The look on Leigh Steinberg makes it so much sweeter.
And Big Ben being the bully to Eli on the bus acting like a jerk.
And Robert Gallery in the back being a jerk as well. Who knew that guy was a complete mess and not worth a top 5 pick
2004 draft video - (
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Chris Snee video - ( New Window )
Eli is very nervous. It seems obvious to me Archie (and maybe Peyton and Cooper) were being his "decision".
The Mannings acted like such spoiled jerk offs...
And Archie proven right as SD organziation has not delivered eventhough Rivers has done his part
bw in dc : 7:15 am : link : reply
busting Eli’s balls because Archie didn’t want him to go to San Diego.
Where most people come away with the take Ben is an asshole, you like the fact he's ripping on Eli.
Just one more glimpse into the poster who brings the gem Jints Central to a cartoonish exclamation.
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I love Roethlisberger and Hall...
bw in dc : 7:15 am : link : reply
busting Eli’s balls because Archie didn’t want him to go to San Diego.
Where most people come away with the take Ben is an asshole, you like the fact he's ripping on Eli.
Just one more glimpse into the poster who brings the gem Jints Central to a cartoonish exclamation.
bingo.
I don't believe there's a single Giants fan who wouldn't think a player was a complete asshole if he and his famous father pulled that on the Giants.
He proved to be right, but he deserved every bit of grief he got for it.
SD needed a qb, or so it thought....they had already seen Drew Brees play for them for three seasons, and did not feel that he was their future(how wrong were they about that?).....If they kept Brees and used that pick to trade with the Giants or Oakland, there were some stellar players out there, and who knows what might have happened...But SD picks Eli.....Did Eli not want to go to SD because Drew Brees was there? Look what happened to Rivers, he sat on the bench for two seasons while Brees played, and Archie, maybe a better talent evaluator than anyone in the SD front office, saw the same thing happening to Eli...Eli AND Archie wanted Eli to go to a team where he could start right away....
As for Oakland, they needed a qb bad, but there was no way SD was going to make a trade with a division rival...
Arizona needed a qb badly....can you imagine Larry Fitzgerald on the SD Chargers with drew Brees, Ladainian, Sproles, Gates, Vincent Jackson, etc., plus the extra picks?
I thought the Giants had no shot at Manning....yes, Eli said he didn't want to play for SD, but does anyone seriously think he would have sat out the season and not sign with SD?
For Ernie to pick Rivers over Roethlisberger, in hopes that SD would make a deal with the Giants was a huge gamble on Ernie's part(Ernie wanted Big Ben over Rivers)....
We will never know what might have happened if the Giants got Rivers/Roethlisberger and kept those picks....everyone can speculate all they want, but we will never know...
Ernie took a huge gamble to get the guy he wanted, and it resulted in 2 SB victories.....
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I love Roethlisberger and Hall...
bw in dc : 7:15 am : link : reply
busting Eli’s balls because Archie didn’t want him to go to San Diego.
Where most people come away with the take Ben is an asshole, you like the fact he's ripping on Eli.
Just one more glimpse into the poster who brings the gem Jints Central to a cartoonish exclamation.
The good news is, if the Giants do well this year, he'll disappear again.
So there's that to root for.
Where most people come away with the take Ben is an asshole, you like the fact he's ripping on Eli.
Just one more glimpse into the poster who brings the gem Jints Central to a cartoonish exclamation.
It was a lighthearted, funny moment. In fact, it was very funny, largely driven by how totally uncomfortable Eli was with Project Archie. Even Eli couldn't help but laugh.
Eli is the guy you want your son to be like.
I love the guy but cmon, what he did at the draft was the definition of being a jerk!
Eli is the guy you want your son to be like.
You know them personally?
Right, because nobody in the public eye has ever done stuff behind closed doors that ever came to light.
I love Eli. My favorite player. My dog is named after the guy. He probably defrauded countless people in the memorabilia industry.
In the video mentioned above Eli was given shit because he acted like a spoiled brat.
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Both have been in the public eye long enough. That speaks for itself.
Right, because nobody in the public eye has ever done stuff behind closed doors that ever came to light.
I love Eli. My favorite player. My dog is named after the guy. He probably defrauded countless people in the memorabilia industry.
In the video mentioned above Eli was given shit because he acted like a spoiled brat.
That’s not really on the same level as being accused of rape and being suspended by the league.
The Mannings acted like such spoiled jerk offs...
They made the right move. Archie was not going to let his kids go through what he went through in New Orleans. Basically being a very talented piece of roadkill for a decade and never setting foot in the playoffs. Any good father would do the same.
The Chargers straightened things out but at that point they hadn't had a winning season in like 9 years. How could any of the Mannings believe in that franchise?
I love the guy but cmon, what he did at the draft was the definition of being a jerk!
He's not a jerk. It's business. It's not like he didn't work his ass off to get to become such a high pick. He wanted to make sure he ended up in the best possible place and he accomplished just that.
I suspect a lot of the people that rip the Mannings over this never saw Archie get the crap beat out of him his whole career on a poorly run franchise
It is any incoming draft pick's right to play, or not to play for the team that picks him. If that person says he's willing to sit out a year and re-enter, as Eli said he would, how is it different than any other business decision made in football or any other walk of life?
Eli made a business decision and had every right to do so. Its his career - why shouldnt he have a choice just like the rest of us?
But no, theres immature men-children Ben & Gallery not getting a grownup decision.
As a Giants fan, we should be grateful - I highly doubt Rivers accomplishes anything beyond some playoff runs here, if the situations were reversed.
As a person - Eli's 21 at that point. If I were in his shoes, I'd be uncomfortable as hell but listen to every last word my father had to say. If they had someone on the inside (Schottenheimer) telling them SD was a disaster and it would wreck Eli's career, why on Earth wouldn't they use every angle available to them to try to keep him out of there?
I think people forget these guys work hard to make it to that point. He did nothing illegal or against the rules - he basically threatened to sit out and wait for the next year's draft, which is completely by the book. At that point - if a player is willing to go to those lengths, would you even want him on your team?
Like jcn said above, I can see Chargers fans being hacked off.
Do Broncos fans have an irrational dislike for John Elway? No.
Do Colts fans dislike him? Yep.
On top of the QB stuff, AJ Smith was not known to have a great reputation and if you look beyond the stuff with Eli, look at at Schottenheimer. Coaches typically don't get fired in the NFL after going 14-2.
And it turned out to be foreshadowing as he was then canned after a highly successful season.
Looking back, everything that was said about SD came true, and Eli then helped deliver 2 SB's here.
That should be looked at as an awesome event for this franchise.
Steinberg is probably regretful of some of his facial expressions and comments.
Crazy to think those 3 draft selections resulted in 4 QBs being future Hall of Fame inductees (Brees)
In the video mentioned above Eli was given shit because he acted like a spoiled brat.”
You love Eli? Interesting way to show your love lol.
Eli was given shit because some people resent seeing an athlete or anyone for that matter, go against the establishment. I begrudge no athlete or individual who stands up for themselves and tries to control their destiny. Which is exactly what Eli did. If another player does what Kelly, Elway and Eli did, more power to them.
Spoiled brat? Ha! Ironically, over the years, and in that video, Big Ben showcased himself as the spoiled brat. Give me a break.
The Mannings acted like such spoiled jerk offs...
Oh please. If you have the clout or draft day stature you can do whatever the hell you want to do. Teams don’t HAVE to draft you. If you’re a fringe talent and try to flex some draft day muscle you’re likely going to sink. If you’re an Eli Manning and don’t want to play somewhere in particular you can exercise whatever methods needed to avoid that destination. If it blows up in your face oh well that’s the risk you take.
Eli did what he felt was right. How does that entail acting like a soiled brat?
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to me that anyone can relive that draft and come away calling anyone a jerk but Eli.
I love the guy but cmon, what he did at the draft was the definition of being a jerk!
He's not a jerk. It's business. It's not like he didn't work his ass off to get to become such a high pick. He wanted to make sure he ended up in the best possible place and he accomplished just that.
Thank you! This is spot on!
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Both have been in the public eye long enough. That speaks for itself.
Right, because nobody in the public eye has ever done stuff behind closed doors that ever came to light.
I love Eli. My favorite player. My dog is named after the guy. He probably defrauded countless people in the memorabilia industry.
In the video mentioned above Eli was given shit because he acted like a spoiled brat.
Are you really that fucking stupid that you don't remember that Ben was suspended for sexual assault and settled a rape lawsuit?
No one ever attributes it to Eli trying to avoid playing in the same conference as his brother and at the same time avoiding the same fate of his father. The chargers are a notoriously weird franchise and that’s being kind.
You want to fuck with the Nfl draft process? You most certainly can as long as your good enough and prepared for any backlash or pitfalls. It’s 100% legal and within the margins.
2. This decision and what Eli did, effected Ben and cost him a lot of money. He has every right to get annoyed at it.
3. Why is Eli a jerk? He clearly made the right decision.
4. Shouldn't us Giants fans be ecstatic that Eli did this? We got Eli and subsequently two SB trophies!
He works with the March of Dimes, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, American Red Cross, the Scholastic's ClassroomCare program, and Eli and his wife founded the Eli and Abby Manning Children's Clinics in Jackson, Miss. Manning especially is active with charities that focus on children
Manning especially is active with charities that focus on children. One of his most significant endeavors is his involvement with Tackle Kids’ Cancer, an initiative with Hackensack University Medical Center. Not only does Manning raise money and awareness for the program, he spends significant time with patients and doctors at the hospital’s pediatric cancer center.
https://nypost.com/2017/02/04/eli-manning-shares-the-nfl-man-of-the-year-award/
Not sure how the term spoiled brat or jerk can ever be used in the same sentence as Eli Manning
-Not rapey
What the hell is wrong with some of you? Wake the fuck up. It’s all about the giants and winning. That’s it!
It was a lighthearted, funny moment. In fact, it was very funny, largely driven by how totally uncomfortable Eli was with Project Archie. Even Eli couldn't help but laugh.
Either you don't realize how moronic it makes you sound or you don't fucking care
If Barkley said through back channels -- the Giants have had 3 coaches in 4 years, were dreadful last year, have had several embarrassing public situations with how they've dealt with prominent players and coaches (how Coughlin was let go, how Manning was benched, how Macadoo and Reese were fired midseason) -- and that he didn't want to play for the current New York Giants that would be logical. And bratty and NYG fans would abhore him.
Acknowledging Manning did something that was both pragmatic and shitty isn't so hard or unloyal.
It worked out well for him - he won rings, he cemented his place in football history and made tons of money. It worked out for the Giants for largely the same reasons.
That doesn't mean that he would have done anything unfair or outside of his power.
I also wouldn't expect fans of whatever team Barkley wound up with to hold the same grudge against him as apparently some idiotic Giants fans hold towards Eli 2 Super Bowl championships later.
To a functional reasonable adult, there should be nothing “shitty” about what Eli did. He exercized his rights & was willing to deal with the consequences, including sitting out a year and reentering the draft. Why you think that’s “shitty” is your problem. He made a career decision and had every right to do so, just like you and I.
And yet, Britt takes shit and gets called names for being an Eli defender. Un-fucking-believable.....
Semantics
Archie was willing to take the heat and all the media scrutiny to take some pressure off of Eli. I mean, can you imagine how that might look today with a father of a player having press conferences prior to the draft?
In the end, it worked out for all and we should be damn glad Archie did what he did. As a poster mentioned above, the SD Chargers were considered a poorly run franchise at that time and Archie didn't want to have Eli go through what he did.
See Ball, LaVar. Didn't hurt Lonzo's draft placement much. ;-)
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Archie was willing to take the heat and all the media scrutiny to take some pressure off of Eli. I mean, can you imagine how that might look today with a father of a player having press conferences prior to the draft?
See Ball, LaVar. Didn't hurt Lonzo's draft placement much. ;-)
That is a good point. However, LaVar was doing it to further his own "brand". I think Archie was doing so as he knew what was best for his kid.
Giants fans are so protective of Eli. Not only is he an elite QB he has to be an ideal human being so that they can brag to their Steelers fans friends "yeah your QB won 2 SB rings but Eli won 2 SBs and he's not a douchebag" (and yes no matter what Ben is a much worse human being). It's as if he's their son and any insult on him is a personal insult. Bottom line it was a shitty thing to do regardless of how much power he has.
But in a league where all rules skew in favor of the owners, why is it shitty of them to take advantage of a rule that says sitting out the draft will render them ineligible until the next year, where they'd be subject to the same draft rules all over again?
Obviously, this is very much in favor of the owners again - and a player has to either be in high demand or have significant resources to take this chance. For most players, this would be a non-starter.
If I worked my ass off from the time I was a little kid, and the guy I trusted most in the world told me going to San Diego would be a mistake and I should force my way away from them, you bet your ass I'd do exactly that. And I wouldn't give a rat's ass what San Diego or any other fans thought about me. My livelihood, my business - and if the rules give me an out, I'm taking them.
...that San Diego management/ownership was dysfunctional and he didn't want Eli anywhere near the place.
But the only explicit reference about the situation was from Leigh Steinberg who said it was all about getting endorsements in a major market (i.e., New York).
I sure as hell hope the latter wasn't the primary reason. That would suck.
Also, I never really appreciated the risk Accorsi took by taking Rivers! I always understood it to be that there was a little wink-wink going on between him and the Chargers. Unless Accorsi is lying, he refutes that 100%. He was just simply playing a strong hunch, knowing that Rivers was the Chargers' #2 QB.
It also doesn't change some fan's right to consider it any way they want.
In general I think it's usually a bad look for a player to publicly refuse to play somewhere. Whether it's Elway, Eli, or Eric Lindros. If possible it should be handled privately - it would probably benefit the player and the team they don't want to play for a lot more.
But I don't begrudge any of them for doing it and as others have said Eli's decision certainly worked out for the Giants and their fans. Same with Elway and the Broncos/fans.
For Lindros it worked out better for Quebec/Colorado.
But I also see how some fans can be put off by an athlete having that view.
But in a league where all rules skew in favor of the owners, why is it shitty of them to take advantage of a rule that says sitting out the draft will render them ineligible until the next year, where they'd be subject to the same draft rules all over again?
Obviously, this is very much in favor of the owners again - and a player has to either be in high demand or have significant resources to take this chance. For most players, this would be a non-starter.
If I worked my ass off from the time I was a little kid, and the guy I trusted most in the world told me going to San Diego would be a mistake and I should force my way away from them, you bet your ass I'd do exactly that. And I wouldn't give a rat's ass what San Diego or any other fans thought about me. My livelihood, my business - and if the rules give me an out, I'm taking them.
Well there's a reason the draft is the way it is. Especially in the NFL, the system is set up to help teams like the 03 Chargers become competitive again. Maybe not a great example since they did anyway. Besides, there are certain rules that are unfairly skewed towards ownership. But in the end it's not like these guys will be working for minimum wage. This "woe are the players" narrative seems silly in light of that.
As a draft entrant, you have 2 options you can control. Play for whatever team that picks you or sit out a year. That's the system.
As a draft entrant, you have 2 options you can control. Play for whatever team that picks you or sit out a year. That's the system.
Are they actually willing to sit out a year or are they more likely bluffing and rightly assuming that a team doesn't want to lose their #1 overall pick for nothing?
Went to Oneonta, where I saw him play in a minor league game where he threw out a guy tagging up at 3rd from the warning track!
He probably wasn't completely bluffing, but he also had a lot of baseball talent.
By the way, Eli and Elway had one commonality. Fathers who knew a lot of people in NFL circles and who used that information wisely.
You're conflating disliking the outcome and disliking the action.
I can dislike what Manning did, and I can very much like the outcome. And I can certainly, objectively view the action as not good for the league in the long-term. I'm sure there are decent thinking Broncos fans who are capable of the same.
Participation from college players in an orderly amateur draft has been at the heart of the success and parity of the league. If that falls apart -- that's not good for the NFL.
I'm saying that a team's fans that were jilted are surely going to dislike the move and the player, while the team he goes to the opposite will hold true.
Or at least should hold true.
Colts fans disliked Elway, Chargers fans dislike Eli. The rest of team's fans are basically ambivolent.
But you have that special quality of being objective.....
That alone would make me be hesitant to get drafted by SD, and if Brees doesn’t hurt his shoulder in ‘05 does Rivers ever play a meaningful down for the Chargers?
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You're conflating disliking the outcome and disliking the action.
I'm saying that a team's fans that were jilted are surely going to dislike the move and the player, while the team he goes to the opposite will hold true.
Or at least should hold true.
Colts fans disliked Elway, Chargers fans dislike Eli. The rest of team's fans are basically ambivolent.
But you have that special quality of being objective.....
It's a killer quality - all the girls love it.
As far as other fans -- I'd posit there are a fair share of fans outside of San Diego and NYG that think Manning refusing to play for a team was lame.
This was after Archie made it known that he was both surprised and disappointed the Chargers took the situation public.
Eli went through all the motions on draft day, held up the jersey and made the best of a shitty situation so as not to hurt the league his detractors are/were so worried about.
Of course his life and career was put first, but the Mannings handled that pretty much like they handle all things, with class.
If I were Baker Mayfield there is no fucking way I go to Cleveland.
1. What's he seeing that's wrong with the Giants that makes him not want to be here
2. I'm glad we aren't investing in a guy that doesn't want to be here
It always surprises me the extent to which fans let their personal fandom for the team interfere with their judgement of reality.
Oh please. If you have the clout or draft day stature you can do whatever the hell you want to do. Teams don’t HAVE to draft you. If you’re a fringe talent and try to flex some draft day muscle you’re likely going to sink. If you’re an Eli Manning and don’t want to play somewhere in particular you can exercise whatever methods needed to avoid that destination. If it blows up in your face oh well that’s the risk you take.
Eli did what he felt was right. How does that entail acting like a soiled brat?
Because Eli, like everyone who has been drafted, had proved NOTHING as a pro. That's the arrogance. So he - like Elway - was throwing a wrench in the system because The Arch convinced him he couldn't succeed in San Diego. That's some real class and values.
Where was that with Peyton? The Colts were still owned by the hideous Irsay family. I don't recall Archie and Peyton saying they wouldn't go to San Diego in 1998 if the Colts chose Leaf. Spanos was still the owner. Were the Mannings that high on Kevin Gilbride as a HC? Nope - Peyton just wanted to go the league, start, and eventually be the man...
The Tale of Two Mannings.
Here's an idea - get into the league, show real production, get to the second contract, and then enjoy the freedom of free agency.
This notion that a player that isn't being paid by the league owes the league something is ridiculous. The very concept of the draft is stupid.
What planet do some of you live on?
The stipulation is almost never used because the agents have no financial motivation to suggest it to their players as an alternative. It's all part of the hideous relationship the NFL has with the NCAA. How many pro careers never got off the ground because a player thought he had no recourse but to go to the dysfunctional city that picked him?
Fuck that. Anything that gives the players - especially those coming out of college - more power is a good thing.
When I came out of school, there were certain places I didn't want to work because of their corporate reputation and the way they ran things. Even though I hadn't proven anything in the real world, I still would have refused to work at those places. The main difference was that I had leverage in that there were a number of other opportunities where I could choose to work instead.
In the NFL, despite being much more valuable commodities coming out of school than I was, the high majority of draft entrants do not have any leverage. There isn't a comparable league they could go to, and they don't come from money to just sit out. So the majority of the time, the team that drafts them holds them over a barrel.
Eli came from money and could afford to sit out and not play football until the Chargers realized that they would be cutting off their nose to spite their face if they didn't trade him for value.
Crazy to think those 3 draft selections resulted in 4 QBs being future Hall of Fame inductees (Brees)
I think the Chargers really were so screwed up back then that they could not get an offense rolling even with Brees. Did they have Norv Turner as their OC?
I really think he holds the draft day as more indicative of Eli than the rest of his career and the 2 SB's.
The disdain he holds for so many. Arrogant Eli. Jints Central. The silver spooned Mara.
Just yet one more piece of evidence to wonder exactly why he follows this team.
Because Eli, like everyone who has been drafted, had proved NOTHING as a pro. That's the arrogance.
So you think that a player should dedicate himself to the sport for years, sometimes choosing your high school, always choosing your college and then get stuck in a dead end situation in the pros?
There are a lot of shit franchises or situations which will send your career tumbling into the depths of hell. It is the difference sometimes between having a successful career or being a career backup. San Diego was not a good spot to be in back in 2004.
Watch what happens to the top QBs who were drafted high this year. Cleveland, Buffalo and the Jets. Great spots for a QB LOL
This notion that a player that isn't being paid by the league owes the league something is ridiculous. The very concept of the draft is stupid.
But the draft system has been in place for over 70 years - for better or worse. There has to be order and stability somewhere. I get that you are drawn to anarchy and upheaval - seems to be your nature - but the NFL would be in total chaos without it.
If the draft order was good enough for Peyton, then it should have been good enough for Eli, The Arch, and Condon.
Why was following his Dad at Ole Miss good enough for Eli but not Peyton?
The answer is because Peyton and Eli were obviously brought up as individuals without pressure from their parents who otherwise totally supported them.
It's actually quite normal when you think about it.
I'm not into anarchy. I just don't accept a shitty system on the basis that it's existed for 70 years.
Eli's not a dock for what he did. He's smart. And from a personality standpoint I'll take him over his brother every time. I don't remember Eli being carried to a Super Bowl by his defense and then using that as an opportunity to turn the event into a commercial for shitty pizza and shittier beer. In what should have been the defining cap to one of the best careers in NFL history Peyton Manning decided to once again be a corporate douchebag.
SD is a train weck of an organization. Anybody who was paying attention and who was able to would exert whatever leverage they had to avoid going there. The fact that only a tiny handful of players can effect their draft destination doesn't reflect negatively on those few who are good/lucky enough to impose their will on the system. Everybody should absolutely do whatever necessary to give themselves the best chance to succeed.
The stipulation is almost never used because the agents have no financial motivation to suggest it to their players as an alternative. It's all part of the hideous relationship the NFL has with the NCAA. How many pro careers never got off the ground because a player thought he had no recourse but to go to the dysfunctional city that picked him?
Fuck that. Anything that gives the players - especially those coming out of college - more power is a good thing.
Ok so let's blow up the whole draft so that we see more Cleveland Browns and for longer. That's great for the league.
When HS baseball players are drafted and decide to go to college instead, are they lacking in class and values?
I'm not into anarchy. I just don't accept a shitty system on the basis that it's existed for 70 years.
Eli's not a dock for what he did. He's smart. And from a personality standpoint I'll take him over his brother every time. I don't remember Eli being carried to a Super Bowl by his defense and then using that as an opportunity to turn the event into a commercial for shitty pizza and shittier beer. In what should have been the defining cap to one of the best careers in NFL history Peyton Manning decided to once again be a corporate douchebag.
What the hell does Peyton being a "corporate douchebag" have to do with anything? Nothing to do with what he was as a player. And because the NFL is a business players can disregard the draft but if you take endorsement opportunities you're a corporate douchebag, ok.
Osi