Unless the San Diego Chargers have suddenly become America's Team, it's hard to understand why quarterback Eli Manning was roundly booed at the draft and widely criticized as the biggest diva since Diana Ross after forcing San Diego, which took him with the No. 1 pick, to trade him to the New York Giants last Saturday. Charger fans are the only ones who have a right to be peeved at Manning and his dad, Archie, who essentially informed their team's front office that Eli would rather spend the next year asking if you want fries with that than wearing a San Diego jersey. That was a slap in the face to the Chargers, no matter how much of a soft, aw shucks Southern twang the Mannings used to deliver it.
But if you're not a diehard supporter of coach Marty Schottenheimer and the gang, feel free to climb off Manning's back any time now, because he and Archie have done nothing wrong other than hurt the Chargers' feelings. Judging from the venomous reaction he's gotten around the country, you'd think he asked to be traded to the Yankees.
It seems that most of the criticism centers around the belief that college players shouldn't buck the draft system. This presumes that Manning was bucking the system, which he was not. He was simply prepared to exercise one of the options laid out in the league's by-laws, which was to sit out the season and re-enter the draft next year. At least he made the Chargers believe he was prepared to do that. Manning didn't file any lawsuits or seek any injunctions. He didn't break or even fight any rules, he just made them work for him. Where's the sin in that?
Another argument holds that even if Manning had every right to do what he did, his actions went against the purpose of the draft, which is to help the weakest teams acquire the best young players. Wrong. The purpose of the draft is to allow the weakest teams to improve themselves, and there are any number of ways to do that. Given Manning's preferences, San Diego chose to trade him for another promising quarterback, Philip Rivers, and several high draft choices. If they're smart -- and that's a big "if" -- the Chargers will use their return on the Manning trade to improve themselves, and the draft will have worked the way it's supposed to work. If it doesn't happen that way, it's San Diego's fault, not Manning's.
The most sensitive charge leveled at Manning is that he made a selfish choice at the worst possible time, just as the league and the nation were suffering from the shock of ex-NFL player Pat Tillman's death and praising him for making the ultimate sacrifice. Tillman was willing to go to Afghanistan, Manning's critics wailed, but Eli Manning isn't willing to go to San Diego? Tillman's was an act of courage and selflessness that no athlete will ever surpass, but to compare Manning's situation with his does an injustice to both men. Besides, how can we admire Tillman for putting his life on the line to safeguard America's freedoms, and then condemn Manning for exercising one of his?
But if Manning's actions still rub you the wrong way, take solace in the fact that he has maneuvered himself into the most pressure-filled situation any NFL rookie has faced in ages. If he doesn't turn into a superstar, New York fans will spread him on their bagels and eat him for breakfast. The boos will rain down on him again, but if that happens, at least this time he'll deserve them.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
But if you're not a diehard supporter of coach Marty Schottenheimer and the gang, feel free to climb off Manning's back any time now, because he and Archie have done nothing wrong other than hurt the Chargers' feelings. Judging from the venomous reaction he's gotten around the country, you'd think he asked to be traded to the Yankees.
It seems that most of the criticism centers around the belief that college players shouldn't buck the draft system. This presumes that Manning was bucking the system, which he was not. He was simply prepared to exercise one of the options laid out in the league's by-laws, which was to sit out the season and re-enter the draft next year. At least he made the Chargers believe he was prepared to do that. Manning didn't file any lawsuits or seek any injunctions. He didn't break or even fight any rules, he just made them work for him. Where's the sin in that?
Another argument holds that even if Manning had every right to do what he did, his actions went against the purpose of the draft, which is to help the weakest teams acquire the best young players. Wrong. The purpose of the draft is to allow the weakest teams to improve themselves, and there are any number of ways to do that. Given Manning's preferences, San Diego chose to trade him for another promising quarterback, Philip Rivers, and several high draft choices. If they're smart -- and that's a big "if" -- the Chargers will use their return on the Manning trade to improve themselves, and the draft will have worked the way it's supposed to work. If it doesn't happen that way, it's San Diego's fault, not Manning's.
The most sensitive charge leveled at Manning is that he made a selfish choice at the worst possible time, just as the league and the nation were suffering from the shock of ex-NFL player Pat Tillman's death and praising him for making the ultimate sacrifice. Tillman was willing to go to Afghanistan, Manning's critics wailed, but Eli Manning isn't willing to go to San Diego? Tillman's was an act of courage and selflessness that no athlete will ever surpass, but to compare Manning's situation with his does an injustice to both men. Besides, how can we admire Tillman for putting his life on the line to safeguard America's freedoms, and then condemn Manning for exercising one of his?
But if Manning's actions still rub you the wrong way, take solace in the fact that he has maneuvered himself into the most pressure-filled situation any NFL rookie has faced in ages. If he doesn't turn into a superstar, New York fans will spread him on their bagels and eat him for breakfast. The boos will rain down on him again, but if that happens, at least this time he'll deserve them.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
