New York Giants: Eli Manning Taken For Granted Like LeBron?

It’s not every day that fans are going to hear Eli Manning get put in the same league as one of the 5 best basketball players of all-time.

To be fair New York Giants defensive tackle Damon Harrison wasn’t making a direct comparison. He made that clear during his appearance on Good Morning Football for NFL Network. He was merely using LeBron James as an example for maybe Eli’s greatness being taken for granted. That the expectations are ridiculously high and any other player would be getting praised.

This was spurred by the fact that Dallas Cowboys rookie Dak Prescott made the network’s Top 100 Players of 2017 list. He came in at #14 and this sparked a lot of outrage in the fan community. Making the list was fine since he did reach the Pro Bowl and win Rookie of the Year, but 14th best player in the league already? Meanwhile Manning doesn’t even make the list at all.

Weak sauce, NFL and Harrison called them out on it.

"“Eli, when you look at Eli, it’s kind of like when you look at LeBron [James],” Harrison said. “I’m not saying they’re the same, but look at Eli’s numbers. If any other quarterback would have those numbers it would be an amazing year. But it being Eli, no one is respecting it much like we do LeBron. LeBron could average 30 [points], 15 rebounds and 12 assists and it’s like ‘he didn’t do enough.'”"

Eli Manning cursed like LeBron of being shadowed by greatest ever

It’s an interesting comparison. Under normal context LeBron James would be hailed as the greatest of a generation. Nowadays he is just that but even so it still feels like people think less of him because he hasn’t quite reached the championship success of guys like Jordan or Bryant. This despite winning three rings with two different teams.

Manning is very much similar in that regard. He’s gone to four Pro Bowls, won two Super Bowl titles (both against Tom Brady) and was MVP in both those games. He’s got 30 career 4th quarter comebacks and holds every Giants franchise passing record. One has to wonder if he weren’t the brother of all-time great Peyton Manning would his career be viewed with far greater reverence? Harrison seems to think so.

Same goes for LeBron and Jordan. Maybe it’s time to stop making those connections and ask the simple question. Is this player great? The answer for both should be a resounding yes.