Peyton grades little brother Eli
Peyton Manning praised Pat Shurmur’s play-calling and little brother Eli’s play-making in his Giants-Niners film breakdown on “Detail” for ESPN+, isolating a 23-yard completion to Saquon Barkley on the Giants’ gamewinning touchdown drive.
“I know it’s a short throw and you’re gonna say, ‘Oh, he’s kissing his butt ’cause he’s his brother and related to him,’” Peyton Manning narrated in the episode. “I don’t care if this was (former NFL QBs) Bob Avellini, Steve Fuller or Casey Weldon making this throw — guys that I’m not related to — this is a good throw.
“This is a sidearm throw, negotiating the defender ... a free guy coming toward ya ... (Eli) retreat(s), look at the little sidearm, off-balance throw,” Peyton continued. “If this ball gets batted or when you’re incomplete, it’ll just make you sick. So great job retreating, making this little sidearm flip throw to Barkley on the run.”
Peyton Manning raved about Shurmur’s play call, too, showing how three plays earlier against the same defense, Shurmur had sent Barkley up the right sideline against double coverage on a “rail” route. The pass on that play fell incomplete.
But Shurmur came back to the same play to the opposite side, and instead of running up the left sideline, Barkley stuck his foot in the ground and cut back inside on an option route or what Manning calls a “Texas route” in front of both defenders for the catch and run.
“Oh, what a great call here at the perfect time,” he said.
Peyton’s little bro continues to come under scrutiny, though, even after snapping the Giants’ five-game losing streak.
Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice said on 95.7 The Game in The Bay Area this week that “no,” he does not believe Eli Manning belongs in the same exclusive club.
“No,” Rice said. “I don’t see Eli as a Hall of Famer. Drew Brees, I do.” What I see with Eli Manning, there’s not consistency,” Rice added. “I would think that Drew Brees is going to be a shoo-in. Eli? There’s a chance of him getting in, but I’m not going to say he’s a true Hall of Famer.”