I know that it’s chic these past few weeks to praise Eli Manning, but I don’t think most New Yorkers are still convinced. They look at other quarterbacks drafted below him (Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers) and quarterbacks who were not drafted at all (Tony Romo) and say that the Giants still made a mistake when they took him with the top pick in the 2004 draft.
For those needing reminders, the No. 1 pick, though sexy, is hardly a sure thing. Far more franchise quarterbacks are selected outside the first round – seven of the top-10-rated QBs this season were non-first-rounders.
Here are the last 10 quarterback No. 1 overall picks not named Eli Manning:
2007 JaMarcus Russell
2005 Alex Smith
2003 Carson Palmer
2002 David Carr
2001 Michael Vick
1999 Tim Couch
1998 Peyton Manning
1993 Drew Bledsoe
1990 Jeff George
1989 Troy Aikman
Who are the ones who have had better careers, to date, than Eli? Well, older brother for sure; Aikman, of course; and Palmer. Bledsoe, in 14 seasons, has totaled better number, naturally. But will Bledsoe be the better QB when we look back at the end of Eli’s career? I am not sure at all. Drew had six seasons with more interceptions than touchdowns; Eli only did that in his first season, when he only started seven games.
Other than that, who else would you rather have on this list? George? Heh. Couch? Certainly not. Vick? Certainly not now. Carr? Ask Steve Smith what he thinks. Alex Smith? Boy, not after this season. And though it’s far, far too early to say on Russell, he hasn’t set the world on fire.
What I am saying, in essence, is it’s time to stop thinking of Eli as a former No. 1 overall pick. It’s time to stop thinking of him as a Manning even. He is what he is, warts and all. But he’s in the NFC championship game, playing (arguably) the best ball of his career. Be happy with and for the guy. He’s far from perfect, but he has guts I think. And he seems to be the same guy, win or lose. For the critics who are about to jump all over that statement, match that up against a Rivers, for instance. I still think I take Manning over Rivers with no LaDainian Tomlinson.
But that’s just me.
