Spurned city gets crack at QB

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Eli Manning remembers facing hostile crowds in college, although he concedes those experiences could seem tame compared to the reception that likely awaits him in San Diego Sunday night.

Manning spurned the Chargers when they made him the first pick of the 2004 NFL Draft, saying at the time he did not want to play in San Diego. He was traded on draft day to the New York Giants, and as he struggled through a 6-10 rookie season last fall, the Chargers, under Drew Brees, finished 12-4 and made the playoffs for the first time since 1995.

Manning said he doesn't expect San Diego to have much sympathy for him.

"Whatever I say, I don't think it's going to make a big difference to the fans," he said. "I knew that when I made the decision. I knew the people of San Diego wouldn't like it or people might harass me for it. I have nothing against San Diego or the people or the players on the team or anything like that. I just didn't feel like it was a place where I wanted to go play for six years or however long my contract was going to be.

"I've played in loud stadiums before, but I don't know if I've played in a place where the team had a reason to dislike me."

To get Manning, the Giants gave up the rights to quarterback Philip Rivers, the No. 4 pick overall, plus three draft picks that included a first-rounder this year.

In a head-to-head comparison with Rivers, Manning holds a substantial edge: He has demonstrated steady improvement after a rocky first few games as a starter midway through last season, while Rivers has appeared in just two games, completing 5 of 8 passes for 33 yards.

That's due to the re-emergence of Brees, a second-round pick out of Purdue in 2001 who had middling success with the Chargers in 2002 and 2003 before throwing for 3,159 yards with 27 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 2004.

The type of challenge posed by a stadium full of hostile fans may do little to shake the normally unflappable Manning.

"I think that being in New York and having that rookie year, he's been through a lot in a short time, and he's learned ways to handle it," Brees said.

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress, Manning's favorite target this season with 10 receptions, concurred.

"I'd think he could handle it pretty well," he said. "One of the things about him, you can't really tell if he's bothered. He doesn't really say a lot, doesn't get too high or too low. He always seems the same way to me whether we're doing good or we're not doing so good."

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