Eli Manning Thinks Highly of Himself

Added on Aug 17, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

Eli Manning outdueled Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. But is he in Brady’s class as a quarterback? According to Eli, yes. During an ESPN radio interview, the normally reserved Manning took a confident stance when asked about his place among NFL signal callers.

Eli provided fodder for sports sites and blogs with the following statement:

“I consider myself in that class 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 and 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,” Manning said. “I think he’s … gotten better every year and that’s what I’m trying to do. I kind of hope these next seven years of my quarterback days are my best.”

If I’m a Giants player, I want my quarterback to believe he’s great. And if you read the quote closely, Manning wants his next seven years to be better than his first. Nothing wrong with that. That being said, when you look at the numbers and accolades, Eli’s claim doesn’t hold water.

Understanding Brady has played four more seasons than Manning, let’s do some comparing. Brady has a career completion percentage of 63.6% and has never been below 60%. Eli checks in at 58%, although he has eclipsed 60% in each of the last three seasons.

Brady has 103 interceptions in nine full seasons. Eli has thrown 113 in six and a half seasons. Brady has eight seasons of at least 23 touchdown passes, including an NFL record 50 in 2007 and 36 in 2010. Eli has tossed at least 21 touchdowns in six straight, including a career best 31 in 2010.

Brady is a six-time Pro Bowler, two-time MVP, twice a first-team All-Pro, winner of three Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVPs. Eli has been named to one Pro Bowl, won Super Bowl XLII and was the MVP of Super Bowl XLII.

Eli has plenty of years left to bolster his resume, but at this point he’s not in the same class as Tom Brady.

Source: NFL.com