Eli Manning

Elisha Nelson Manning (born January 3, 1981 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants NFL franchise. He is the son of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning and Olivia Williams Manning, the younger brother of current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and oldest brother Cooper Manning.

2004 draft

Eli Manning played college football at the University of Mississippi and studied for a business major. He was an Academic All-American and a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. Manning was considered to be the top prospect prior to the 2004 NFL Draft and became a target of criticism for stating that he would not play for the San Diego Chargers, who owned the first pick in the draft. In the past, players such as John Elway and Gary Zimmerman had also refused to play for teams looking to draft them. The Chargers were in discussions with several teams, including the New York Giants, about a possible trade, but nothing was agreed upon before the draft began. The Chargers eventually drafted Manning with the first pick. The Giants then selected N.C. State quarterback Philip Rivers, another player the Chargers had shown interest in, and the two franchises worked out a deal that would send Eli to the Giants for Rivers, the Giants' first-round pick (4th overall), the Giants third-round pick in 2004 and their first- and fifth-round picks in 2005. The controversy put a damper on the celebration that normally goes with being the #1 pick, but the pro-Giants home crowd at the draft loudly voiced their approval of trade which made Eli a Giant, even though some were displeased about the amount given up by New York in the trade. When Manning's team visited the Charger in week 3 of the 2005 season the crowd booed him every time he took the field.

Related Topics:
College football - University of Mississippi - Sigma Nu - Fraternity - 2004 NFL Draft - San Diego Chargers - John Elway - Gary Zimmerman - N.C. State - Philip Rivers

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