Eli Manning explains why the Chargers were never really an option for him
Twenty-two years later, Eli Manning finally just told the full story.
Eli Manning explains why the Chargers were never really an option for him originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist appeared on the Bussin' With the Boys podcast this week and gave the most detailed account yet of why he refused to play for the San Diego Chargers after they selected him first overall in the 2004 NFL Draft.
"I just didn't feel like they were the most committed team to winning at the time," Manning said. "Marty Schottenheimer was the head coach. He was awesome.
Had great respect for him. But they came to work me out in New Orleans, went to dinner, and there was just friction between the head coach, general manager, the owners. They're all kind of yelling, kind of like fighting.
" A chaotic dinner in New Orleans sealed Manning's key decision The dinner happened at a Marriott restaurant in New Orleans, which itself became a point of tension. Manning recounted head coach Schottenheimer's reaction openly: "Schottenheimer's mad. He's like, 'We're in New Orleans and we're eating at a Marriott?