saintz08

Eli Manning

The Chargers' private plane leaves San Diego today on a journey to meet quarterbacks Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers. By the time it returns to San Diego on Wednesday, there will be exactly one month to go before the draft.
The clock is running on the Giants to make a move on the No. 1 pick.

The talk around the NFL is that the Giants love Eli Manning, Peyton's kid brother. They sent a league-high five representatives to his recent workout in New Orleans.

At the No. 4 spot, the Giants are in point blank range to move up to get Manning with the slim possibility that he could actually fall to them, astounding when you consider the three teams ahead of them need QBs.

What would it take to move up? In 2001, San Diego traded the first overall pick to Atlanta instead of taking Michael Vick. In return, they got Atlanta's No. 1, fifth overall, which they turned into LaDainian Tomlinson; WR/KR Tim Dwight; a No. 3 pick in 2001 and No. 2 in 2002. If those are the parameters to get Manning, the Giants would be foolish not to act, especially if he's anywhere near as good as his brother.

It's all up to the Chargers, who need so much help they might be inclined to go for volume rather than a franchise quarterback to fix their problems. A trade could give them the opportunity to do both, if they like Roethlisberger or Rivers.

"Do I have a preliminary thought? Yes," Chargers GM A.J. Smith said. "No one knows what I am thinking. You keep it private until you make your selection."

Is Smith willing to listen to offers or is he content to sit at No. 1 and take the best player? "I'm wide open," he said. "Nothing has changed. We can stand pat and make the decision on who we like. If a phone call comes with a package of different picks and players, you decide. You don't know until they give you something to look at."

Smith, Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, team president Dean Spanos and others will be on Spanos' plane today.

Here's the itinerary:


Tonight: Fly to North Carolina. Dinner with Rivers of North Carolina State.

Tomorrow: Attend Rivers' open workout. Fly to Ohio. Dinner with Roethlisberger of Miami (Ohio).

Tuesday: Attend private workout for Roethlisberger. Fly to New Orleans for dinner with Manning.

Wednesday: Attend private workout for Manning of Ole Miss. Fly home.
Manning is clearly the best QB in the draft. The Ryan Leaf experience still haunts the Chargers but the fans in San Diego need a spark to make them believe and that's Manning. But the Chargers are doing their homework with Roethlisberger and Rivers in the event of a tradedown.

Smith wants a QB, either a veteran or one acquired in the draft. He needs an upgrade over Drew Brees and Doug Flutie. The Redskins beat him to Mark Brunell. Kurt Warner could be available. Tim Couch, the overall No. 1 pick in '99, is available.

The Chargers' contingent already had dinner with Iowa tackle Robert Gallery. They met with Pitt WR Larry Fitzgerald at the combine and could drive up the freeway to Los Angeles to meet with USC WR Mike Williams. Trading David Boston creates the need for a wide receiver.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/co...p-152880c.html

Brooks and Stallworth , for the number 1 pick ??