I agree that banning alcohol at sporting events is key to fewer incidents. It's usually the fans who come in and get all ****-faced from drinking who cause the problems. Why do so many people think that alcohol belongs everywhere?..that it's impossible to enjoy an event without its presence. Those people should be classified as alcoholics IMO. I work at a big bank and we used to have a bank-wide Christmas party. When the threat of lawsuits from serving alcohol to irresponsible employees became too big of an issue, the bank ceased offering a bar. As a result, a large majority of employees quit attending the Christmas party. Finally, the bank dropped it due to lack of attendance. Sad, sad..........

Sorry about the naughty word, Mary Beth. Though I don't often use profanity, that's my honest impression of drunk people. Thanks for fixing it for me.

MP

Eli had receivers dropping passes. I'd say at least 6.

I doubt his brother has had 6 dropped passes during any game this season. My point is that 6 dropped passes is a lot and that he will be a fine QB. I can remember a few other bad rookie seasons: Aikman and Terry Bradshaw to name two.

Just to clear up some things, especially the referal about being a fan from Detroit and being ashamed. I live in the Detroit area. Lot's of great things go on here that the press never wants to report because Detroit has this "nasty image" and God forbid all the good things that happen get reported. When we have had championships for the Pistons and the Wings, we've never had a bad incident and hundreds of thousand people have come together for the parades and parties with positive outcomes. The Palace is in Auburen Hills, about 30 miles north of Detroit. Not many Detroiters attend those games. By the way, tickets start at $10.00. One of the guys involved lived in West Bloomfield Hills, it doesn't get much richer around here. You'd be hard pressed to find a home under $500,000 most are in the millions. Oakland County, where the Palace is located has the highest per capita income in Michigan. So most people attending these games have very high incomes and you would think an education. Where that guy was sitting is season tickets only (so I've been told), so this would have been a regular (or perhaps given by a season ticket holder) I don't condon what happened, just please don't stereotype the Detroit area with this bad incident. We work too hard and have many good things happening in the region.

From SI.com writer Don Banks:

"He (Eli Manning) had a shaky first half as the Giants fell behind 14-0, completing just five of 14 passes, for 46 yards, with one interception, one sack and a paltry 15.8 quarterback rating. But he persevered, and behind him, New York (5-5) fought back into a game it desperately needed to keep its flagging playoff hopes alive.

"I knew I had to throw the ball better,'' Manning said of his poor start. "I had to be more accurate.''

In the second half, he was, completing 12 of 23 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. He finished 17 of 37 for 162 yards on the day, with one touchdown, two interceptions, and a 45.1 rating. But those totals would have been far better had the Giants not dropped at least six catchable balls -- three by tight end Jeremy Shockey -- and Manning's ability to avoid the Atlanta pass rush was a highlight.

Manning took just one sack, for four yards on New York's opening drive. For the Giants, who had seen Warner dumped 24 times in the past four games, it was a vast improvement. Especially since the Falcons entered play with 27 sacks, second most in the NFC.

"I was so concerned with getting the ball out of my hands and not taking the sack, that sometimes I threw the ball too quickly, even before the receiver turned,'' Manning said. "But I knew it was a long game. I knew if I hung in there and made some throws, I'd get my confidence back.''

Manning's growing confidence was obvious after the Giants made it 14-7 late in the third quarter on his 6-yard touchdown toss to Shockey, capping a 16-play, 72-yard scoring drive. For Manning, it was the first touchdown pass of his NFL career. From the looks of things on Sunday, the first of many."

Michael P would like to point to Manning's sloppy play; however, Manning was very promising, showing MASSIVE improvement from the first half to the second half. The odd thing about this game is that few G-Men stepped up to help the Rookie QB.

The greatest blow happened in the second half when the Giants had stopped the Falcons cold. With 5:30 left in the game, it appeared that the Giants would get the ball one more time, with plenty on the clock to comfortably execute a possible 70 yard drive that might win the game for them.

With Michael Vick cornered and heaving a wild pass that was incomplete, Giants' Outside Line Backer Carlos Emmons (51) was penalized with a questionable roughing the passer call, which set up another set of downs for the Falcons, who were able to wind the clock down to 2:00 before punting the ball to the Giants.

In a hurry-up offense, Manning was unable to get the final score in; however, in that situation, what rookie QB could get the job done?

More from the article:

"Nobody was afforded a better vantage point into Manning's all-new world on Sunday than Keith Brooking. Perched just across the line from the Giants rookie, the Falcons' Pro Bowl linebacker liked almost everything he saw. Even when New York and Manning got the ball back at the Giants 26, with 1:52 remaining and the chance to play the hero.

"I was 10 feet from him and I saw the look in his eyes,'' Brooking said. "When he was sitting in that huddle, he didn't have that wide-eyed look. Even though he didn't know what the hell was coming, he was calm the whole time, and that says a lot about the kid. That's what's going to make him good."

Something to think about:

Peyton Manning did not win his first game out either. (A loss to the Miami Dolphins (24-15). Oh, HE ALSO THREW 3 INTs!

Why am I (a fan) allowed to yell insults at basketball players, but can't get away with this at a tennis match or a golf tournament? If I did this at work, do you think I'd still be employed? I used to get strange stares when I'd acknowledge the opposing team made a great play. Sportsmanship is a lost value.

I made the decision years ago not to take my son to college/pro sporting events because some ***hole decides he/she want's to repeat every George Carlin word.

Also, do you think Rasheed (or was it Ben?) Wallce would have hit Artest if the game was within 5 instead of 15 points with 45 seconds to go? Millionaire thugs, that what many of them are.

Chi, yes, the reporters are saying he looks like he is just like every other rookie. I personally think he won't get any better over time. Only time will tell. So far, it looks like after this game, I'm correct. He had a crappy day with a horrible passer rating and a big L.

Z, Big Ben Roethlisberger. That's all I have to say. He will be the rookie of the year, he just might QB them all the way to the Super Bowl, and he might even win it for the Steelers. Eli is no Big Ben!

The point is not Ben. The point is you think Eli will never be a good QB. Isn't that what you said? How Ben plays has nothing to do with that.

You are commenting about a QB after seeing him start one game. You have given no basis whatsoever for your comments. A rookie's first start is no basis for predicting his future. Is he too small to QB in the NFL? Too slow? Is is release wrong? Is he on drugs? Or is there something you saw in his college game that makes him a loser? Or are you full of...

So far I don't need any crow. Eli is not the superstar he was told he was.

As for why I don't like him, it's more than personal. I've told you once I've told you twice and you aren't listening.

#1: He doesn't make his own decisions well.

#2: He isn't a leader, he needs someone else to do the talking.

#3: He is prone to throw interceptions.

#4: He doesn't have the weapons he needs to be successful.

#5: He was overrated because his last name is Manning.

#6: He will crack under the obscene pressure being put on him to live up to his brother's and his father's legacy.

That's 6 reasons why he could fail. I am calling him out early and saying I think he won't make it. If he does, I'll eat crow. Unfortunately, if he does fail, you will still think he's the best thing since sliced bread.

You must be talking about his college years Michael because we have seen too little of him to make judgments based on his play. He may be a slow starter like Aikman

Here are his stats in 1989 and 1990

YEAR TEAM G GS Att Comp Pct Yds YPA Lg TD Int Rate

1989 Dallas Cowboys 11 11 293 155 52.9 1749 6.0 75t 9 18 55.7 (9 TDs and 18 INTs)

1990 Dallas Cowboys 15 15 399 226 56.6 2579 6.5 61t 11 18 66.6 (11 TDs and 18 INTs)

1989 Cowboys are 1 - 15

1990 Cowboys are 7 - 9

What about Bradshaw?


Year TM | G | Comp Att PCT YD Y/A TD INT

1970 pit | 13 | 83 218 38.1 1410 6.5 6 24 | 1971 pit | 14 | 203 373 54.4 2259 6.1 13 22

Of course, Bradshaw always threw a lot of INTs. In 1970, they were 5 - 9. In 1971, they were 6 - 8.

Yes, I am talking about his college years and his preseason games. Maybe he's a slow starter like Aikman, but the fact is, #1 pick QBs don't have the luxury of being slow starters.... They get paid too much.