Eli faces the team he rejected…

Posted on | September 23, 2005 | No Comments

Sheepish Eli Manning must face the team and city he dismissed a year before at the 2004 NFL Draft.

September 25, the Chargers will play host to the New York Giants and their Quarterback Eli Manning. The sold-out game will be played at 5:00pm on ESPN. The Sunday Night games are rare in San Diego making this game even more special. But the majority of the spotlight will be focused on the #1 draft pick of the 2004 draft.

Eli Manning will be greeted by boo’s and insults the like only the Oakland Raiders get to see. The 12th man (the crowd) will play a pivotal role in this game. Eli will have to overcome this if his team wants to see a victory. The Chargers Defense on the other hand are going headhunting. You can imagine the locker room bets going on right now, on who’s going to sack him first.

The San Diego Chargers had the first round pick for the 2004 draft after a dismal 4-12 record. They selected Eli Manning, the son of Archie Manning and brother to Peyton Manning, all great Quarterbacks. Eli, under the advisement of his family, had indicated he would not play for the San Diego Chargers if selected #1. He was selected any way. The mastermind GM for the Chargers AJ Smith played ball and won.

After the 4th pick of the draft, it was announced Eli Manning would be come a Giant, thanks to a draft day trade, by the Chargers. The Chargers in turn for Eli would get Phillip Rivers, the Quarterback they had scouted all along, as well as an additional 3rd round pick in the 2004 draft, the Giants #1 draft pick in 2005 and their #5. With these selections the Chargers picked up Nate Kaeding, and Shawnee Meriman.