sandra
04-24-2004, 11:36 AM
NEW YORK (AP) -- It took a while before Eli Manning could truly enjoy draft day.
San Diego chose Manning to open Saturday's NFL draft, despite pleas from his family not to, then traded him to the New York Giants for quarterback Philip Rivers.
``I'm a lot happier now than I was 10 minutes ago,'' Manning said during a second news conference; his first came when he still belonged to the Chargers.
``We wanted a trade to happen. We never had favorite teams.''
Manning and his family had requested that the Chargers not select the Mississippi quarterback, but San Diego made him the No. 1 overall pick. An hour later, after the Giants chose North Carolina State's Rivers, the deal was announced.
The Chargers get New York's third-round pick this year and the Giants' first and fifth-rounders in 2005 in addition to Rivers, whose stock soared after private workouts and interviews.
Manning joined brother Peyton, the NFL's co-MVP last season, and father Archie in being picked in the first two spots of a draft. Peyton went first overall in 1998 to Indianapolis, and Archie was the No. 2 pick in 1971. They are the first family to have three players selected in the first round of the draft.
The crowd at Madison Square Garden booed lustily when Eli Manning's name was first called and as he held up a Chargers jersey and hat. They yelled just as loudly when the trade was announced.
``It is nothing new. I've heard boos before,'' Manning said. ``I've been in a lot of stadiums where they've booed.''
Manning even went back on stage after the trade to take photos holding up a Giants jersey. He was joined by Archie, Peyton and his mom, Olivia Manning.
Through Archie and agent Tom Condon, the Mannings told San Diego general manager A.J. Smith not to take Eli, and that Eli was prepared to sit out the season if they did choose him. The Mannings preferred New York, and got what they sought.
With the second pick, Oakland selected Iowa tackle Robert Gallery. Several teams, including the Giants and Browns, were eager to get Gallery, who is considered the best offensive line prospect since Orlando Pace went No. 1 overall to St. Louis in 1997.
``I am going in there to get a starting job and earn respect,'' he said. ``I want to be a part of that legacy and end up in the same category'' as Hall of Famers Art Shell and Gene Upshaw.
Arizona also did the expected, taking wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who was eligible after his sophomore season because he attended prep school before going to Pitt. Fitzgerald was a ball boy for the Vikings when current Cardinals coach Dennis Green was at Minnesota.
By acquiring Manning, the Giants might have signaled the end of Kerry Collins' stay in New York because he has only one year left on his contract at about $8 million.
Just before the Chargers-Giants trade was announced, Washington took Miami safety Sean Taylor, who should be an instant starter.
Detroit traded the sixth overall spot to Cleveland, which moved up just one place and surrendered this year's second-round selection to get Miami tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. Browns coach Butch Davis recruited Winslow to the Hurricanes, and Winslow said going to Cleveland was ``an ideal situation'' for him.
Winslow is the son of Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow.
The Lions went for Texas wide receiver Roy Williams, who they will team with Charles Rogers, taken second overall last year. Williams' stock also rose significantly in the postseason.
Atlanta grabbed Virginia Tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who is a buddy of former college teammate Michael Vick, the Falcons' starting quarterback. Hall says his NFL idol is Deion Sanders, who began his career with the Falcons.
Jacksonville surprisingly took Washington wide receiver Reggie Williams, who was projected to go in the middle of the round -- not in the top 10. But the Jaguars are weak at wideout.
The 10th pick was South Carolina cornerback Dunta Robinson, taken by Houston, which likely will move starting cornerback Marcus Coleman to safety.
Ben Roethlisberger of Miami of Ohio became the third quarterback chosen, going to Pittsburgh, which also had expressed interest in Rivers.
San Diego chose Manning to open Saturday's NFL draft, despite pleas from his family not to, then traded him to the New York Giants for quarterback Philip Rivers.
``I'm a lot happier now than I was 10 minutes ago,'' Manning said during a second news conference; his first came when he still belonged to the Chargers.
``We wanted a trade to happen. We never had favorite teams.''
Manning and his family had requested that the Chargers not select the Mississippi quarterback, but San Diego made him the No. 1 overall pick. An hour later, after the Giants chose North Carolina State's Rivers, the deal was announced.
The Chargers get New York's third-round pick this year and the Giants' first and fifth-rounders in 2005 in addition to Rivers, whose stock soared after private workouts and interviews.
Manning joined brother Peyton, the NFL's co-MVP last season, and father Archie in being picked in the first two spots of a draft. Peyton went first overall in 1998 to Indianapolis, and Archie was the No. 2 pick in 1971. They are the first family to have three players selected in the first round of the draft.
The crowd at Madison Square Garden booed lustily when Eli Manning's name was first called and as he held up a Chargers jersey and hat. They yelled just as loudly when the trade was announced.
``It is nothing new. I've heard boos before,'' Manning said. ``I've been in a lot of stadiums where they've booed.''
Manning even went back on stage after the trade to take photos holding up a Giants jersey. He was joined by Archie, Peyton and his mom, Olivia Manning.
Through Archie and agent Tom Condon, the Mannings told San Diego general manager A.J. Smith not to take Eli, and that Eli was prepared to sit out the season if they did choose him. The Mannings preferred New York, and got what they sought.
With the second pick, Oakland selected Iowa tackle Robert Gallery. Several teams, including the Giants and Browns, were eager to get Gallery, who is considered the best offensive line prospect since Orlando Pace went No. 1 overall to St. Louis in 1997.
``I am going in there to get a starting job and earn respect,'' he said. ``I want to be a part of that legacy and end up in the same category'' as Hall of Famers Art Shell and Gene Upshaw.
Arizona also did the expected, taking wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who was eligible after his sophomore season because he attended prep school before going to Pitt. Fitzgerald was a ball boy for the Vikings when current Cardinals coach Dennis Green was at Minnesota.
By acquiring Manning, the Giants might have signaled the end of Kerry Collins' stay in New York because he has only one year left on his contract at about $8 million.
Just before the Chargers-Giants trade was announced, Washington took Miami safety Sean Taylor, who should be an instant starter.
Detroit traded the sixth overall spot to Cleveland, which moved up just one place and surrendered this year's second-round selection to get Miami tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. Browns coach Butch Davis recruited Winslow to the Hurricanes, and Winslow said going to Cleveland was ``an ideal situation'' for him.
Winslow is the son of Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow.
The Lions went for Texas wide receiver Roy Williams, who they will team with Charles Rogers, taken second overall last year. Williams' stock also rose significantly in the postseason.
Atlanta grabbed Virginia Tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who is a buddy of former college teammate Michael Vick, the Falcons' starting quarterback. Hall says his NFL idol is Deion Sanders, who began his career with the Falcons.
Jacksonville surprisingly took Washington wide receiver Reggie Williams, who was projected to go in the middle of the round -- not in the top 10. But the Jaguars are weak at wideout.
The 10th pick was South Carolina cornerback Dunta Robinson, taken by Houston, which likely will move starting cornerback Marcus Coleman to safety.
Ben Roethlisberger of Miami of Ohio became the third quarterback chosen, going to Pittsburgh, which also had expressed interest in Rivers.