Eli Manning Feels Backlash for Tom Brady Comments
After New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning told New York’s ESPN radio that he considered himself as good as New England Patriots’ QB Tom Brady’s this week, rebukes have been forthcoming throughout the sports world.
In the interview, the Giants’ QB was asked who he would put in a class with Tom Brady, arguably one of the best QB’s in the league.
"I consider myself in that class," Manning replied in the radio interview this week. "And Tom Brady is a great quarterback, he's a great player and what you've seen with him is he's gotten better every year. He started off winning championships and I think he's a better quarterback now than what he was, in all honesty, when he was winning those championships.”
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Although Manning and the Giants managed to beat Brady and the Patriots in 2009, many disagreed with his statement. Elliot Harrison, NFL analyst, said Manning should not even be mentioned in a top 10 list.
“Eli Manning doesn't even crack the top 10 in my book,” Harrison said on NFL.com, ranking Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees as his top three. “Eli Manning probably would be No. 11. He's a good player with a Super Bowl ring while Schaub, Ryan and Romo haven't won anything. But watch them play. Would you really put Manning over those three? That's tough for me.”
On Wednesday NFL networks seemed to support the analyst, tweeting “Eli Manning isn’t better than Tom Brady in fantasy, or reality.”
Pat Kirwan, former New York Jets assistant defensive coach, said people are being too critical of Manning.
“Eli Manning was sticking up for himself and that is to be admired. As for where he ranks among NFL quarterbacks, let me first challenge the "unanimous" top four rankings. To me, there are a few Sundays when Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan, Josh Freeman and others can play like that group of quarterbacks,” Kirwan said on the NFL website.
“Eli Manning is a player in the top 10 at his position who can perform like a top-four quarterback. Let's not forget: He did win a Super Bowl and was the game's MVP.”
