Manning, Gallery sign rich contracts

Eli Manning and Robert Gallery signed contracts Thursday, ensuring that the top two picks in the NFL draft will be on the field for the start of training camp workouts.

Manning, the first selection, signed a deal with New York Giants that will guarantee him $20 million over the next five years as part of a $45 million package that could reach $54 million with incentives.

A few hours later, Gallery signed with Oakland for $18.5 million in guaranteed money as part of a package that could reach $60 million over seven years.

Gallery, a left tackle, is more likely to start right away because the Raiders are desperate for help on the offensive line. Manning, the latest of the Manning family of quarterbacks, could well start the season on the bench behind Kurt Warner, signed by New York after Kerry Collins was cut for salary-cap reasons.

Carter out with blood clot

Baltimore cornerback Dale Carter will miss the season because a blood clot in his lung.

“It’s quite serious, very serious to the degree that it was life-threatening,” coach Brian Billick said. “He is on blood thinners and will be for six months. That will preclude him from playing this year.”

Four-time Pro Bowler Carter expected to be Baltimore’s nickel back this season. He joined the Ravens as a free agent, following an 11-year career with stints in Kansas City (1992-98), Denver (1999-2000), Minnesota (2001) and New Orleans (2002-03).

Carter said his illness was discovered after an at-home workout in Houston last month. Pain in his side became so bad he couldn’t breathe, so he went to an emergency room.

“The doctors told me I was the luckiest person in the world right now,” Carter said. “I didn’t think it was that serious. I thank God I’m here today.”

Bears fill in for Urlacher

Lance Briggs, who started 13 games at outside linebacker last season, moved to the middle as the temporary replacement for Chicago Bears Pro Bowler Brian Urlacher. He pulled a hamstring Wednesday, and is expected to be out several weeks.

Bears coach Lovie Smith said second-year man Hunter Hillenmeyer and rookie Jeremy Cain also would get a chance to fill in for Urlacher. Briggs, a second-year man from Arizona, played middle linebacker in college but not as a rookie.

Faulk pacing himself

Marshall Faulk, bothered by injuries for the past few years, is healthy again. But he acknowledges that he doesn’t know how long his body, and ultimately his career, will last.

“This is probably the first year I’ve thought about it like, ‘Man, if the body isn’t acting right, what do I do?’ ” the 31-year-old running back said. “Do I fight through it or do I not play? That’s something I’m going to have to evaluate after the season.”

After two days of the St. Louis Rams’ workouts, Faulk said he’s feeling fine and after watching himself on tape said he looked “pretty good to myself.”

The Rams are taking steps to conserve Faulk, limiting his participation and shutting him down for the morning practice during two-a-day workouts. He probably won’t play much in the preseason.

Pennington just playing

Chad Pennington plans to make the first opening-day start of his career in September — with or without a new contract.

Pennington’s agent, Tom Condon, and the New York Jets are negotiating a new deal for the quarterback. But Pennington has told Condon talks will be shelved until the end of the season if a deal isn’t reached by Aug. 31.

“I’ve made sure it won’t be a distraction, that’s why I’ve allowed them to discuss it through August but after that there are no discussions,” Pennington said. “As far as I’m concerned, after today I’m not talking about it.”

Pennington is entering the final season of a five-year deal that will pay him a base salary of $4.57 million in 2004.