Sorts of Sports

Is Eli Elite?

All this talk that Eli Manning of the New York Giants is great is making my head spin. I am confused if people are saying that he is Elite this season or for his career? I don't really think either apply and all this talk is garbage. I mean, Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl, and he's not elite.

Let's take a look at his season. He put up nearly 5,000 yards this year, or 308 yards per game. He averaged 8.3 yards per pass as well, and both of these were career highs for him. Eli threw for 29 touchdowns and 16 interceptions this season. Neither of them are career bests, as he threw for 31 touchdowns last season and just 10 interceptions in 2008.

Five other quarterbacks threw for more touchdowns this year and only seven quarterbacks threw for more interceptions. In fact, someone like Matt Stafford threw for more yards, had 12 more touchdowns, and the same amount of interceptions. I'm just not sure if that makes sense to label Eli as Elite when he isn't even as good as Matt Stafford, and no one thinks Stafford is elite, yet.

So maybe people are saying that Eli is an Elite quarterback because of his career, thus far? I don't follow that logic either. Where do we begin? Eli has 74 wins in eight seasons, or just over nine wins a year. In eight seasons he has made it to the playoffs five times and won the Super Bowl onces. In the past seven seasons, Eli has averaged just over 25 TDs and 17 INTs a season. I am not sure where that falls into the Elite status? Meanwhile, the last four seasons, Aaron Rodgers has averaged 34 TDs and 9 INTs each season, or in the last 10 seasons, Tom Brady has averaged 30 TDs and 11 INTs. Even Peyton is at 30 TD and 15 INT per season. Meanwhile, Big Ben has 20 TDs and 12 INTs a season.

There's a line between average, and Elite, and Eli is still below the Elite line. There is still a debate as to how good Eli is, but maybe he is getting closer. Does he have the intangibles? Maybe, but he also has a really good defense. He can manage the game and good quarterbacks do that. Would a second Super Bowl ring make him Elite?

No, it would just put him in company with Jim Plunkett as the only two quarterbacks to have won two Super Bowls and not be considered Hall of Fame worthy. I'd even put Big Ben ahead of him, and borderline Elite based on completion percentage and rushing capabilities.