David Diehl remembers meeting his new QB at 2004 draft
Eli Manning, a quarterback from Mississippi, holds a San Diego Chargers jersey after they selected him No. 1 overall in the NFL draft. (April 24, 2004) Credit: AP
David Diehl is the only current Giants player who was a member of the team for the 2004 draft when the franchise-altering trade for Eli Manning was made. In fact, Diehl had an up-close view of the action.
“I was at the draft that day, working the draft and doing stuff for ESPN,” he recalled today as most of the locker room conversation revolved around the trade due to this week’s game against the Chargers. “I remember all of that happening … It was definitely an awkward situation watching it and seeing it happen up front.”
What Diehl remembers most is meeting Manning for the first time. It wasn’t until after the trade, so by that time they were teammates.
“It’s pretty awesome for both of those quarterbacks that they’re still the face of the franchise and they’re both playing at a high level,” Diehl said.
Diehl said that he had heard the same chatter and rumors as everyone else when it came to Manning and the Giants going into that draft.
“There was a lot of talk but you never know how it’s going to pan out on draft day,” he said. “Obviously it worked out, and I’m happy with the guy we got.”
