Eli's Post-SB Presser

by Coltsfan58 on Jan 21, 2008 9:30 PM EST

What follows is an excerpt from the middle of Eli Manning's press conference after the Super Bowl. Eli has just led the Giants to a 21-17 win over the Patriots. We join him after the media has asked the usual inane questions ("What are you feeling?", "Is this the highlight of your career?", "Aren't the Patriots the greatest team ever, even though you beat them?") that pass for post-game examination in the 21st century. We pick it up as Eli counters with a cliché of his own.

Eli: "...It was a big win for us."

Q. "Eli, Dick Hardman, North South Orange Post Herald Tribune. Were you nervous in the fourth quarter, when you guys were up the four points and Brady started moving them down the field?"

Eli: "Um, well, uh, yes, because, remember, they had scored, ah, the most points in the regular season and they had the second-best quarterback in the league driving them. But I knew our defense was great and those guys rose to the occasion and Osi sacked Brady off to ice it."

[A commotion erupts in the rear of the interview room. Tony Kornheiser, deigning to stand with the great unwashed mass of daily newspaper reporters from places like Des Moines and Bangor, has collapsed on the floor and is sobbing, moaning incoherently about the greatest season by the greatest quarterback on the greatest team ever]

Q. "Eli, Richard Johnson, KDIK, Fargo. Let me make sure I got this right. Did you say "second-best quarterback"?"

Eli [impatiently]: "Yeah."

Q. "Wait. Tom Brady is the MVP. The Patriots are undefeated, uh, well, except for this. They're the greatest team of all time. ESPN tells us so. And you're saying he's not the best?"

Eli [glares condescendingly]: "My brother is the best quarterback in the National Football League. Anyone who knows football knows that. Next question."

Q. "Eli, Peter Sackman, Eastern Shore South Jersey Chronicle Times Enquirer. Aren't you aware that Brady threw 50 touchdown passes this year? How can you not say that's the greatest year ever?'

Eli: "Listen, it's not even the best season in the past 4 years. Peyton's 2004 season was better statistically."

Q. "Eli, Ricardo Fumar, San Pedro Sun Journal Gazette. So, you're telling us, Peyton has one ring, Brady has three, but Peyton's better. How do you expect us to believe that?"

Eli: "I don't expect you in the media to believe it, because you root so hard for the Patriots and Brady--it's your storyline to sell your product. But, as we proved today, it's a team game. You win with 53 guys. Tom Brady has rings because the Patriots won them, not him individually. What those rings mean is that in those years, the Patriots had the best team. Yes, he contributed--a lot--but in the end it's a team game.

And, see if you can quote me accurately, Peyton is the best quarterback...."

[Eli's press conference immediately vanishes from ESPN News. ESPN executives said later they cut away from his remarks because they were "unimportant"]

I'm sure Eli Manning wants to win the Super Bowl primarily for his teammates and for himself. But I can't help feel there might be a little extra motivation to take down his big brother's bitter archrivals.

Trolls, before you spew your vitriol: Brady is a great, great quarterback. You can argue for him or for Manning, according to your view, and have ammunition to back it up. And, for this Colts fan, Brady is the most interesting and exciting opposing player to watch, standing so nonchalantly in the pocket while the line holds the defenders, Moss pushes off to get open (that is, when he gives more than 50% effort, which he didn't against SD) and Welker creeps across the middle like an old woman nursing a hip fracture. Okay, okay, maybe that's unfair. But this is a Colts site; don't expect us to prostrate ourselves before your team like ESPN and PFT. See, you've gotten used to everyone telling you how great the Pats are, and it provokes you when we won't play that game. At Stampede Blue, never, never, never.

Go Giants! Go Eli!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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This just occurred to me...

When Tom Brady beats Eli Manning for a second time this season, Brady will set, yet another NFL record:

MOST MANNINGS BEAT IN A SINGLE SEASON - THREE (3)

Look it up guys... bet it's the new mark for Manning beatings. This one may stand for a while too. The beat goes on.

by horseofadifferentcolor on Jan 22, 2008 12:28 PM EST 0 recs

Romo had the previous record at 2 ;)

by Terry on Jan 22, 2008 2:48 PM EST up 0 recs

Wow... did he really.

Thank you for that Terry. Did Romo beat up on Junior twice this year.. I guess he did. Romo could have tied the record with a win in the W/C game. Oh well.

Technically, Romo & Brady are tied for MMBIASS at 2 but Brady gets to take down the younger a second time in the SB, and make it 3 Mannings in one season.

by horseofadifferentcolor on Jan 22, 2008 5:28 PM EST 0 recs

actually Romo did it twice

2006 he beat Peyton and Eli
2007 he beat Eli twice

by Terry on Jan 22, 2008 9:58 PM EST up 0 recs

Too bad for you ...

that Eli came out on top when it counted.

by PaytonMenning on Jan 23, 2008 10:02 PM EST up 0 recs

I agree, that is too bad

by Terry on Jan 24, 2008 9:12 AM EST up 0 recs

Romo owns the Manning boys!

by horseofadifferentcolor on Jan 23, 2008 12:12 AM EST 0 recs

Too bad

he doesn't own any playoff wins.

by ctnyc on Jan 23, 2008 1:08 AM EST up 0 recs

give him time, he's only started year and half

last time I checked it took Peyton a lot more than 2 years to win his first playoff game.

by Terry on Jan 23, 2008 2:26 PM EST up 0 recs

hehehe

That was gold and it'd be great if the Giants did win and Eli mentioned Peyts.

Anyone who truly thinks Brady is better than Manning is an idiot. Anyone who truly thinks Brady's season was better than Manning's 04 is an idiot. Anyone who truly thinks SB wins define the quality of a QB is an idiot and needs to grasp that football isn't tennis.

All I know is Brady stank it up vs the Chargers and Manning dominated them...and Manning didn't have the fort knox OL, the supposed greatest offense in history and guys NOT dropping/tipping his passes. All one needs to do vs Brady is get any decent pressure on him and he starts to suck. Why? Well first, he never has been great vs pressure (no qb really is) but this year he's even worse since it is SO RARE to him that it gets him shaky. Every game where he has got even an ounce of consistent pressure he has stunk it up.

I think for the 08 season that assuming there are no other big injuries, Peyton is going to go wild 2004 style again and Brady will go back to his typical type season. It is pretty amusing to me that 07 was a supposed "off year" for Peyton (at least that is what the media likes to portray) yet it was better than anything Brady had done up until this season and Manning did it without Marvin for most of the season, a rookie wr, a broken OL for a good part, etc. All we heard before was Peyton only did well because of marvin and everything and couldn't do it under adverse conditions or with lesser talent around him...well, he did it this season so what does that say to anyone with half a functioning brain? The game vs the Chargers IMO showed exactly what is in store for Manning and the Colts O next season.

Oh and there is no doubt Brady is a great qb and is the 2nd best in the nfl and one of the best in the modern nfl era...he just isn't better than Peyton. NOTHING PROVES OTHERWISE.

It'll be funny if Moss is not brought back (I am thinking he is gone after this season) and Brady's numbers drop off quite a bit since teams will then focus on Welker like they should have been doing all along. No doubt the media will then find a way to flip it and not see that Brady had the year he did because of Moss being there.

I personally think that this was "the year" for NE and that if/when they win the SB they will have a lot of changes and go into a semi rebuilding phase. The reason I believe this is because the D IS GETTING VERY OLD and it is clear it is not as good as it used to be and I don't see them doing anything to build it up. Every team that wanted to was able to pass at will on NE and simple logic says this magically won't change next season. It is my opinion then that they went into 07 with the intent to try and dominate and win a final SB before having to really alter the roster and that is why they got some of the guys they did...think of it like the 1994 49ers when they brought in all those guys to win the ring/beat the cowboys. The Pats knew they were getting old and Indy was getting younger/better so they went and tried to load up on free agents/trades to make the push to win another ring. It is clear how pissed off they get when things don't go their way and IMO that just backs up this theory because if you don't think your time is running out you wouldn't be sooooooooooooo obsessed with trying to be perfect and getting mad at ANY minor mistake.

If the Pats can keep the roster and dominate in 08 then I will be impressed but I truly do not see it happening.

by Rob L on Jan 24, 2008 2:17 PM EST 0 recs

Robbo...

Calm down, we all know Peyt's is the best in the NFL. I mean, he holds all those passing records... err.. he used to hold all those passing records. Individual records are meaningless... I mean this guy is money in big games... hell, he's led that Colts team to..... one Super Bowl. Ahhh... he's the best God damn it, we all know that. He's ahh... really good when he.... doesn't have to win playoff games.

That other QB can't hold a candle to Peyt's... I mean what has that loser done. Two of those three Super Bowl wins were lucky... I mean come on, it was the kicker that actually won those games... after Brady lead them down the field. And this year... Brady with those ridulous stats - Christ I could throw 50 TD passes to those receivers! Brady finally gets the same receiver talent as Manning and what happens the guy goes crazy... errr.. that didn't come out right.

Anyway, Peyt's is the best, it's very clear, always has been. Did you see this guy in 2004... completed everything... everything. Yes, he folded in the playoffs that year... so what if he doesn't do well in big games... there's tons of QB's that... ahh.. don't do well under the pressure of... the ahh playoffs.

Manning's the best and Brady's second best... it's all right there for you see. Well... you know... ahh.. skip over the playoff stuff and ahh.. ignore the new TD records and you'll see that ahh.. when Peyt's has Marvin out there he's unbeatable... not unbeatable but better than he was ahh.. when he chocked in the ahh.. Charger game.

And besides... those Brady lead Patriots are cheaters.

by horseofadifferentcolor on Jan 24, 2008 3:21 PM EST 0 recs

No one said to

ignore the individual stats, like the TD record. Peyton did 49 TD's in 15 games. Brady took 16. Peyton sat the 16th. Peyton wins that one. period.

Superbowls are not an invdividual accomplishment - QBs play a role, but Brady couldn't take, for instance, the Dolphins to the Super bowl.

I also wouldn't say it's entirely clear - there is a good argument for both; however, when you look at the string of seasons Manning has put together, along with the records (when couched in facts, not media puffing); Manning edges Brady out.

Until last season, it was completely clear cut.

by PaytonMenning on Jan 24, 2008 10:36 PM EST up 0 recs

PM

I'm ready and willing to give the edge to Manning, I just can't find an edge to give him. We used to hear that, though Manning doesn't do well in the playoffs, he had that season for the ages in 2004. Well, he still can't lead his team consistently through the playoffs and Brady has one-upped him in the season for the ages thing.

O.K. lets grant Manning the TD passing record for 15 games - Brady still holds the 16 game record, the 17 game record, the 18 game record and most probably the 19 game record. So we'll give him a solid fifth on the TD passing list.

Brady might not be able to take the Dolphins to the Super Bowl but, he sure as hell could take the Colts to the promised land. You see... he doesn't fail to get that desperately needed TD from the 9 yard line with 2:50 to go in the Chargers game.

What's really frightening for Colt fans is: Brady is just finding his stride, wait 'til you see this guy next year! Yikes!!

by horseofadifferentcolor on Jan 25, 2008 12:10 PM EST 0 recs

Yeah

wait until you see his face after Bob Sanders is through with him.

by PaytonMenning on Jan 26, 2008 1:31 AM EST up 0 recs

PM

My God man! Bob Sanders couldn't stop the back-up QB for the San Diego Chargers!!! He's got no chance at stopping the super-talented Brady next year when he's gotten to know those receivers even better.

by horseofadifferentcolor on Jan 28, 2008 2:18 PM EST 0 recs