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.

NFL career

Manning began the 2004 season as the backup quarterback for the Giants, behind two-time league MVP Kurt Warner, who the Giants signed in 2004 shortly after he was released for salary cap reasons by the St. Louis Rams. Manning's first regular-season NFL play was in the first week of the 2004 football season, taking over for Warner with three minutes left in the game as the Giants were losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, 31-10. Manning handed the ball off to running back Tiki Barber, who ran 72 yards for a touchdown.

Related Topics:
Kurt Warner - Salary cap - St. Louis Rams - Philadelphia Eagles - Tiki Barber

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For the first nine games of the season, Manning only saw limited action, usually in mop-up situations towards the end of games. However, after Kurt Warner began to struggle midseason, losing three out of four games, Manning was named the team's starting quarterback, making his first professional start in a November 21 game against the Atlanta Falcons. After a rough first half, Manning threw his first touchdown pass in the second half, a 6-yard pass to Jeremy Shockey. However, the Giants ultimately lost the game, 14-10.

Related Topics:
November 21 - Atlanta Falcons - Touchdown - Jeremy Shockey

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On January 2, 2005, Manning secured his first career NFL win with a three touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys. But perhaps the most telling play of that game - the touchdown passes included - came at the end, when Manning called an audible from a passing play to a running play and handed to Tiki Barber, who ran in the game-winning touchdown and simultaneously became the all-time single-season rushing yards record holder for the Giants.

Related Topics:
January 2 - 2005 - Dallas Cowboys - Audible - Tiki Barber

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