Draft May Be Over, but They’re Still Picky

Let’s see if I understand this. As a means of achieving parity and avoiding an automatic, rich-get-richer scenario, the NFL set up a system where the team with the worst record the previous season is awarded first choice in the subsequent college draft. By and large, the system has worked well for close to 70 years.

But Eli Manning, arguably the best quarterback in the country, and the San Diego Chargers’ first pick in the draft, announced that he wouldn’t play for the Chargers, under any circumstances, because they were such a bad team.

Three questions: (1) How are inferior teams expected to get better, if “impact” players refuse to play for them? (2) How could Manning not have known that the No. 1 pick usually winds up playing for a stinker? (3) Why wasn’t this move portrayed by the media for what it was -- a naked power play by the Manning (Archie, Peyton, Eli) family?

David Macaray

Rowland Heights

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Eli Manning and New York should prove to be a perfect match. Unlike his brother and father, nobody outside of New York will be cheering for him, and with the family’s track record of not being able to win the big game, it is only a matter of time before Eli is booed when he walks onto the field in the Meadowlands.

Just this past weekend, Derek Jeter was booed vehemently at Yankee Stadium as he struck out for the third time in Sunday’s game. And believe me Eli, you are no Derek Jeter!

Jim Hebda

Playa del Rey