Colts owner Jim Irsay intends to sign Peyton Manning to a contract extension during the offseason. (Associated Press)

ORLANDO, Fla. — Colts owner Jim Irsay expects contract talks with Peyton Manning to heat up in May/June.

Irsay has maintained his team’s desire to sign the star quarterback to an extension prior to the start of the 2010 season. He said that will become more of a priority after the draft.

Manning has one year left on his current deal, and Irsay said getting an extension done with him “is a lot easier” than the contract recently completed for linebacker Gary Brackett. There is little doubt Manning is going to be the league’s highest paid player, or very close to it.

Irsay said he expects face-to-face meetings between team president Bill Polian and Tom Condon, the agent for Manning, to take place in May or June. Irsay reiterated that the team has ample time to complete a deal, but would love to get the situation resolved in the spring or summer.

The interview with Irsay will be part of our coverage of the NFL Annual Meeting on NFL Total Access tonight at 7 p.m. ET.

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