Sunday, September 02, 2007
My Current Addictions: The Manning Brothers, Peyton and Eli.
I know most of you were familiar about Peyton (oh gosh..he's the CURRENT Superbowl Superstar Quarterback!) and I don't have to introduce him to you so let me just post this biography of his brother, Eli (my current favorite Quarterback from New York Giants)...
For some kids, growing up in the shadow of a famous father is overwhelming. Others face the challenge of following in the footsteps of an older sibling who can do no wrong. Imagine then the pressure on Eli Manning. The son of a college football legend and younger brother to a perennial Pro Bowler, he's spent most of his life trying to honor the family name. Now consider that the New York Giants have pinned their hopes for another title on him, and Eli is under the kind of strain that can reduce lesser men to has-beens before their careers even start. He can't wait to take his first pro snap. This is his story…
GROWING UP
Elisha Nelson Manning was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. The youngest of Archie and Olivia Manning’s three children, Eli entered the world with two older brothers already in tow, Cooper and Peyton. Like all the men in his family, he was destined to be a football player.
Peyton, Eli and CooperArchie began the family’s great gridiron tradition at the University of Mississippi. An Ole Miss legend, he played quarterback for the Rebels from 1967 to 1970. Twice he was a Heisman candidate, and in 1971 the New Orleans Saints made him the second pick overall in the NFL draft. But Archie's pro career never amounted to anything. He didn't post a winning season during his 11 years with the dreadful ’Aints, and then finished off with stints in Houston and Minnesota.
Despite his so-so NFL career, Archie remained a fan favorite and folk hero in Mississippi. There was even a song written about him, “The Ballad of Archie Who.”
Perhaps the most significant development during Archie’s time at Ole Miss came off the field when he met Olivia Williams, the school’s homecoming queen. The two eventually married and settled down with their boys in one of the more exclusive neighborhoods in New Orleans.
Peyton and Eli with their father, Archie As the youngest of the three athletic brothers, Eli was at the bottom of the pecking order. Peyton loved to pick on him, and Eli often looked to Cooper for protection. Peyton, an SEC fanatic, would pin down Eli, pummeling him until he recited all of the teams in the conference. The youngster, who was never much for trivia, learned a lot by default.
Despite his history in the sport, Archie never pushed his sons to play football. That being said, whenever they asked, he would gladly teach them proper techniques of the game. Cooper and Peyton told their father they wanted to be big-time college players. Eli, by contrast, was more of a mama’s boy, and didn’t profess much interest in football.
Eli’s younger years were spent with his mom because Archie travelled so often. Older and more mature, Cooper and Peyton were better prepared to deal with the absence of their father. Eli clung to Olivia. The two enjoyed going to movies and dinner together. Not surprisingly, Eli picked up many of his mom’s qualities. Among those was the ability to stay calm in a crisis. Olivia was usually the one who would hold the family together when things went wrong. Eli shared this attitude, which earned him the nickname “Easy.”
Whenever the neighborhood kids gathered for football games, they put Eli at quarterback. While he wasn’t very fast, he had a strong arm, so the position was a natural for him. By the time he entered Isidore Newman High School, where both his brothers had also attended, the comparisons between him and Peyton began.
Peyton Manning: the "smartest" Quarterback in the National Football LeagueLiving up to his older brother’s reputation was no easy feat. Peyton had been Louisiana’s top prep signal caller, and he and Cooper combined as one of the state’s most lethal passing tandems. Eli started to establish his own identity as a sophomore, completing 139 of 245 passes for 2,340 yards and 24 TDs. The following year, he bettered those marks, and led Newman to a 9-1 record and into the state playoffs. In some games, he would call the signals for only three quarters because the team was so far ahead. By season’s end, he was receiving about 20 letters a week from various major college football programs.
Eli had an advantage in the recruiting battle over him because Peyton and Cooper had gone through the same process. As he headed into his senior year, the pressure to choose a school intensified. Ole Miss was an obvious choice. Both Archie and Cooper were Mississippi grads, though the younger Manning never suited up for the Rebels. After being diagnosed with a congenital spinal condition, Cooper decided to give up the sport, rather than risk being paralyzed.
Peyton, meanwhile, drove right past Oxford signing “Rocky Top” all the way to Knoxville, where he donned the orange and white of Tennessee. At the time, Ole Miss was rumored to be under NCAA investigation, so Peyton chose to avoid a pitfall that might derail his career.
Peyton Manning's most memorable game of the seasonIn the summer of 1998, Eli attended a football camp at Ole Miss, a move that fans took as an indication of his desire to become a Rebel. But the teenager was still undecided. Tennessee worked hard to lure him, as did Georgia, Texas, LSU and Florida.
In the midst of this recruiting frenzy, Eli enjoyed a great senior year at Newman. Again he quarterbacked the team to the playoffs, posting an 11-1 record. Eli ended his high school career with 7,389 yards and 89 touchdowns, 200 more yards than Peyton but three less scores.
As the clock ticked away on his college decision, Eli received an interesting call from David Cutcliffe. Formerly Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, he had been hired as the head coach at Ole Miss. Eli knew how much Cutcliffe had done to help Peyton improve his game. The news that he was now in charge of the Rebel program was all he needed to hear. The 18-year-old followed his father’s footsteps, and made his way to Oxford.
ON THE RISEThe hype began as soon as Eli stepped on campus. The school offered to un-retire Archie’s number 18, but Eli declined. Instead, he went with #10.
Eli got his first taste of Ole Miss football in an intersquad scrimmage at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. He made a good showing, but was still third on the depth chart, with veteran Romaro Miller assuming the starting role. In fact. determined not to rush his young quarterback along, Cutcliffe redshirted Eli for the 1999 season. The frosh watched from the sidelines at the Rebels went 8-4 and won the Independence Bowl, led by running back Deuce McAllister.
Eli landed himself in hot water after the campaign when he was arrested and briefly jailed for public drunkenness. Truly embarrassed by the incident, the 19-year-old decided to buckle down and focus on school and football.
As the 2000 season got underway, the Rebels found themselves ranked 18th in the AP poll, thanks in large part to McAllister and Miller, both of whom were back for their senior years. Eli settled in as Miller's backup. After a 7-5 campaign, Ole Miss earned a berth against West Virginia in the Music City Bowl.Down 49-16 in the fourth quarter, the Rebels needed a spark. Cutcliffe inserted Eli, and he shined. The redshirt freshman completed 12 of 20 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the 22 points engineered by Eli, however, Ole Miss still fell. But the teenager's sparkling show in the fourth gave the world a taste on what awaited when he took the helm in 2001.
The Eli Manning era at OIe Miss officially kicked off in the fall of ’01. Miller and McAllister graduated, and wide receiver Grant Heard was also gone. With the Rebel defense full of holes and lacking depth, Cutcliffe knew his offense—namely Eli—would have to carry the load. The sophomore’s supporting cast included running back Joe Gunn, wideouts Omar Rayford and Jamie Armstrong, and tight end Doug Zeigler. Guard Terrence Metcalf anchored the offensive line.
Ole Miss surprised many in the SEC by starting 6-1. Then Eli and Rebels ran into the Arkansas Razorbacks. In one of the most memorable games in college football history, they lost 58-56 in seven overtimes. Eli threw for 312 yards and six touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough.
Before the season, Archie asked the Rebels not to promote Eli for the Heisman. Peyton had experienced the pressure of those expectations in 1997, and the Manning family didn’t enjoy the media circus. Ole Miss respected Archie’s wishes.
Again the Rebels broke from the gate quickly, winning five of their first six. After an upset of 20th-ranked Florida, they looked like a sure bowl contender. But another slow finish spolied the year for Ole Miss, including a heartbreaking loss to Auburn. Down 31-24 late in the contest, Eli worked his magic, guiding the team to the Auburn eight-yard line. On third down he scanned the field and tried to force a throw to tie the score. Auburn safety Travaris Robinson read the play and intercepted the pass, and the Tigers ran out the clock for their third straight victory over Ole Miss.
The Rebels finished the regular season at 6-6, which was good enough for a bid against Nebraska in the Independence Bowl. Their 27-23 victory put a nice spin on an otherwise mediocre season—except for the play of Eli.
In 13 games, he passed for 3,401 yards and 21 touchdowns. Though he was picked off 15 times, he was still a hot commodity, particularly in the eyes of pro scouts. Eli was often counted on to win games by himself, so it was only natural that his interception total rose. With the riches of the NFL on his radar screen, Eli had thought long and hard about entering the draft.
THE MAKING OF A FOOTBALL SUPERSTAR
The senior’s decision came down to his competitive fire. Eli stayed for his final season with the hope of leading Ole Miss to the SEC Championship Game for the first time in school history. Also figuring into his thinking was the fact that the draft had three very strong quarterbacks: Southern California’s Carson Palmer, Marshall’s Byron Leftwich and Florida’s Rex Grossman. Eli realized he probably would be a late first-round pick at best. By returning to the Rebels, he positioned himself better for the 2004 draft—and made himself one of the preseason favorites for the Heisman.
Working in Eli’s favor for 2003 was an excellent receiving core with senior Chris Collins and junior Bill Flowers. Hurting him was the Ole Miss running game, which at 94.3 yards per game was the worst in the SEC. The defense also needed help, especially with the loss of two starters, linebacker Eddie Strong and nose tackle Matt Grier.
The Rebels split their first two, setting up a crucial contest against Florida in the Swamp. No Manning had ever beaten the Gators on their home turf. Peyton’s memories of were particularly bothersome.
This time around, however, Eli restored the family pride. Trailing 17-13, he directed a late 50-yard touchdown drive. Vashon Pearson burst across the goal line with 1:10 left on the clock. His touchdown was fitting, as the Rebels rushed for 223 yards on the day Their three-point victory created momentum for the rest of the season.
LSU’s defense held the Ole Miss offense in check for the first three quarters, but Eli rallied the team in the fourth. With under five minutes to go and down by three points, he put the Rebels in field-goal range, but Jonathan Nichols botched a 36-yarder, his second miss of the day. Eli and his teammate left the field demoralized by their 17-14 defeat. Still, they had a chance at the SEC Championship Game if LSU lost to Arkansas and they beat Mississippi State (in the annual Egg Bowl). But the Tigers were on a roll. They ran the table, and wound up as co-National Champions with USC.
Thanks to Eli, Ole Miss also won out, including a 31-28 victory over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. At 10-3, the Rebels posted nine regular-season victories for the first time in 13 years. Eli was the story, passing for 3,600 yards and 29 touchdowns.
The voters rewarded Eli with a slew of honors, including the Maxwell Award as the nation’s best all-around player. He earned the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Award, and the Sporting News Radio Socrates Award. Eli was also named the SEC Player of the Year. When it came time for the Heisman balloting, however, he couldn’t muster the necessary support, as Oklahoma’s Jason White walked away with the trophy.
Up next for Eli was the NFL draft. The San Diego Chargers held the top pick, and were in the market for a quarterback. Most experts rated Eli the best passer available, though Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers were also highly touted. The talent pool didn’t dry up there, as Tulane’s J.P. Losman was also projected to be a late first rounder.
Eli leading the New York Giants What proceeded next developed into one of the odder moments in draft history. Archie, afraid the Chargers might be the current-day version of his Saints, made it clear that he didn’t want his youngest son stuck on a loser. He instructed Eli’s agent, Tom Condon, to call San Diego general manager A.J. Smith and advise him against taking Eli. Condon added that the New York Giants would be the best fit, a remark Archie said he knew nothing about.
On draft day, the room was rife with rumor as Commissioner Paul Tagliabue walked to the podium to announce the #1 selection. When he called out Eli, the boos rained down. Eli held up a Chargers jersey, with no trace of a smile on his face. Three picks later the Giants tabbed Rivers..
Minutes later, Eli sat down for a press conference, saying he would not play for San Diego and would instead pursue a law degree. Then came word of a trade between the Chargers and Giants. Eli was suddenly New York bound. Beaming, he headed to Giants Stadium, where he enjoyed a photo-op with new head coach Tom Coughlin.
Though New York already had a proven quarterback in Kerry Collins, GM Ernie Acorsi couldn’t pass on Eli, whom he viewed as a potential All-Pro. Collins read the writing on the wall, and left for Oakland. As an insurance policy, the Giants then signed Kurt Warner. Also on the roster was Jesse Palmer, whose biggest headlines since college were generated by his appearance on the TV show, “The Bachelor.”
In his first mini-camp, Eli looked like a rookie, fumbling snaps and missing receivers. By the beginning of training camp, though Coughlin said the starting job was up for grabs, it was fairly clear that Warner would get the nod. Eli was still learning the ropes, and with New York's playoff hopes slim at best, there was no reason to rush the youngster along.
The Giants surprised most onlookers by starting strong. Tiki Barber was enjoying the best year of his career, Warner was running the offense efficiently, and the defense, behind Michael Strahan and first-year coordinator Tim Lewis, was swarming. But injuries soon took their toll. When Strahan went down for the season, Big Blue was sunk.
As New York dropped in the standings, Coughlin weighed the merits of playing Eli. The offense had become stagnant with Warner, who was far too focused on not turning the ball over. The rookie had actually made his debut in the season opener in Philly, at the end of a blowout. In limited action, he completed three of nine passes for 66 yards. The most notable thing Eli did was absorb a hellacious hit by an Eagle linebacker.
By Novmeber, Coughlin has seen enough of Warner. With the Giants set to host the Atlanta Falcons, the coach turned to Eli, and the "Manning Era" dawned in the Meadowlands. Most New York fans applauded the move, even as Eli struggled to adjust to the pro game. In his start against Atlanta, he hit on just 17 of 37 attempts for 162 yards. Though Eli connected with Jeremy Shockey for his first career touchdown pass, he also threw two interceptions, and often looked completely confused. The Giants lost 14-10.
It was more of the same—and often even worse–over his next three games. In defeats to the Eagles, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens, Eli was awful. The 37-14 loss to the Ravens was the low point. He completed only four passes all day long. Afterwards, fans and the media wondered whether New York had made a colossal mistake in mortgaging the future on the young quarterback.
To his credit, Eli weathered all the criticism without complaint. His stoicism was not lost on his teammates, who rallied around him on the practice field and in the locker room. On the second-to-last weekend of the regular season, the Giants gave the Steelers all they could handle, falling in a 33-30 barnburner. Eli withstood constant pressure from the hard-hitting Pittsburgh defense, passing for 182 yards and 2 TDs.
A week later, he engineered the first victory of his career over the visiting Cowboys. With the New York fans treating the matchup like a playoff contest, Eli responded with incredible poise. After Dallas took a three-point lead in the fourth quarter, he led the Giants on a game-winning drive. Most notable was the play he employed with Big Blue knocking on the door with time running down. With the Cowboy defense backing off the line of scrimmage near the goal line, Eli called Barber's number on a quick inside hand-off. When the Pro Bowler powered into the endzone, the Giants celebrated a 28-24 win.
Eli still has a lot of growing to do. In fact, it's hardly worth analyzing his final stats for the '04 campaign. The year was mostly about gaining a better understanding of life in the NFL, and in New York, for that matter. On all accounts, Eli seems to be learning and maturing an an acceptable pace.
Coughlin and the Giants certainly aren’t dismayed by Eli's progress. Of course, the team invested a record $45 million over six years in their new QB, so they have no choice but to be patient. With his sights set on a long future in the NFL, Eli is planning on a career much more like his brother’s than his father’s.
Eli has all of the tools to be a great quarterback. At 6-5 and just under 220, he is almost a clone of his brother Peyton. He makes the proper reads before the snap and has great touch on his throws. He has a strong and accurate arm, and shows all the athleticism of his father. Eli is quick in his drops and maintains control while moving around in the pocket.
Eli is a classic pocket passer, just like his father taught him to be. He has superior mechanics, and durability has yet to be a question.
After his antics in the draft, Eli may have to work a little harder to get his teammates to respond to him. But that shouldn’t bother him. He’s mentally tough, and can process information very fast, which allows him to make good decisions on the field.
Eli used to lead by example. But that changed at Ole Miss, when he learned to be more vocal. He was often the guy in the locker room firing up teammates with a passionate speech. The question is how long will it before his NFL teammates start listening.
SMILE...you're with me!
