Jesus Hills: Eli
Coming from a family rich in athletic tradition, there was no doubt that Eli Manning was going to be another success story just like his father, Archie and older brother Peyton. But now the question is, who is the better Manning?Peyton is no doubt a very talented quarterback, but unfortunately, could very well end up with a career similar to Dan Marino’s–lots of talent with nothing to show for it. Peyton and Eli are both surrounded by a lot of talent, but the difference that sets Eli apart from his brother is adaptability.Peyton cannot be nearly as successful on any other team than the Indianapolis Colts, simply because of his style of play and the system that he plays for. Eli on the other hand, could be put on any team with some sort of offensive talent and lead them to victory. That adaptability is what makes Eli the better quarterback, and as he matures, he will steadily assume more control of his team, wherever he is. Eli already commands a lot of respect as a quarterback, leading his team to the playoffs in his first year as a permanent starter. He has a calm dependability and has demonstrated the knowledge of not only his team but his opponents as well. In no way can Eli be compared to Peyton at this stage in his career because they are two different players at different stages in their career. However, in the long run, Eli will have more success simply because he can adapt, and not just at the line to change a play, he has the adaptability to change the flow of the game. Eli demonstrated that in his first two games of the season. He still makes mistakes, but in all respect, still has some learning to do. Even when he makes mistakes he does his best to recover from them. He also doesn’t fold as quickly in those pressure situations like Peyton does. He has had several big games, and even the losses were due to rookie mistakes and him wanting to carry the team to victory single handedly. Whereas Peyton collapses during critical games and loses. Success is based on those that can take control of a situation and use it to their advantage. Down the line, Eli Manning will be more in control of his team than Peyton. Both quarterbacks have the potential to be hall of famers and Peyton should already be a first ballot shoo-in. It will all come down to Superbowl victories, of which Peyton has none in his nine-year career in the NFL. Eli, in his second year, made it to the NFC Division Championship game. If he had been more experienced he would have made it farther. But only time will tell.
Syed Ali: Peyton
Ok…close your eyes and think for a few seconds. Reminisce about all of the brother duos that have come and gone throughout the history of sports. Now, when you put all these pairings together, did you realize what they all had in common? Do you give up? The younger siblings never made a name for themselves. And in this case in particular, Peyton Manning will hands down have a far better career that his younger brother Eli can only dream of.Aside from that fact, Peyton has better players surrounding him on offense. Yes, we all know that the departed Edgerrin James was a focal part of the Colt’s offense, but I felt that the Colts addressed the issue by drafting a much younger Joseph Addai. And if he doesn’t pan out, the Colts still have Dominic Rhodes, who just so happened to rush for 1,000 yards while James was injured a few years ago. Marvin Harrison is one of the top wide receivers in the league, and fellow wide receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark have yet to enter the prime of their careers. Most importantly, most of these players will still be around once Peyton reaches the end of his career.Eli Manning has his set of good players, but almost all of them have some sort of issues to deal with. Eli is gifted in his own right, but has yet to display any form of consistency, which we noticed in the final stretch of games last season. When he’s healthy, Jeremy Shockey is arguably one of the best young tight ends in the league, but he’s had a history of injuries and temperament issues. Plaxico Burress is just as talented, but he’s had character issues in both Pittsburgh and New York. Amani Toomer is nearing the end of his career, and although Tiki Barber is a great player, he’s only got a few years left in the tank as well. Let’s look at the obvious facts at a glance. Peyton plays in Indianapolis, whereas Eli plays in New York (well, East Rutherford, New Jersey to be exact). The city that you play in may not make a huge impact on the field, but we all know that the media can hurt a player a lot more than an imposing defender can off the field, with his pen, not his pads. Those of us who follow sports know that the fans and the media within the New York area are tough critics and are extremely hard to please. Thus, I believe that Eli will have rough times during his career because he will be scrutinized ten-fold for his mistakes, even if they are mistakes that are commonly made by quarterbacks. Eli will not only receive pressure from the media because he plays in New York, but also because he’s the younger brother of Peyton and the son of Archie. Peyton was fortunate enough to only be compared to his father, but Eli will be compared to his father and brother on numerous occasions, no matter what.I’m not saying that Eli won’t have a good career. I mean, it will be good, but it’ll be nothing like Peyton’s. Just look at some of the younger brothers of famous players that have been around the league. Ramon Martinez could neither last as long in MLB nor pitch as well as his brother Pedro, and he’s nowhere to be heard of. Jason Giambi’s brother Jeremy is only remembered for not sliding at home in that playoff game against the Yankees. You can even go back to the 1960’s, where Felipe Alou’s brothers Matty and Jesus were quickly forgotten.So when it’s all said and done, we’ll see a plaque of Peyton’s face in the Hall of Fame, and Eli will have only a good, but not great career.