 million

21. Chris Gamble

Image: kevin813/Flickr

Salary: $14 million
Total: $14 million

Contract: $53 million

20. Jake Grove

Image: Chris J. Nelson

Salary: $14.2 million
Total: $14.2 million

Contract: $29 million

19. Vernon Carey

Image: Chris J. Nelson

Salary: $15 million
Total: $15 million

Contract: $42 million

.

18. Jay Cutler

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Salary: $15.04 million
Total: $15.04 million

Contract: $30 million

Jay Cutler started off with a bang in 2006. Right after being drafted by the Broncos, the QB became a starter and threw two touchdowns in four of his first-ever NFL games. He was set to be the next Peyton Manning—until Broncos Coach Mike Shanahan was fired at the end of 2008.

Cutler was upset. A couple of months later, when Cutler got over his emotions, he found out that new coach Josh McDaniels wanted to trade him. Like a thwarted lover, Cutler felt betrayed again, so deeply that he pushed the Broncs to trade him out. In March 2009, the Chicago Bears inherited the disgruntled Cutler.

Cutler, meanwhile, has sealed his reputation as a prima donna. But hey, the pay isn’t bad, right?

17. Ben Roethlisberger

Image: Brunkfordbraun/Flickr

Salary: $12.75 million
Endorsements: $2.5 million
Total: $15.25 million

Contract: $102 million

16. Carson Palmer

Salary: $16.17 million
Total: $16.17 million

Contract: $118.75 million

15. Greg Jennings

Image: Silwenae/Flickr

Salary: $16.25 million
Total: $16.25 million

Contract: $28.5 million

14. Jason Brown

Salary: $15 million
Endorsements: $150,000
Total: $16.2 million

Contract: $37.5 million

13. Dwight Freeney

Salary: $16.22 million
Endorsements: $250,000
Total: $16.45 million

Contract: $72 million

12. Julius Peppers

Salary: $16.68 million
Endorsements: $150,000
Total: $16.8 million

Contract: $16.68 million

11. Antonio Smith

Salary: $15.5 million
Endorsements: $150,000
Total: $17 million

Contract: $35 million

 

 

*Note: We derived most salary and endorsement data from these two sources. Because those sources have different time frames for their numbers, this list is best seen as an informed estimate for the 2009 season. We didn’t include other sources of income, taxes, agent fees, or any other deductions

Source:Businesspundit