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Manning was considered to be the top prospect prior to the 2004 NFL Draft. He became a target of criticism for stating that he would not sign with the San Diego Chargers, who owned the first pick in the draft, due to their recent poor record of holdouts with high first round picks such as Quentin Jammer and LaDainian Tomlinson. Manning's claim was proven to be somewhat justified when the Chargers' eventual first round player, Philip Rivers had a lengthy contract dispute with the team. In the past, players such as John Elway and Gary Zimmerman had also refused to play for teams looking to draft them. The Chargers were in discussions with several teams prior to the draft about a possible trade, but nothing was agreed upon before the draft began. Despite his stated intention not to play for them, the Chargers drafted Manning with the first overall pick in the draft. Manning refused to wear a Chargers cap for the traditional photo holding the team shirt, increasing the antipathy felt by Chargers fans. The Giants then selected N.C. State quarterback Philip Rivers with the fourth overall pick in the draft, another player the Chargers had shown interest in. The two franchises were then able to work out a deal that would send Eli to the Giants for Rivers along with their 1st and 5th round picks in 2005 and a 3rd round pick in 2004 — from which the main acquisitions from this trade have been DE/OLB Shawne Merriman and K Nate Kaeding. The controversy put a damper on the celebration that normally goes with being the #1 pick, as the Charger fans in the crowd booed and chanted "Eli Sucks!" when he was announced. Shortly thereafter the Giants fans drowned out the rest of the crowd and loudly voiced their approval of the trade that made Eli a Giant, even if some were displeased about the amount given up by New York in the trade.
