Eli Manning story for the Washington Times
Manning still fights inflated expectations
By Denis Gorman
NEW YORK — Sinorice Moss finished the interviewer's question with a laugh.
"Is it fair?" the second-year wide receiver from Miami said with a giggle when asked about the criticism his quarterback faces.
When the NFC wild card leading Giants (9-4) play host to the Redskins (6-7) today, will there be another player on the field facing more scrutiny than Eli Manning?
In his fourth year, the 26-year-old has completed 250 of 429 passes for 2,790 yards with 18 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and a passer rating of 75.2.
But in Manning's case, his production isn't good enough because of his lineage and where he was drafted.
At the 2004 NFL Draft, former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi traded the rights to fourth overall draft pick Philip Rivers, a third-round pick, and first- and fifth-round selections in the 2005 draft to the Chargers for Manning's draft rights.
Those picks became outside linebacker Shawne Merriman (the first-round pick), kicker Nick Kaeding (the third-round) and offensive lineman Roman Oben, whom the Chargers acquired by trading their 2005 fifth-round pick to Tampa Bay.
The foursome were integral to the Chargers' 14-2 record last season. Merriman led the NFL with 17 sacks despite missing four games after testing positive for a banned substance. Kaeding finished third in scoring with 136 points. Rivers completed almost 61.7 percent of his passes for 3,388 yards, 22 touchdowns and had a quarterback rating of 92.0, good for eighth in the league. Oben helped open the holes that led to LaDainian Tomlinson's NFL-leading 1,815 rushing yards and record 31 touchdowns.
Contrast the Chargers' success with the 2006 Giants, who sneaked into the playoffs with an 8-8 record. Manning completed 57.7 percent of his passes for 3,244 yards, 24 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
Solid numbers, until considering that, like his teammates, Manning's first eight games of the season proved better than his last eight.
In the first half of the season, he threw 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions as the Giants went 6-2. In the season's last eight games, Manning threw nine touchdowns and nine interceptions during New York's 2-6 free fall.
The Chargers' success and Giants' collapse caused the New York fans and media to wonder how different the Giants would be if they had kept the picks. Defensively, Merriman may have combined with defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora and outside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka to form one of the most feared pass-rushing quartets in the league.
Since Brad Daluiso signed with the Raiders following the 2000 season, the Giants have had a revolving door at kicker. Kaeding could have given New York a dependable kicker, while Rivers, like Manning, would learn how to be a NFL quarterback on the job.
Certainly, a Giants team with Merriman, Kaeding and Rivers is an intriguing thought, until considering that in the almost 3½ years that Manning has been the Giants' starting quarterback, he has a 30-26 regular-season record. Against NFC East rivals, he is 11-8, including wins in three of the last four games against the Redskins. Should the Giants win tonight, he would join the short list of quarterbacks who have led their team to three straight playoff berths since 2004, along with brother Peyton, Tom Brady and Matt Hasselbeck.
"Everyone knows about his brother, Tom Brady and Hasselbeck, great quarterbacks," Moss said. "It's great company for him to be in. The quarterback position, it takes patience and he's been handling it well."
In the last four weeks, the Giants have won three games with playoff-style football.
In the three wins, Manning has completed 61 of 97 passes for 697 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He was at his best in the fourth quarter against the Bears two weeks ago. Trailing 13-7 at the start of the fourth, Manning spearheaded two touchdown drives for a 21-16 win.
"My focus is on winning games. My focus is on Washington and playing our best [game] of the year," Manning said. "We've got to get better. There are plays we're leaving on the field; we've got to make sure we're playing our best. We have moved the ball, just not finished drives. We have to make improvements and finish; we want to get better every week, we have to get better at scoring points."
http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071216/SPORTS/549245686/1005/SPORTS
December 16, 2007
By Denis Gorman
NEW YORK — Sinorice Moss finished the interviewer's question with a laugh.
"Is it fair?" the second-year wide receiver from Miami said with a giggle when asked about the criticism his quarterback faces.
When the NFC wild card leading Giants (9-4) play host to the Redskins (6-7) today, will there be another player on the field facing more scrutiny than Eli Manning?
In his fourth year, the 26-year-old has completed 250 of 429 passes for 2,790 yards with 18 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and a passer rating of 75.2.
But in Manning's case, his production isn't good enough because of his lineage and where he was drafted.
At the 2004 NFL Draft, former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi traded the rights to fourth overall draft pick Philip Rivers, a third-round pick, and first- and fifth-round selections in the 2005 draft to the Chargers for Manning's draft rights.
Those picks became outside linebacker Shawne Merriman (the first-round pick), kicker Nick Kaeding (the third-round) and offensive lineman Roman Oben, whom the Chargers acquired by trading their 2005 fifth-round pick to Tampa Bay.
The foursome were integral to the Chargers' 14-2 record last season. Merriman led the NFL with 17 sacks despite missing four games after testing positive for a banned substance. Kaeding finished third in scoring with 136 points. Rivers completed almost 61.7 percent of his passes for 3,388 yards, 22 touchdowns and had a quarterback rating of 92.0, good for eighth in the league. Oben helped open the holes that led to LaDainian Tomlinson's NFL-leading 1,815 rushing yards and record 31 touchdowns.
Contrast the Chargers' success with the 2006 Giants, who sneaked into the playoffs with an 8-8 record. Manning completed 57.7 percent of his passes for 3,244 yards, 24 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
Solid numbers, until considering that, like his teammates, Manning's first eight games of the season proved better than his last eight.
In the first half of the season, he threw 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions as the Giants went 6-2. In the season's last eight games, Manning threw nine touchdowns and nine interceptions during New York's 2-6 free fall.
The Chargers' success and Giants' collapse caused the New York fans and media to wonder how different the Giants would be if they had kept the picks. Defensively, Merriman may have combined with defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora and outside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka to form one of the most feared pass-rushing quartets in the league.
Since Brad Daluiso signed with the Raiders following the 2000 season, the Giants have had a revolving door at kicker. Kaeding could have given New York a dependable kicker, while Rivers, like Manning, would learn how to be a NFL quarterback on the job.
Certainly, a Giants team with Merriman, Kaeding and Rivers is an intriguing thought, until considering that in the almost 3½ years that Manning has been the Giants' starting quarterback, he has a 30-26 regular-season record. Against NFC East rivals, he is 11-8, including wins in three of the last four games against the Redskins. Should the Giants win tonight, he would join the short list of quarterbacks who have led their team to three straight playoff berths since 2004, along with brother Peyton, Tom Brady and Matt Hasselbeck.
"Everyone knows about his brother, Tom Brady and Hasselbeck, great quarterbacks," Moss said. "It's great company for him to be in. The quarterback position, it takes patience and he's been handling it well."
In the last four weeks, the Giants have won three games with playoff-style football.
In the three wins, Manning has completed 61 of 97 passes for 697 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He was at his best in the fourth quarter against the Bears two weeks ago. Trailing 13-7 at the start of the fourth, Manning spearheaded two touchdown drives for a 21-16 win.
"My focus is on winning games. My focus is on Washington and playing our best [game] of the year," Manning said. "We've got to get better. There are plays we're leaving on the field; we've got to make sure we're playing our best. We have moved the ball, just not finished drives. We have to make improvements and finish; we want to get better every week, we have to get better at scoring points."
http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071216/SPORTS/549245686/1005/SPORTS
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:20 AM
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