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Eli Manning breaks down why he didn't want to go to San Diego
Posted on 5/14/26 at 11:32 am
Posted on 5/14/26 at 11:32 am
Some interesting stuff in here. A few snippets:
- The initial trade offer to San Diego actually wasn't New York, it was Cleveland. Eli's agent said "we're not going there either."
- He didn't feel the Chargers were committed to winning at the time, based on what he'd heard from several different people. His agent represented a few coaches/players on the Chargers and also didn't think it was a good place for him.
- Loved Marty Schottenheimer as a coach and had a lot of respect for him.
- When San Diego came to work him out in New Orleans, Marty, the GM, and the owner took him to dinner at the Marriott. They were all arguing with each other the whole time, there was a lot of dysfunction. Marty eventually gets pissed and says, "We're in New Orleans and we're eating at a Marriott?" Eli said the front office and coaches weren't on the same page.
- Said he was impressed with their turnaround in 2006, going 14-2, but when they fired Marty and both coordinators after the playoff loss he said it proved "they really didn't know what they were ever doing."
- Nothing against San Diego, loved the city, but wanted to win games.
- Two days before the workout, Cam Cameron (OC) sent him a playbook with a $20 bill taped to the last page. He knew he didn't want to go to San Diego and thought about brushing off the $20 thing to tank his stock, but didn't want word to get around the league that he doesn't read playbooks. So he gave it back to Cam on the side where nobody else could see it.
- Archie didn't like the idea of demanding out of San Diego at all, but ended up taking a brunt of the criticism because in public he took up for Eli.
- Would've been happy in Pittsburgh too. There were rumblings they might trade up, but ended up staying put and taking Roethlisberger.
This post was edited on 5/15/26 at 3:25 pm
24
Posted on 5/14/26 at 11:35 am to Kinderman
Drama aside, I think how it all played out showed they made the right or at least a good decision in the end.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 11:35 am to Kinderman
Hard to argue with his reasoning in hindsight. It worked out for him
Posted on 5/14/26 at 11:37 am to Kinderman
quote:
it was Cleveland. Eli's agent said "we're not going there either."
frick this
Posted on 5/14/26 at 11:42 am to Kinderman
quote:
"We're in New Orleans and we're eating at a Marriott?"
Valid.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 11:50 am to Kinderman
quote:
When San Diego came to work him out in New Orleans, Marty, the GM, and the owner took him to dinner at the Marriott.
Huge red flag
Posted on 5/14/26 at 11:55 am to Kinderman
quote:
Marty eventually gets pissed and says, "We're in New Orleans and we're eating at a Marriott?"
Green flag for Marty.
Ref flag for the chargers.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 11:56 am to Kinderman
And they still had Drew Brees under contract
Posted on 5/14/26 at 12:02 pm to Kinderman
Great insight. You can’t spell ELITE without ELI!
Posted on 5/14/26 at 12:03 pm to Kinderman
Meh, no way to walk this back. Eli acted like a spoiled baby
Posted on 5/14/26 at 12:37 pm to TheOcean
Cap. ELIte had every reason to not want to end up like his dad. The right choice was made and ELIte brought two BOWLS to the City of Champions; and more important that that, he took two rings away from cheaters.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 12:55 pm to TheOcean
Say what you will, he turned out to be right. The Chargers ownership has always been a shite show. Dean Spanos was one of the leagues worst owners and his son is only marginally better.
Countless guys have had their career sunk by going to places with unstable coaching and ownership. Eli was wise to use whatever control that he had.
Countless guys have had their career sunk by going to places with unstable coaching and ownership. Eli was wise to use whatever control that he had.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:12 pm to Kinderman
Eli did the right thing. The Chargers were a shitshow at the time. These new details support that. Who eats at a Marriott in New Orleans?
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:14 pm to Kinderman
quote:
"We're in New Orleans and we're eating at a Marriott?"
All he had to say.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:28 pm to Saint Alfonzo
quote:
The Chargers were a shitshow at the time
But you have to give them credit. First response to not wanting to play with them is to say “F it, we’ll just send your arse to Clev”
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:32 pm to Kinderman
quote:
Marty eventually gets pissed and says, "We're in New Orleans and we're eating at a Marriott?"
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:34 pm to Weekend Warrior79
quote:
First response to not wanting to play with them is to say “F it, we’ll just send your arse to Clev”
Cleveland wouldn't trade with San Diego if they knew Eli wouldn't sign with them.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:47 pm to TheOcean
Would you like to go through that eras history of Chargers QBs, picks and development?
- Ryan Leaf- whether you agree with the pick or not that situation was handled as poorly as possible by the Chargers
- Trading away the chance at Micheal Vick
- Drew Brees, let him walk away
- scared Manning off
It’s not like he was the first problem, there was a history of head scratching moves, specifically regarding QBs, that were legitimate concerns for Eli. The fact that they even entertained a possibility because of Marty shows his priorities lined up with his actions so it isn’t BS and isn’t being a “spoiled brat”. I’m always shocked at how media still fools people even after all this time.
- Ryan Leaf- whether you agree with the pick or not that situation was handled as poorly as possible by the Chargers
- Trading away the chance at Micheal Vick
- Drew Brees, let him walk away
- scared Manning off
It’s not like he was the first problem, there was a history of head scratching moves, specifically regarding QBs, that were legitimate concerns for Eli. The fact that they even entertained a possibility because of Marty shows his priorities lined up with his actions so it isn’t BS and isn’t being a “spoiled brat”. I’m always shocked at how media still fools people even after all this time.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:59 pm to RolltidePA
I would rather be criticized for controversial decisions that lead to winning than make safe decisions that lead to losing.
No one celebrates loyalty or “doing the right thing” in sports if it doesn’t accompany success. If Manning had gone to SD and had an average career, no one today would be saying, “Man, I really admire Eli for staying true to the draft process.”
No one celebrates loyalty or “doing the right thing” in sports if it doesn’t accompany success. If Manning had gone to SD and had an average career, no one today would be saying, “Man, I really admire Eli for staying true to the draft process.”
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:06 pm to Kinderman
Surf or ski 
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