Eli Manning and the Most Underrated Stars in Sports

The term "underrated" is pure opinion, making it difficult to call an athlete "underrated."

However, many athletes do not get the credit they deserve. Why they don't get their due credit is always a mystery.

These athletes have a wide range of reasons for why they are underrated.

The athletes here may or may not be stars, but they do not get the credit they deserve.

Eli Manning

Eli Manning is underrated right off the bat, just for being a Manning.

Eli's brother Peyton will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, putting Eli on the back burner. However, many say Eli is creeping up on Peyton.

Peyton may have the accolades, but Eli has proved to be better when it counts. Eli now has an 8-3 playoff record for his career and defeated the great Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLVI to win his second title.

Eli Manning was scrutinized for saying he was an elite quarterback, but clearly he is and is highly underrated.

2011 Stats: 16 games played, 4,933 yards, 61 percent completion percentage, 29 touchdowns, 16 interceptions

Carlos Ruiz

Carlos Ruiz is loved by the Philadelphia Phillies but does not get the credit he deserves from the rest of baseball.

Ruiz calls a phenomenal game for the Phillies pitching staff. Each pitcher trusts Ruiz to the fullest.

Known as a defensive catcher, Ruiz is now bringing a solid offense to his game. His seven home runs to start the 2012 season are already one more than his season total in 2011.

Ruiz never hears his name when people talk about top catchers in baseball, but the catcher deserves to be mentioned with the best of them.

2012 Stats: 44 games played, seven home runs, 29 RBI, .366/.419/.592

Jordy Nelson

Jordy Nelson could easily be the most underrated receiver in the NFL.

When does Nelson's name come up as one of the top receivers in the league? Never.

However, Nelson's yardage ranked ninth and his touchdown totals ranked third in the NFL during the 2011 season. Those numbers should be eye-popping to viewers and make Nelson one of the best receivers in all of football.

Nelson doesn't get the recognition he deserves, and his name is rarely brought up as one of the best players on his own team, making him one of the most underrated athletes in all of sports.

2011 Stats: 16 games played, 68 receptions, 1,263 yards, 18.6 yards per catch, 15 touchdowns

Loui Eriksson

Loui Eriksson of the Dallas Stars is highly underrated.

Eriksson was voted the most underrated player in the NHL, as voted by NHL players for Sports Illustrated's players poll. Eriksson has consistently progressed since being drafted in 2003.

As a man of consistency, Eriksson does not receive the credit he deserves, making him an underrated athlete.

2011-12 Stats: 82 games played, 26 goals, 45 assists, 71 points

Chung-Yong Lee

The signing of Chung-Yong Lee was huge for the Bolton Wanderers.

Lee has already racked up prestigious awards for the Wanderers. In Lee's first season with Bolton, he was awarded Bolton Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year and best newcomer honors.

Unfortunately a broken leg limited Lee in the 2011-12 season.

Lee's quick feet and pure skills make him a top-notch athlete, yet he doesn't get the credit he deserves.

2011-12 Stats: six games started for South Korea in the AFC Asian Cup, two as a substitute for the Bolton Wanderers

LaMarcus Aldridge

LaMarcus Aldridge gets nowhere near the credit he deserves as an NBA star.

The big man that gets no respect was snubbed from the NBA All-Star team in 2010-11 and didn't make any of the All-NBA teams in 2011-12. This makes absolutely no sense.

Aldridge had more points, rebounds and assists per game than Dirk Nowitzki in 2011-12. However, Aldridge was snubbed again and Nowitzki made the All-NBA Third Team over him.

Aldridge has a complete game for a big man and deserves to be mentioned with the best big men in the league.

2011-12 Stats: 55 games played, 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game

Billy Butler

Billy Butler is seen as one of the most underrated players in baseball every year.

Butler is a man of consistency. The DH will always hit right around .300 with 15 to 20 home runs every year.

There may not be many more consistent right-handed hitters in baseball. His position may not play the field, but as a pure hitter, Butler is one of the best in baseball.

Butler is one of the most consistent hitters in baseball, yet he has never received the recognition he deserved.

2012 Stats: 47 games played, 11 home runs, .297/.358/.538

Matt Forte

Matt Forte deserves to be paid as much as the top running backs in the NFL.

When healthy, Forte is one of the best running backs in all of football. Not only can he run, but Forte is also a fantastic receiver out of the backfield.

The Chicago Bears won't pay him what he wants, and the team signed running back Michael Bush during free agency. Forte has to feel disrespected.

The ultimate example of underrated is when your own team doesn't show you the respect you deserve, and Forte fits the mold perfectly.

2011 Stats: 12 games played, 997 rushing yards, 4.9 yards per carry, three rushing touchdowns, 52 catches, 490 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown

Madison Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner is slowing becoming the new ace of the San Francisco Giants.

Bumgarner has been outstanding for San Francisco in 2012, except when he faces the Diamondbacks. Take away his starts against Arizona and Bumgarner is one of the best in the league.

The Giants can always rely on Bumgarner to throw six or seven innings, taking the load off the bullpen. Also, the lefty is currently seventh in the NL in wins and innings pitched.

Bumgarner is not a huge name in baseball yet, but he soon will be everywhere as he becomes the ace of the San Francisco Giants.

2012 Stats: 10 games started, 66 innings pitched, 5-4, 3.14 ERA

Ty Lawson

The Denver Nuggets received an absolute steal by acquiring Ty Lawson in the 2009 draft.

Lawson can both pass and shoot as a point guard with multiple weapons. Shooting isn't the first skill that you think about with Lawson, but he shot a solid 36.5 percent from long range in 2011-12.

The little man, listed at only 5'11", plays his best when it counts the most. Lawson gave everything he could against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2012 playoffs by averaging 19 points and six assists per game.

Lawson has multiple talents as a point guard yet never gets recognized enough, making him an underrated athlete.

2011-12 Stats: 61 games played, 16.4 points and 6.6 assists per game