Word on the Street: Why Eli Manning Told Chargers No Thanks

Remember when Eli Manning had that dopier-than-usual look on his face after the San Diego Chargers, against his wishes, took him with the first overall pick of the 2004 Draft? Good times.

Despite the onstage awkwardness at Radio City Music Hall, Manning's Chargers' career lasted about as long as the previous quarterback the organization drafted in the first round.

Six years before, San Diego selected Ryan Leaf second overall (the Colts took Peyton Manning No. 1, as Pete kindly reminded me) and, well, let's just say that was just about the worst decision anybody anywhere has ever made.* And it was Leaf's experiences in San Diego that led to the Manning family politely requesting that the Chargers leave Eli the hell alone. At least that's the word on the street.

The Arizona Republic's Mark Fuller hears things (from a golfing partner close to the Leaf family):

... After they were drafted, [Peyton] Manning told Leaf about how well the Colts organization treated him. They basically bent over backward to make his transition to the NFL as smooth as possible, taking care of all the non-football stuff so Peyton could concentrate on immersing himself into the Colts offense.

Manning was stunned to hear that Leaf's experience was completely different. Our golfing partner said that Leaf was basically left to figure it out for himself. If that's true, you combine it with the legendary stories about what an immature jerk Leaf is and begin understand why he crashed so quickly. Again, this is coming from a family friend. Who knows what the Chargers did or did not do for their rookie QB, or whether their management team was equipped to deal with such a high-maintenance player.

Regardless of who was at fault for the failed Leaf-Chargers marriage, the allegedly shabby treatment of Leaf stuck with the Manning clan. And, our new golf buddy explained, that's why Archie Manning, the patriarch, threw such a fit on draft day when Eli was picked by San Diego.

That would certainly explain Archie's sudden "Um, yeah, Elisha ain't going to San Diego so don't even waste your time" change in demeanor. Perhaps more amazing: that it took five years for this story to come out, assuming it's even true.

Whatever, the Chargers shipped Eli to the Giants about an hour after they drafted him and it worked out pretty well for everybody. (Well, everybody but Leaf, who is still trying to piece his live back together.) New York, behind Manning, won the Super Bowl last year, and San Diego got Philip Rivers, and draft picks that would turn into Shawne Merriman and Nate Kaeding.

* embellishment

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-27-2009 @ 7:43PM

Pete Metcalf said...

"Six years before, San Diego selected Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning and, well, let's just say that was just about the worst decision anybody anywhere has ever made."*
Embellishment aside, get the facts right. Manning was picked AHEAD of Leaf.
My goodness, Wilson, your knack for drama and hyperbole is one thing. Screwing up the facts is quite another.

5-27-2009 @ 7:57PM

ryan said...

Pete Metcalf,

Fixed. Thanks. Yeah, no excuse on that one. Either way, you're using your anger for good, so there's that!

6-02-2009 @ 4:17PM

rlizonlyne said...

Actually Manning was taken before Leaf

6-02-2009 @ 4:18PM

actually Manning was taken before Leaf

5-27-2009 @ 7:49PM

soulcitysigma1914 said...

Is Kaeding not money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5-27-2009 @ 8:17PM

Pete's not angry, Wilson.
Pete was a publisher and editor-in-chief of an NFL magazine for five years and hates to see someone with talent not use it wisely.
Shave off some of the theatrics, ease in some more of the descriptive ("Remember when Eli Manning had that dopier-than-usual look on his face".... you nailed that one) that you have a knack for, and you're running at full stride. Curb the "flair" and work the "caricature" angle. It's your strength.
No Charge.
Pete's beneficent, too.

6-05-2009 @ 10:53AM

pcast07 said...

I AM A BIG GIANT FAN,BUT I MUST SAY THAT IF WE HAD KEPT RIVERS WE WOULDHAVE WON AT LEAST ONE MORE SUPER BOWL
I HAVE NEVER LIKED THE WAY THE MANNINGS WENT ABOUT CRYING FOUL ABOUT THE CHARGERS PICK
I BELIEVE THAT ITS A PREVLIGE TO PLAY IN THE NFL AND IF YOU DONOT GO TO THE TEAM THAT DRAFTED YOU YOU SHOULD 1 SIT OUT THE FIRST YEAR OR GO TO THE CANADIEN LEAGUE FOR ONR YEAR BUT EITHER WAY YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BULLIE ANY TEAM ON WHO YOU PLAY FOR WHY SHOULD WE EVEN HAVE A DRAFT IF THE SO CALLED PLAYER DECIDES NOT TO PLAY FOR THAT TEAM AGAIN I A GIANT FAN BUT NO FAN OF THE MANNINGS ,TAKE YOUR BALL AND GO HOME !

6-22-2009 @ 9:01PM

the great one said...

pcast07 im sorry but your insane if you think that we would of won 2 superbowls if we kept Rivers. Yeah it took Eli a while to get on track but We probably wouldnt win a superbowl with Rivers. Rivers is such a little bitch! He crys about everything and if he was playing with Giants I guarantee Rivers and Shockey would be like Romo and T.O. So I really doubt that rivers would of won a superbowl faster than Eli did.

6-29-2009 @ 3:51PM

dmankow69 said...

Eli Manning was NEVER invited to San Diego to work out. The Chargers had ZERO interest, and it was between Rivers and Roethlisberger. When Poppa Manning heard that his savior son wasnt even being considered, Peyton, and Poppa came out with a media blitz about how they wouldnt ever let him play there. The Giants, who didnt investigate this decided to foster a deal with the Chargers, rewarding them for not doing something that they werent going to do anyway. This was the 2nd time in recent history that the Chargers were rewarded for doing something they werent going to do. When the Falcons had to have Michael Vick, the Chargers had the #1 pick, and the Chargers got to draft Ladanian Tomlinson, and Drew Brees with the 2 first rd picks they got from Atlanta, as well as a starting WR...