/

Eli Manning & Alex Smith: Show Some Respect

  • In the NFL playoffs, the perennial slogan is “win or go home.” In these games, every player on every team fortunate enough to play in mid-January has nothing to lose. Losing is not an option and players often risk injury in order to play for the coveted Lombardi trophy. For two veteran (but still young) quarterbacks, this week’s NFC championship game might prove to be the defining moment of their respective careers.

    Eli Manning and Alex Smith have been disrespected their entire careers. Eli’s been the baby brother of Peyton “Probably the Smartest NFL Player Ever” Manning. Despite numerous accomplishments, Eli’s success is often overlooked because his brother is one of the best quarterbacks to play the game. He’s the most famous little brother on TV since Gary Coleman played Arnold Jackson on the 1980s sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. If you’ve ever been compared to Gary Coleman, you know that everything isn’t exactly going your way.

    In the NFL, the only stat that matters is the number of Super Bowls you’ve won. This is why Joe Montana will always be remembered as a better QB than Dan Marino. Both had great Hall of Fame careers but it’s hard to justify that Marino is the better player when he failed to win a Super Bowl. Eli and Peyton have won the same number of championships, yet Peyton is always referred to as the superior player.

    Basically, Eli Manning is suffering from one the largest celebrity inferiority complexes since Tom Cruise realized that everyone in Hollywood was taller him. Instead of joining a Scientology congregation, Manning has let his play dictate his legacy. In 2011, Manning played with confidence and ranked in the top 10 in most passing categories. He even went as far to declare himself a “Top Five QB” back in August. Although I’m not quite sure he deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence as Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers, I respect Manning’s confidence in his abilities.

    - Chad Hollis
    Twitter: @djhollisto

    Share on TwitterShareShare on LinkedInShare on Tumblr

    Related posts:

    Comments



    January 20th, 2012 | Dan | 1 Comment |

One Response and Counting...

  • POLLO LOCO 01.20.2012

    This article was written yesterday? You must not watch football. Eli Manning is definitely in the top 5. Where is Drew Brees at? Where is Aaron Rodgers at right now? Eli is accurate, smart, and under pressure (i.e. 2 minute drill/4th quarter) he plays BETTER than the 3 quarterbacks you mentioned. he is definitely ELIte Manning. And according to your article, if he wins a super bowl he will be better Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees because after-all, it’s about Super Bowl Rings, right?