The role that Archie Manning plays in the football life of his son Eli has been widely publicized. In 2004 when it came time for his young son to make the move from college ball at Ole Miss to the NFL, Archie Manning made it quite clear he didn’t want his soon-to-be super star son playing for a loser. Like the San Diego Chargers, who just so happened to hold the first pick.
So Archie instructed Eli’s agent, Tom Condon, to get in touch with the people in San Diego and instruct them to look past Eli on Draft day. Condon followed his client’s father’s wishes and added a tidbit of his own…that Eli would be better suited under center in New York with the Giants.
On draft day Commissioner Tagliabue approached the podium to announce the first pick. When he read Eli’s name the room filled with boos and disbelief. After posing for a few pictures with a Chargers jersey but refusing to put on a Chargers hat, Eli sat down for a press conference where he proceeded to announce that he would not play for San Diego. He decided football was not for him and he was going to pursue a degree in law.
Later that morning, after the New York Giants had selected Phillip Rivers with the fourth overall pick, a trade was announced. Eli was heading to New York after all.
Fast forward two years.
San Diego is the best team in the AFC. Phillip Rivers is at the helm of a passing attack made possible by the running of another ex-San Diego holdout LaDainian Tomlinson. The Chargers are coasting through the AFC with their sights on a trip to the Super Bowl.
And young Eli?
He’s completing his second season as the Giants quarterback. Currently the NYG are .500, third place in the NFC East, losing five of their last six games, and barely holding onto hopes of a wild card. And Mr. Manning’s stats? He’s thrown 6 INT’s and 7 TD’s in his last 8 games, and is making poor decisions that are starting to cost his team games.
After Sunday’s loss to the Eagles in which Eli threw a late interception leading to a Philly TD, coach Tom Coughlin said, “He should have seen it. He's in the shotgun. He has a good chance to see it. I think his attention is drawn off to the left. He doesn't see it. It happens. But you'd like to think he'd hit the hot receiver and maybe make 5 or 6 yards and have it be second down instead of a turnover."
Seems like Coughlin is starting to get frustrated with his quarterback’s play. This is the second time this season he has openly made comments directed at Eli’s inability to get the job done on the field.
With words starting to fly, Coughlin better look out. Archie’s not going to stand for that kind of talk about his son. Stay tuned to the situation in the Meadowlands.
