New York Giants: Top 10 First Round Draft Picks of All-Time
By Mike Luca
2. Eli Manning (2004, #1, via trade)
“[Eli] gripped the edges of the [green-room chair] and thought, Not San Diego, not San Diego.”
It’s this defiance of the San Diego Chargers and the NFL’s Sorting Hat that separates Manning as a chosen one.
It accounts for more than his 33 game-winning drives, two illogical yet objectively clutch Super Bowl runs and other remarkable career numbers without missing a single start in more than a decade. Manning’s initial desire to call his shot and line up under center for the Giants trumps anyone else’s devotion thus far.
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From the moment he took over for a 5-4 Kurt Warner and concluded 2004 with a 1-6 record, and throughout interchanging personnel, Manning undoubtedly never relinquished the role of franchise face through good and bad.
Especially motivated by brother Peyton’s last rodeo and now the front office’s spending spree, 35-year-old Manning appears nowhere near ready to slow down in McAdoo’s system. There’s enough of an active resume to supersede the JPP-OBJ gripe, while Eli’s sense of humor and spotless character profile propel him past the auras of those ’80s linebackers.
So, why isn’t he slotted as the #1?
It’s all nitpicking in hindsight. His mechanics are hardly flawless nor unique, when mainly it’s the longevity that grants him access as a top five pocket passer of his own generation. Stretches of turnover-prone liability are made exponentially frustrating by his inanimate demeanor on the field.
Despite his lack of emotions, Manning has induced a gamut of emotions from those who follow him, both good and bad. There’s no bitter without the sweet, and Eli has captivated the Giants fanbase and organization with tastes of each.
Next: THE GOLDEN TROJAN