Dec 20 2006
Pro Bowl 2006: Chargers 9, Eli Manning 0
Remember the 2004 NFL Draft? The San Diego Chargers had the first pick. The top player in the draft was considered to be Eli Manning and his dad Archie felt his son was bigger than the game and deserved better than the Chargers:
The San Diego Chargers, who have had four winning seasons the last two decades, made a rather self-defeating decision when they revealed that Archie Manning, son Eli and agent Tom Condon had told the team not to draft the quarterback. The elder Manning, whose NFL career was ruined in New Orleans, was visibly upset Thursday that secret discussions were divulged by San Diego general manager A.J. Smith— particularly after the Chargers called him.
“I’m sorry about this,” Archie told reporters.
I bet you are. As you know, the Chargers took Manning anyway and to see Eli standing there holding that Chargers jersey with a little tear in his eye…priceless:
From the look on Manning’s face, the commish might as well have said, “With the first choice, Eli Manning is sentenced to the San Diego Chargers State Penitentiary.”
The Chargers worked a deal with the Giants and based on this year’s Pro Bowl selections, clearly received the better end of the deal:
The Chargers are sending an NFL-high nine players to the all-star game on Feb. 10 — and three of them came to San Diego in the 2004 blockbuster trade which sent Manning to the New York Giants.
Quarterback Philip Rivers, linebacker Shawne Merriman and kicker Nate Kaeding, all parties in the Manning transaction, are bound for the Pro Bowl. They’re joined by running back LaDainian Tomlinson, fullback Lorenzo Neal, center Nick Hardwick, tight end Antonio Gates, defensive tackle Jamal Williams and special teams standout Kassim Osgood.
The Chargers have never had as many players bound for the Pro Bowl.
Isn’t it funny how life works out.
The Phanatic: Albeit a bit premature, it’s time to take a look at the trade the made Eli Manning the franchise quarterback of the New York Giants. Yes, it’s still too soon to say that Eli will never become the leader Giants GM Ernie Accorsi thought he was getting on Draft Day 2004, but early returns show that years from now we will most likely look at this deal and compare it to “The Trade.”
Fox Sports: The first thing I noticed was that Giants quarterback Eli Manning wasn’t selected, but the three players (or draft selections) which were traded for him did. How remarkable is that? The Chargers ought to give GM A.J. Smith a raise.
Hock Show: You know what Eli Manning‘s problem is? He‘s not nearly personable enough to be a poor man‘s version of his brother. What he needs to do is go out, get some endorsement deals for lesser, knockoff products and scream and yell about how horrible his punter is. That‘s got to be worth at least two more wins.
House of Sports Blab: If the Chargers do make it to the Super Bowl, can CBS please have a camera fixed on Eli Manning’s face during the whole game? I don’t ask for much.
