for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

Eli Manning and the 2004 NFL Draft

Bramton1 : 9/16/2019 6:50 pm
Leading up to the draft, Archie Manning announced that his family did not want the San Diego Chargers to draft Eli. The story goes that Archie was worried that if Eli went to San Diego, he would have a career similar to his father. A lot of talent at QB, but wasted behind an inferior team.

So San Diego is 139-101 from 2004-2018, while the Giants are 121-119 in that same span. And yes, I know that includes two years of Drew Brees in San Diego, and nine games of Kurt Warner in New York. If it's just games Eli and Rivers played in, Eli is 116-116, while Rivers is 119-91.

So here's my question. With the exception of two years (and yes, they are two enormous exceptions), did Eli kind of get just what Archie was trying to avoid? A great quarterback on a roster that couldn't figure out how to support him?
Would you be asking this question in September 2012,  
Mr. Bungle : 9/16/2019 6:55 pm : link
the start of Eli's 9th season?

No, you wouldn't.
2 super bowls  
Payasdaddy : 9/16/2019 6:56 pm : link
and pretty competitive in around 5 others season I would say much better than archies
his 2nd half of career was much worse no thanks to jerry (well he did get him odell and a bunch of wr's that got hurt nicks cruz etc)
From 2005-2011...  
x meadowlander : 9/16/2019 7:00 pm : link
...the Giants were NEVER the fucking 'Aints'...

These days though...
Pretty fair question and I'm no Eli apologist by any means but  
Blue21 : 9/16/2019 7:01 pm : link
I'll take the two Super Bowls. Of course if he had played on the Chargers maybe he leads them to more than two. We'll never know.
...  
BrettNYG10 : 9/16/2019 7:01 pm : link
I think SD's built a better roster around Rivers than the Giants have around Eli since 2004. I also think Rivers is just a better regular season QB than Eli.

But Eli didn't have to deal with the move to LA, etc. He had the same coach for the first decade of his career.

I think Eli's happy with his decision, despite the poor ending.
RE: Would you be asking this question in September 2012,  
Bramton1 : 9/16/2019 7:06 pm : link
In comment 14581205 Mr. Bungle said:
Quote:
the start of Eli's 9th season?

No, you wouldn't.


This is true. The first half of Eli's career was far better than the second half. But the second half has been... painful to watch. And that second half is not all that different then Archie's career. Ineptitude, whether it was the defensive backfield or the linebackers or the offensive line or the receivers or the special teams.
...  
christian : 9/16/2019 7:07 pm : link
I think fans underrate how good of a run 2005-2012 was. Manning and the Giants were .500 or above 8 straight seasons, won double-digit games 5 times, went to the playoffs 6 times, and won 2 championships.
Eli also had a few seasons  
Kevin(formerly Tiki4Six) : 9/16/2019 7:47 pm : link
Where the Giants were all banged up but made the playoffs.
that last sentence is pretty accurate  
markky : 9/16/2019 7:49 pm : link
a great QB on a team that couldn't figure out how to support him.

Eli got screwed after 2011.
No....Ei would probably endure  
Chris684 : 9/16/2019 8:00 pm : link
2012-present 1000 times if he got to keep his 2 Super Bowls.

I mean, I don’t get it. I know we’re all frustrated but only Giants fans seem to downplay their own teams and players accomplishments. Aside from the bitter end here, maybe the last 2 seasons and the start of this one, I doubt there is very much Eli changes about his time here.

I bet Phil Rivers would trade places in a second.
Rivers is a better QB than Eli in the regular season  
Vanzetti : 9/16/2019 8:11 pm : link
By any statistical measure

Eli’s claim to superiority is based on two tremendous playoff runs. Not his regular season record. Which is .500

Eli’s record is like Coughlin’s. Take away the two championships and he is s mediocre .500 coach. But championships are what it is all about so you can’t take them away.

If Rivers comes to NY, does he win those championships?
Why would I want to be the Chargers and never even make  
PatersonPlank : 9/16/2019 8:22 pm : link
a Super Bowl, when Eli and the Giants have won 2?

Also, the last 5 or 6 years Rivers team has been much, much better. He had a good OL and players like Gates, Allen, Gordon, and LT. What did Eli have, crap.

Lets not revise history
_____  
I am Ninja : 9/16/2019 10:29 pm : link
We used to be good.
Back to the Corner