NFL

By Cyd Zeigler jr.

Just minutes after Pat Tillman earned a few shed tears at the annual NFL Draft at Madison Square Garden Saturday morning, Eli Manning was met with a well-deserved chorus of boos.

In fact, Manning, who had said he did not want to play for the San Diego Chargers, was booed several times throughout the morning, as the top rookie prospects lined up on stage and as he was selected by the Chargers with the first pick overall in the draft.

Most guys dream of being the first pick in the draft. Not Manning. He and his Daddy wanted what they wanted from Saturday morning and would stomp their feet until they got it.

You’d have thought he was just told his brother was killed in Afghanistan, the way he moped as he trudged up to the stage and accepted the Chargers jersey he was given. Watching how he struggled to even touch the jersey, you’d have thought he was holding the flag that was draped over his dead brother’s coffin.

Eli and his father, former standout quarterback Archie Manning, treated the NFL Draft like Pop Warner football: Dad trying to manipulate coaches and staff so his son ends up where he wants to end up and little Eli’s bratty expression as he heard his name called “with the first selection in the 2004 NFL draft.”

I was just waiting for Eli to stomp his foot, turn to Daddy and proclaim, “it’s not fair. It’s just not fair.”

It seems Archie Manning thinks his is the first family of the NFL. The Camelot of pro football. He’s Joe Kennedy and his sons are John and Joe, Jr. He’s been meddling in Mississippi’s football program for at least the last year. You’d have thought he was on the Ole Miss athletic department staff last spring when he was instructing them how he wanted them to handle the promotion of his son for the Heisman.

Ultimately, an ESPN story said, “the family has agreed to come up with a strategy.” Like they had a say in it anyway.

By the grace of God, Eli didn’t win it.

The Draft was kicked off, minutes before Eli’s spoiled little puss graced our television screens, with a fitting contrast to the childlike antics of football’s self-proclaimed first family.

For the last two years, sports fans have at times scratched their heads about the departure from the NFL of safety Pat Tillman. In 2002, Tillman left the Arizona Cardinals, where he made All Pro, to join the U.S. military and serve his country.

While he was in the NFL, he gave it his all for a team that hadn’t won more games than it lost in the last three years he played. His team was the doormat of the NFL; yet, Tillman played on.

On Friday, 24 hours before Eli was named the first pick in the NFL draft – before he was anointed the toast of his class of rookies – Tillman was killed in Afghanistan. Just two years removed from his tour of duty in war-torn Sun Devil Stadium, he made what is referred to as “the ultimate sacrifice” for love of his country.

Later that evening, I was at a draft party thrown by Sirius radio, who will be broadcasting all of the NFL’s games this season. Archie Manning was there, and he spoke for five minutes. Five minutes about Eli, then Peyton, then himself, then Peyton again, then more Peyton, then Eli, then more Peyton then himself then Eli again.

When Tillman's family is interviewed, they talk about how much Pat loved his country. They talk about how hard he played. They talk about his dedication to his family. They don't talk about themselves.

Tillman never gave an interview about his decision to leave the millions of dollars the NFL offered. He never accepted the attention. He felt he was a soldier, just like everyone else. 

Unfortunately, despite the fact that they are just soldiers like every other linebacker, wide receiver and tight end, the Mannings anoint themselves the privileged class.

Sports need a lot more Tillmans and a lot fewer Mannings.

April 26, 2004