Two Super reasons there’s no debating Eli over Rivers

There was a question posed to Tom Coughlin on Wednesday requiring no answer because the answer was an obvious one that required little thought and less debate.

But the Giants head coach delivered the perfect answer when he was asked if there is “any doubt’’ the organization made the right decision making that 2004 draft-day trade with the Chargers to secure Eli Manning as their franchise quarterback.

“None whatsoever,’’ Coughlin said. “There’s a couple things out there in the hallway you might want to take a look at.’’

Those “things’’ to which Coughlin referred are the two Super Bowl trophies Manning helped the Giants win in 2008 and 2012. They glisten with their polished silvery shine behind the glass of a trophy case across from the reception desk in the lobby of the team’s training facility.

In that complicated draft-day wheel-and-deal, the Chargers drafted Manning with the No. 1 overall pick and the Giants drafted quarterback Philip Rivers with the fourth’s pick and traded him to San Diego along with several draft choices for Manning.

Ten years removed from that trade, Manning and Rivers — who meet for just the second time in their careers when the 5-7 Giants play the 5-7 Chargers Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium — are thriving.

“It worked out well for both organizations,’’ Manning said Wednesday. “They got two quarterbacks out of it who have had good careers.’’

What Manning left out is the fact it has worked out quite a bit better for the Giants, though.

The stats on the back of Rivers’ football card are gaudier than Manning’s, but Rivers has not had a hand on even one of those shiny “things’’ that sit in the Giants’ trophy case.

The bulk of the credit for the Manning move and how it changed the course of the franchise goes to former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, who was so sure about Manning it bordered on obsession.

“All we can ever ask for when you go scout a player is you want to come out of that stadium with a conviction,’’ Accorsi told The Post Wednesday. “You can’t force it. But that’s your goal — one way or another. I felt instinctually that this guy had it. There was something intangible about him.’’

Coughlin said he recalled Accorsi making that deal “with 100-percent belief that this was the right thing to do for our franchise.’’

“I remember that Ernie had studied Eli since he was a freshman in college [Ole Miss] and had a really, really strong, strong feeling about him,’’ Coughlin said. “It wasn’t an easy deal to make. It was a move that he made with great conviction and obviously we’re … Philip Rivers has had an outstanding career in San Diego and Eli Manning has had an outstanding career here. So I think you have a win-win situation.’’

Win (Super Bowl XLII), win (Super Bowl XLVI) for the Giants, that is.

Asked if he subscribes to the Coughlin “win-win’’ theory, Rivers said, “I hope our organization feels the same way. Certainly can say it’s been a win for those guys in New York. Eli’s led them to two championships.’’

Both Manning and Accorsi said neither has spoken to the other about that conviction Accorsi had a decade ago.

“Maybe one day when I’m done playing I’ll sit down with Ernie and hear some stories,’’ Manning said. “Obviously I know what happened on my end and that’s good enough.’’

Accorsi said Manning called him after both Super Bowl victories to “thank’’ him.

“That’s just like Eli — understated just like I am. We’ll be linked forever and that’s a privilege.’’

Bill Parcells famously used to say, “God plays in these games, too,’’ referring to outside elements shaping history as much as blocking and tackling. There was luck involved in that draft-day game, too. Accorsi was able to make that trade work because Manning told the Chargers he didn’t want them to draft him.

Manning developed a curious case of amnesia when asked to recall his reasons for not wanting to play for the Chargers.

“I forgot, I think,” he said. “I can’t remember. It’s been 10 years. It’s slipped my mind.’’

To the Giants and their fans, Manning’s faux memory lapse matters little. What matters is Accorsi and the Giants made it happen, and two Super Bowls later, who’s to argue it?

“You don’t draft a guy that high to upgrade,’’ Accorsi said. “You draft a guy that high at that position to win a championship.’’

Or two.

Would you have preferred to have Philip Rivers in Giants blue?


Talk about revisionist history; Accorsi was instrumental and some sort of genius?? Really Mark?? How about Eli and the Manning family made it clear that Eli would never play for the Chargers.  The Giants had ALL the leverage in that trade and yet somehow the Chargers basically fleeced the Giants on the balance of the trade (i.e. beyond Rivers for Manning). As a Charger fan (full disclosure) i've always been perplexed by that trade because it was one San Diego HAD to make but the Giants didn't - the GIANTS should have had the leverage.  As for who's had a better career, even as Jet/Charger fan you have to go w/two super bowl wins/MVPs.  But having said that, Rivers was NEVER the reason the Chargers didn't go to a super bowl.  Those commentators (bluedude, really - you obviously know nothing about Rivers or his career) above talking about Rivers throwing the critical pick as reason Bolts don't have a ring are clueless and haven't watched Rivers.  Their best shot was in 06/07 when they lost to Pats  - the year LT was hurt and didn't play, Rivers and Gates were hobbling around.  Shoulda been Giants v Chargers in that Super Bowl and we'd have also had a better basis for comparison.  My personal, admittedly biased view is that a healthy Charger team that year had a good shot to get past the Pats and probably dismantled the Giants.  Chargers were right there w/Pats into the 3rd qtr then got overwhelmed, couldn't overcome injuries to their 3 best players. (Rivers' performance that day is noted by NFL Films as one of 10 gutsiest of all time btw).  Of course i also recall thinking Belichick was a genius in the 4th qtr - always seemingly one step ahead of the Chargers offense.  We all now know how he managed that….  And who's to say the Giants wouldn't have won those 2 super bowls w/Rivers?  I don't know but neither do you.  And i don't think Eli would've changed the Chargers fortunes had he gone to SD.  All you "Blue" fans forget that you were ALL ready to trade Eli for a bag of balls 2/3 of way through 2006 season, and Jerry Reese's characterization of Eli - which i thought was unfair.  All he did in both super bowl seasons was stink it up all season long then transform into post-season superman. TWICE. Yet you were all ready to throw him under the bus.  I'd take either QB but football  is the ultimate team game - u need more than just a QB.  Rivers is NOT Tony Romo - so to whomever says he throws the big pick to blow it, again you have no clue and haven't watched Charger football.

End of the day Rivers will end up w/a spectacular career and no ring.  Manning will walk into the HOF w/2 super bowl mvps as he should, regardless of some mediocre regular seasons.  Rivers may be there with him - but in the Dan Marino/Dan Fouts/Warren Moon wing.  He's consistently had one of the highest qb ratings, etc. w/last year being his only off year.


ok, i think this just trolling now, but i'll still bite. what about clutch and come from behind wins? Eli's rating with the game on the line vs River's game game performance isn't close. Rivers wouldn't have been behind? Right. LOL. River's teams were better than the Giant's teams that won the SB's! And he failed! Failed!  He Choked in big games vs Eli WINNING 2 SB MVP's. 

You can have rivers. I'll take a winner over a choker.

Mike Walis
Mike Walis

@rob pinta Better leader??? Hot head Rivers never takes responsibility for mistakes and is constantly bickering with coaches and teammates on the sideline. You call that being a leader. I'll take a guy who NEVER throws anyone under the bus even if it is warranted. Maybe "daddy" didn't want his son getting killed behind a horrible offensive line. You would't do that for your son if you had the power to? Come on Man..


@rob pinta Wait! Weren't both victories come from behind victories? With Eli coming back twice the 1st SB win? After the D gave up the go ahead points. Didn't Rivers have the tools around him early with gates and LT and an outstanding defense? and still couldn't win? Eli won big games and Rivers didn't...end of story

Blaze Johnson
Blaze Johnson

@rob pinta So this is what simple people do when they don't really know what they are talking about.  Say things like "stfu" and "you morons".  You said that the Giants would have won 3 SBs with Rivers - that's a statement that cannot be qualified or quantified.  You also said that the Chargers team was not as good as the Giants team in 2007 when the Chargers were clearly better with LdT and Gates and a superior defense with Shawn Merriman as the leader in sacks, better DBs and LBs.  My point is that the Giants won not despite Eli Manning but with him.  I also said that "game to game" Rivers is a better QB which is reasonable and can be supported through statistics.  My point though is that Eli is a QB that most people would want on their roster, a proven winner, and someone that can carry a team to a championship as evidenced by the 2 that he has won.  You're the one saying that the Giants had the best OL in football for 6 years (false), top running game (1 year, 2008), a top receiving corp - ask Steve Smith, Jeremy Shockey, and Kevin Boss why they were so successful in NY but nowhere else.  So the point is that Eli elevates the play of his team and that in the SB runs, he carried them (playing better than the opposing QB and winning the game means out dueling in THIS specific comment).  His teams have won 2 SBs because they were playing well (as Eli was) at the right time not because they were better.  You're the one that needs to back up your statements when you say that Rivers would have won more SBs and the Giants had a superior team.

Blaze Johnson
Blaze Johnson

@rob pinta you have no idea what you're talking about.  Phil Rivers can run?  All you do every day is troll the sports pages and trash NY teams.  And the NYG had a better team than the Chargers?  In 2007?  You're out of you mind.  The Giants barely made the playoffs - that goes for both years.  Eli out dueled HOF QBs in both runs (Favre, Rodgers, Brady) he may not be as good game to game as Rivers but stop with the nonsense.

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