Player Profile – Eli Manning

Name – Elisha Nelson Manning

Position – Quarterback

Team – New York Giants

Height – 6 foot 4 inches

Age – 31

College – Ole Miss

Drafted – 1st overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers

Eli Manning’s draft story is one of the most talked about in all of football. In the 2004 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers took Manning with the 1st overall pick despite Manning’s insistence — and that of his legendary father — that he wouldn’t play for the Chargers. Consequently, the Chargers leveraged a deal with the New York Giants drafted Philip Rivers with the fourth-overall pick. Rivers was then traded to the Chargers with additional picks for Manning.

For much of his career, Eli has been seen as somewhat of a disappointment. This is largely because the standards set by both his father and brother made expectations on the younger Manning far too high for — even the best of stable psyches to cope with. However, in 2007, Eli would show the world that he should be on the grandest stage with his family as he took the Giants to the playoffs. In the Super Bowl, Eli did the unthinkable against the unbeaten New England Patriots by hitting David Tyree for one of the most famous receptions in NFL history.

What many people forget about the “Helmet Catch” is that it would never have happened had it not been for Eli’s poise and mobility as the pocket collapsed on him and he was forced to dodge a flurry of defenders before getting the pass off. Four plays later, he hit Plaxico Burress for the game-winning touchdown in a dramatic fourth quarter finish.

Since then, Manning has gone back to being the less than spectacular quarterback he had been before until this season when he played lights out. Now he is on his way to his second Super Bowl appearance, which will once again be against the New England Patriots and, surprisingly, has an opportunity to go one better than his more heralded brother by getting his second Super Bowl ring.

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