Poor Eli: Season Finale
It's all Eli's fault
Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 12:15 PM"Poor Eli" is a weekly compilation of quotes by both the media and fans about New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning.
Despite his recent success, negativity and doubt have followed Peyton's younger brother since the moment he was traded from the San Diego Chargers to the New York Giants on draft day of 2004. Regardless of what he does or how well he performs – even in a league that lives and dies by the motto, "What have you done for me lately?" – he is questioned and criticized.
In Sunday's divisional playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Eli Manning's world came crashing down around him. The defending Super Bowl champions were upended, 23-11, and their dreams of repeating were shattered.
Manning had receivers dropping passes and running the incorrect routes, but he certainly didn't make it any easier on himself. After a week of rest and preparation, Manning came out rusty and resembled the "Eli of old." He completed only 15-of-29 passes for 169 yards, while tossing two costly interceptions.
Unfortunately for Eli, his tremendous season went up in smoke and his postseason performance opened a huge can of worms. For the next several months, he'll have to endure the kind of talk that gradually faded away after his magical 2007 Super Bowl run.
User Bob in Newburgh, Big Blue Interactive
"If [the Giants] are going to build a run offense around [Brandon] Jacobs, shouldn't they consider ditching Eli [Manning] and using a game manager type QB with good legs and a strong arm?"
Sean Carroll, Giants 101
"Even if [Plaxico] Burress had been on the field [Sunday], he likely would not have been able to make up for the poor performance of Eli Manning."
Allen Barra, The Village Voice
"Eli Manning, after [Sunday's] belly flop against the Philadelphia Eagles, is 4-3 and has averaged just a 6.7 postseason YPP."
Jeff Beresford-Howe, The Takeaway
"The Giants lost 23-11 and are not going to repeat as Super Bowl champions in large measure because Eli Manning was erratic and turnover prone, flummoxed by famously windy Giants Stadium."
Rob Longley, Toronto Sun
"Heck, Eli Manning could barely throw a spiral, let alone lead the New York Giants to a playoff win against their despised division rivals from down the New Jersey Turnpike."
Steven Resnick, Bleacher Report
"Giants fans better be prepared for the losing because let's just face it, Manning didn't lead the team to the Super Bowl. It was the Giants defense in 2007 that led them to the victory. Manning was just the man at the helm for them."
Frank De Resa via Jim Baumbach, Newsday
"It pains me to say it as a lifelong Giants fan, but the Giants will never win another Super Bowl with Eli Manning at QB. He will go down in history as probably the only QB in history who can't win at home in the playoffs!"
Derek, Iggle Blog
"RIP: The idea that Eli Manning is an elite quarterback."
Ragin Rondo, Sportsfly Blog
"Don't bet on Eli Manning ... for anything. I don't care if he won a Super Bowl; he still poses a Manning Face all game."
Dave Goldberg, Kansas City Star
"Eli Manning's continued inability to play well in the Meadowlands wind."
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