Eli Manning Getting Big Dollars Makes Little Sense

Eli Manning is not a Super Bowl winning quarterback.

Eli Manning is the quarterback of a Super Bowl winning team.

There is a difference and no one seems to notice.

Some quarterbacks can take a team on their shoulders from week one of the preseason to the Super Bowl and guide them to the promised land. Eli didn't do that.

Now, did Eli have a very good Super Bowl performance? Yes, he did. Even I will admit that. His Super Bowl 87.3 passer rating (255 yds/2 TD/1 INT) is better than any season he's been in the game. He certainly stepped up. On that day, he was ready for prime time.

But let's get this straight: Eli Manning did not single-handedly win the Super Bowl!

David Tyree made a great catch on a poorly thrown ball to save a drive. The Giants' pass rush was magnificent and stifled one of the NFL's all-time top offenses. The Patriots were allowed 14points, 20 less than their season average.

No Virginia, Eli Manning did not single-handedly win the Super Bowl.

He's not even that great of a quarterback.

The New York Daily News reported this morning that Eli Manning became the eighth player to reach the $100 million mark. Eli's $15.27 million base salary is the highest in the league. B/R Writer Ace, Kyle Langan wrote about it here.

Is he worth it? I say no.

Eli certainly thinks he's worth it. Reports have surfaced that Eli was asking for upwards of $20 million annually (with escalators). Eli seems to forget that he's not Peyton.

You see, Peyton has been an NFL MVP—three times. Peyton has been an all-pro—seven times. Peyton is the Indianapolis Colts all-time leader in passing and passing touchdowns. Peyton is one of the best quarterbacks ever to step out onto the field in an NFL stadium. 

Eli is horribly, horribly average.

Eli has never been an MVP—not even close. His one Pro Bowl (2008) was a disgraceful pick we all should be ashamed of. In 2008, the year before this mega deal was bartered, Eli was the 14th best quarterback in the league.

In fact, Eli has only been a top 20 quarterback twice in his five-year career.

In that span, Eli has been consistently outplayed by his brother, Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb, Carson Palmer, Kurt Warner, Jay Cutler, and Matt Schaub and has been sporadically outclassed by guys like David Carr, Sage Rosenfels, and Chris Simms.

Quarterbacks are the face of their franchise. The New York Giants have a great franchise, built the right way. The New York Giants have some of the best depth at a variety of positions. No one injury could stop them from success in any given year—including an injury to Manning.

Do you really believe the running game couldn't carry this team? It has for years!

You don't think David Carr could put up numbers comparable to Eli's career 76 rating? He already has—his career rating is only a few points lower.

Would one of the best offensive lines in football start suffering because Eli went down?

Sports fans, Eli Manning is a mediocre quarterback who happened to quarterback a Super Bowl winning team.

He is currently being paid like he's one of the best quarterbacks of all time.

Now he has to earn it.