Chargers Looking Good in Manning Trade
 |
| Wednesday, December 20, 2006 |
John Clayton reflects back on the trade that sent Eli Manning to the Giants for Philip Rivers and some picks and thinks the Chargers look vindicated.
Chargers general manager A.J. Smith received a lot of criticism for making the Eli Manning trade on draft day three years ago. Manning didn’t want to go to the Chargers because he and his family didn’t believe the Chargers would amount to anything. After taking him with the first pick, Smith boldly made a trade that may go down in history as one of the greats of all-time.
Smith’s success was chronicled during the Pro Bowl voting. Quarterback Philip Rivers, linebacker Shawne Merriman and kicker Nate Kaeding all made it as starters. That’s three Pro Bowlers for one player, and the timing of this couldn’t be better for the Chargers. Manning didn’t finish in the top six for NFC quarterbacks even though he had a playoff season in his first year as a full-time starter and is in the playoff hunt this year.
It’s right up there with the trade the Chargers made a couple seasons earlier, trading away the rights to take Michael Vick for picks that turned into LaDainlian Tomlinson and Drew Brees. Indeed, had the Chargers gotten one of the Giants’ young pass rushers instead of Rivers and thereby kept Brees, they’d likely be in even better shape.
- Philip Rivers Era Begins in San Diego
- Brady Quinn a Safe Pick
- NFL Draft Trade Chart Values Don’t Consider Cap
- Eli Manning Better Than You Think?
- Chargers Fire Marty Schottenheimer After 14-2 Season
- Chargers Close to Deal for Titans QB Volek
- Philip Rivers played on knee with ACL ‘totally gone’
- Tony Romo Ranking
- VY to the Pro Bowl
- 2006 NFL Playoffs
- Eight is Enough- Edmonton beats Chicago 8-4
- Lydia Ko wins New South Wales Open
- The Comeback I- Pittsburgh Penguins beat NY Islanders 5-0
- Seattle Mariners Outfielder Greg Halman stabbed to death at age 24
- Hee Young Park wins CME Titleholders Championship
- Oklahoma State Women’s Basketball Coach Kurt Budke dead at 50
- Costly mistake- Blackhawks waive Rostislav Olesz
- Manager Tony La Russa announces retirement
- Puck Drop- Florida Panthers start the 2011-12 NHL season
- 13-time PGA Tour winner Dave Hill dead at 74
Comments are Closed
