Saturday, April 24, 2004
Bloomberg.com: U.S.
Giants Get Top NFL Draft Pick Manning From Chargers (Update5)
April 24 (Bloomberg) -- The New York Giants acquired quarterback Eli Manning, the first pick in today's National Football League draft, from the San Diego Chargers for quarterback Philip Rivers, the fourth selection, and draft picks.
The Chargers selected Manning of the University of Mississippi even though the 23-year-old quarterback said he didn't want to play in San Diego. New York then chose Rivers and that selection was quickly followed by announcement of a trade in which San Diego also received a third-round draft pick this year and first- and fifth-round selections next year.
Manning and his father, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, told the Chargers that he didn't want the team to draft him. San Diego has had eight straight losing seasons. The elder Manning never played on a winning team during his 14 NFL seasons.
``We wanted something of this nature to happen, and it finally did,'' Eli Manning told reporters at the draft at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi talked with San Diego General Manager A.J. Smith earlier this month to see if the teams could work out a trade before the draft. When they couldn't, the Chargers took Manning despite his wishes.
Manning is the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, the top pick in the 1998 draft. It's the first time two brothers have been No. 1 picks. Archie Manning was the No. 2 overall selection in 1971 from Mississippi.
Trade Announced
The crowd booed as Manning joined NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue on the stage, holding up a No. 1 Chargers jersey and hat for pictures. They then cheered as Tagliabue announced the trade between San Diego and New York.
``It's a great honor to be selected with the first pick,'' Manning said in an interview with ESPN, which broadcast the draft. ``I've dealt with boos before. It's just part of the deal.''
San Diego's decision to select Manning was similar to the 1983 draft when the Baltimore Colts took quarterback John Elway first overall after Elway said he didn't want to play for them. Baltimore eventually traded Elway to Denver, where he won two Super Bowls during a Hall-of-Fame career. The Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984.
``I think he's got a chance to be a great quarterback,'' Accorsi, who was the general manager in Baltimore in 1983, said of Manning. ``What I saw in Manning was a classic prospect. (He has) size, arm, tremendous athletic ability, poise, class and, probably more important than the obvious physical attributes, he lifted his team.''
Manning's Season
The 6-foot-5 Manning passed for 3,242 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. The three-year starter broke 45 school records, including 27 held by his father, and finished third in the 2003 Heisman Trophy voting for the nation's top player.
The drafting of Manning raises questions about the future of starting Giants quarterback Kerry Collins, who is entering the final year of his contract.
Collins, 31, led New York to the Super Bowl following the 2000 season and set a team record with 4,073 passing yards in 2002. He slumped last season, throwing three more interceptions than touchdown passes, as the Giants went 4-12 and missed the playoffs.
The 6-foot-4 Rivers passed for 4,491 yards and 34 touchdowns at North Carolina State last season. He finished his four-year career with 13,484 passing yards, the second-highest total in college football history, and 95 touchdowns passes.
The Oakland Raiders selected Iowa offensive tackle Robert Gallery second and the Arizona Cardinals took Pittsburgh wide receiver with the third choice.
Winslow Selected
After the Giants selected Rivers, two University of Miami players were picked as safety Sean Taylor went to Washington at No. 5 and tight end Kellen Winslow was taken sixth by Cleveland.
The Browns moved up one slot by trading with the Detroit Lions, who chose Texas wide receiver Roy Williams seventh. The Atlanta Falcons took Virginia Tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall eighth, the Jacksonville Jaguars picked Washington receiver Reggie Williams ninth and the Houston Texans rounded out the top 10 with South Carolina cornerback Dunta Robinson.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected the third quarterback of draft in Ben Roethlisberg of Miami University of Ohio at No. 11. The New York Jets followed with Miami of Florida linebacker Jonathan Vilma, the Buffalo Bills took Wisconsin receiver Lee Evans, the Chicago Bears drafted Oklahoma defensive tackle Tommie Harris and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took LSU receiver Michael Clayton 15th.
Eagles Trade Up
The Philadelphia Eagles to the 16th spot and took Arkansas offensive lineman Shawn Andrews, the Denver Broncos took Miami linebacker D.J. Williams and New Orleans chose Ohio State defensive end Will Smith. Miami and Minnesota then traded spots with the Dolphins taking University of Miami guard Vernon Carey and the Vikings picking USC defensive end Kenechi Udeze with the 20th selection.
Another University of Miami player then went as the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots took defensive tackle Vince Wolfork at No. 21. He was the sixth Hurricane taken in the first round, breaking the mark set by USC in 1968 and Miami two years ago.
Buffalo took Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman and Seattle followed by picking Texas defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs. The first running back was then selected as Oregon State's Steven Jackson went to the St. Louis Rams at No. 24.
Green Bay drafted Arkansas cornerback Ahmad Carroll with the next pick, Cincinnati took Michigan running back Chris Perry and Houston chose Western Michigan defensive end Jason Babin.
Panthers' Choice
The Super Bowl runner-up Carolina Panthers took Ohio State cornerback Chris Gamble at the 28th spot and Atlanta next chose Gamble's teammate, wide receiver Michael Jenkins.
Detroit took Virginia Tech running back Kevin Jones, San Francisco took Oklahoma State receiver Rashaun Woods and the Patriots selected Georgia tight end Ben Watson with the 32nd and final pick of the first round.
Seven wide receivers were taken in the opening round, a record for the position.
Giants Get Top NFL Draft Pick Manning From Chargers (Update5)
April 24 (Bloomberg) -- The New York Giants acquired quarterback Eli Manning, the first pick in today's National Football League draft, from the San Diego Chargers for quarterback Philip Rivers, the fourth selection, and draft picks.
The Chargers selected Manning of the University of Mississippi even though the 23-year-old quarterback said he didn't want to play in San Diego. New York then chose Rivers and that selection was quickly followed by announcement of a trade in which San Diego also received a third-round draft pick this year and first- and fifth-round selections next year.
Manning and his father, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, told the Chargers that he didn't want the team to draft him. San Diego has had eight straight losing seasons. The elder Manning never played on a winning team during his 14 NFL seasons.
``We wanted something of this nature to happen, and it finally did,'' Eli Manning told reporters at the draft at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi talked with San Diego General Manager A.J. Smith earlier this month to see if the teams could work out a trade before the draft. When they couldn't, the Chargers took Manning despite his wishes.
Manning is the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, the top pick in the 1998 draft. It's the first time two brothers have been No. 1 picks. Archie Manning was the No. 2 overall selection in 1971 from Mississippi.
Trade Announced
The crowd booed as Manning joined NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue on the stage, holding up a No. 1 Chargers jersey and hat for pictures. They then cheered as Tagliabue announced the trade between San Diego and New York.
``It's a great honor to be selected with the first pick,'' Manning said in an interview with ESPN, which broadcast the draft. ``I've dealt with boos before. It's just part of the deal.''
San Diego's decision to select Manning was similar to the 1983 draft when the Baltimore Colts took quarterback John Elway first overall after Elway said he didn't want to play for them. Baltimore eventually traded Elway to Denver, where he won two Super Bowls during a Hall-of-Fame career. The Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984.
``I think he's got a chance to be a great quarterback,'' Accorsi, who was the general manager in Baltimore in 1983, said of Manning. ``What I saw in Manning was a classic prospect. (He has) size, arm, tremendous athletic ability, poise, class and, probably more important than the obvious physical attributes, he lifted his team.''
Manning's Season
The 6-foot-5 Manning passed for 3,242 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. The three-year starter broke 45 school records, including 27 held by his father, and finished third in the 2003 Heisman Trophy voting for the nation's top player.
The drafting of Manning raises questions about the future of starting Giants quarterback Kerry Collins, who is entering the final year of his contract.
Collins, 31, led New York to the Super Bowl following the 2000 season and set a team record with 4,073 passing yards in 2002. He slumped last season, throwing three more interceptions than touchdown passes, as the Giants went 4-12 and missed the playoffs.
The 6-foot-4 Rivers passed for 4,491 yards and 34 touchdowns at North Carolina State last season. He finished his four-year career with 13,484 passing yards, the second-highest total in college football history, and 95 touchdowns passes.
The Oakland Raiders selected Iowa offensive tackle Robert Gallery second and the Arizona Cardinals took Pittsburgh wide receiver with the third choice.
Winslow Selected
After the Giants selected Rivers, two University of Miami players were picked as safety Sean Taylor went to Washington at No. 5 and tight end Kellen Winslow was taken sixth by Cleveland.
The Browns moved up one slot by trading with the Detroit Lions, who chose Texas wide receiver Roy Williams seventh. The Atlanta Falcons took Virginia Tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall eighth, the Jacksonville Jaguars picked Washington receiver Reggie Williams ninth and the Houston Texans rounded out the top 10 with South Carolina cornerback Dunta Robinson.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected the third quarterback of draft in Ben Roethlisberg of Miami University of Ohio at No. 11. The New York Jets followed with Miami of Florida linebacker Jonathan Vilma, the Buffalo Bills took Wisconsin receiver Lee Evans, the Chicago Bears drafted Oklahoma defensive tackle Tommie Harris and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took LSU receiver Michael Clayton 15th.
Eagles Trade Up
The Philadelphia Eagles to the 16th spot and took Arkansas offensive lineman Shawn Andrews, the Denver Broncos took Miami linebacker D.J. Williams and New Orleans chose Ohio State defensive end Will Smith. Miami and Minnesota then traded spots with the Dolphins taking University of Miami guard Vernon Carey and the Vikings picking USC defensive end Kenechi Udeze with the 20th selection.
Another University of Miami player then went as the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots took defensive tackle Vince Wolfork at No. 21. He was the sixth Hurricane taken in the first round, breaking the mark set by USC in 1968 and Miami two years ago.
Buffalo took Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman and Seattle followed by picking Texas defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs. The first running back was then selected as Oregon State's Steven Jackson went to the St. Louis Rams at No. 24.
Green Bay drafted Arkansas cornerback Ahmad Carroll with the next pick, Cincinnati took Michigan running back Chris Perry and Houston chose Western Michigan defensive end Jason Babin.
Panthers' Choice
The Super Bowl runner-up Carolina Panthers took Ohio State cornerback Chris Gamble at the 28th spot and Atlanta next chose Gamble's teammate, wide receiver Michael Jenkins.
Detroit took Virginia Tech running back Kevin Jones, San Francisco took Oklahoma State receiver Rashaun Woods and the Patriots selected Georgia tight end Ben Watson with the 32nd and final pick of the first round.
Seven wide receivers were taken in the opening round, a record for the position.
