Why don't more NFL prospects try to dictate landing spots? - ESPN

AROUND THIS TIME every year, Archie Manning places a call to former New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, who is retired and often watching baseball or immersed in a book. It's sort of a thank you, and Eli Manning will text, too, as thoughts drift back to 2004 and an afternoon at the NFL draft that became prime-time viewing: the day Eli Manning's camp forced a draft-day trade.

The trajectories of three highly touted quarterbacks were put into motion that day by a baby-faced 23-year-old with deep NFL bloodlines. Eli Manning, son of Archie and brother of Peyton, was the presumptive No. 1 pick of the 2004 draft. The San Diego Chargers owned the No. 1 selection, and Eli didn't want to go there. His camp informed the Chargers of his stance a week and a half before the draft, and of course the news leaked.

In the waning moments before the start of the draft, ESPN analysts debated whether Manning had the right to buck the system while Manning's family waited at a white-clothed table in the green room.

Manning had been a known commodity for years, but Accorsi developed a deep admiration watching Eli rally his overmatched Ole Miss team in a loss to Auburn his junior year. The Giants, however, didn't pick until No. 4 in 2004. Accorsi had heard, as early as the NFL meetings that spring, that Manning did not want to go to San Diego. He carefully let the Chargers know they'd be interested if San Diego was amenable, and not much happened after that.

The Chargers picked Eli anyway.

When then-commissioner Paul Tagliabue called his name, Manning's audacity was booed from New York City to Balboa Park. He held up a Chargers jersey — but didn't put on the hat — and awkwardly posed for photos with Archie and his mom, Olivia. The