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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Chargers Take Manning With Top Pick, Trade Him To Giants
4/24/2004 | Football
April 24, 2004
By BARRY WILNER
AP Football Writer
NEW YORK - San Diego chose Eli Manning to open Saturday's NFL draft, then traded him to the New York Giants for quarterback Philip Rivers.
Manning and his family 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 as Eli Manning held up a No. 1 Chargers jersey and a hat in his hand. They cheered just as loudly when commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced the trade.
"It is nothing new. I've heard boos before," Manning said. "I've been in a lot of stadiums where they've booed."
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.
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 coached in 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.
