Tillman Makes Eli Manning Look Even Smaller (NYC Crowd Lustily Boos Petulant NFL 'Royalty')

Toledo Blade ^ | April 25, 2004 | John Harris

[threat matrix]

As Eli Manning should now know, just by experiencing the entire country's reaction to Tillman's selfless act, it will be difficult to view Manning as anything other than a spolied selfish jock.

It's going to take time for Manning to win back some of the public's support. He was booed yesterday when NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue introduced him as the top pick.

Tillman's death negates any arguement defending Manning's refusal to play for the Chargers.

Tillman's death helps put into proper perspective the Supreme Court ruling preventing Maurice Clarett and Mike Williams from being eligible in this draft.

Tillman's death makes the comments of Cleveland Browns Kellen Winslow Jr. describing himself as a 'solider' following a game at the University of Miami appear hopelessly out of touch with reality.

As a result of Tillman's death, things that seem important, really aren't.

Because we witnessed Tillman playing football at the highest level, we can mourn his death and the deaths of other American soldiers.

Tillman is among hundereds to perish in the war. His death, however puts a face on every American soldier.

[threat matrix]

The NY fans are going to eat Eli Manning alive if he doesn't come to play after this..

[jocon307]

This is a great post, thanks. I didn't really understand it until I read the whole article.

It really seems to me that Pat Tillman has not died in vain. His death seems to me to have affected many, many people very, very much. And invoked in all a new appreciation of duty, and courage, and honor.

Amazing.

[maro]

I don't know why Eli Manning is "selfish" for wanting to play for whomever he wants to play for. That's the same freedom you and I enjoy. This whole draft thing is inherently anti-competitive and weird. Imagine if coming out of college one company "drafted" you, meaning you couldn't look for a job with any other company.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Sheesh. What does everyone have against a guy that doesn't want to be hit on every play? No one seems to be still calling John Elway a whiner or a crybaby...

[threat matrix]

Manning had the choice to sit out a year and play for whom ever he wanted.

Seems fair to me..

[threat matrix]

Yeah, but that was after Elway won two Super Bowls.. (one by sacrificing his body in the end zone for the touchdown)

[JZoback]

Unless he was drafted to play football in Afghanistan, there was no downside.

Great line!

[WinOne4TheGipper]

But I don't like the team he went to. The only NFC East team he should play for is the Cowboys.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Sheesh. What does everyone have against a guy that doesn't want to be hit on every play? No one seems to be still calling John Elway a whiner or a crybaby...

And Michael Vick, who told the chargers exactly the same thing Manning did.

[lonestar]

Seems fair to me..

Me, too. It wasn't about money and he had been up front with them that he would not play for them before the draft. The Chargers got a lot for him so it would seem they all were happy.

Most of the boos came from Charger fans which is understandable.

[threat matrix]

[cajungirl]

why is everyone mad at Manning?

[threat matrix]

I think Marty got a 1st round and 3rd round pick for Manning..right?

[Vigilantcitizen]

why is everyone mad at Manning?

Because someone with the Chargers organization leaked inside information that's usually kept under wraps.

[commish]

The great thing about this whole Charade is that the Giants got raped by the Chargers, and SD got the better QB.

Eli is more physically talented than Phillip Rivers, but Rivers is much better at controlling the field.

The difference between the two is nowhere near wothr giving up two first round picks, a third round and a fifth round. Which is essentially what the Giants did.

I do feel sorry for Eli in one respect. He is going to be dogged by his NY teammates unmercifully about being a "Daddy's Boy". Everything he does in camp is going to get, "are you sure? maybe you should ask daddy if you can do that."

[SandRat]

Imagine if coming out of college one company "drafted" you, meaning you couldn't look for a job with any other company.

In my generation 1 company did draft the Military.

Many LIBERAL Arts College Grads would probably like it.

[Cable225]

Obviously, there isn't any comparision between serving your country and playing football.

However, the draft is held in New York. The crowd wasn't booing Eli, they were booing the Chargers for not trading the pick to the the Giants.

[Enterprise]

I think for a long time now, a lot of us will view the NFL with Tillman in the background. Whenever I see any more commercials with the struttin, tough talking, smackdown, "This a man's game," linebacker - I will think of Tillman. And I'll wonder, Tillman served his country, I served my country, and a whole LOT of MEN and WOMEN served this country, but how 'bout the tough talking, smackdown, football player, is he man enough to serve, like Tillman? Oherwise, I don't want to hear about tough. Just shut up and play.

[Mr. Bird]

Manning had the choice to sit out a year and play for whom ever he wanted

Only if he went undrafted next year; a team retains rights to their draftees for the year. Bo Jackson sat out a year, but was drafted by the Raiders the next year. Manning would not obtain free agent status unless no one drafted him, an unlikely scenario.