By Ralph D. Russo
The Associated Press

NEW YORK - For years, Eli Manning has shrugged off outrageous expectations and constant comparisons to his talented father and brother.

Unfazed by all the attention and pressure, the Mississippi quarterback proved himself a worthy member of his star-studded family tree. And he's one of three quarterbacks expected to go high in today's draft. Miami's Ben Roethlisberger and N.C. State's Philip Rivers are the others.

Given Manning's poise, pedigree and penchant for living up to the hype, it's no wonder NFL teams are clamoring to draft him - maybe, like his brother, first overall.

While there have been other families with two first-round picks in the NFL, the Mannings will be the first with three.

"It's never been important to me," Manning said. "I've never said I have to go one or wanted to be the first pick in the draft. I just wanted to go to a team that wanted me. I want to go somewhere that's a good program and a good place to play football."

Apparently, the San Diego Chargers do not qualify. Manning, through his father, Archie, and his agent, told the Chargers he'd prefer they pass on him with their No. 1 overall pick. He's even hinted he's ready to sit out the season if he's taken by the Chargers, who haven't made the playoffs in eight years.

"It's my decision," he said, "my career and my life."

Even before Eli slighted San Diego, several teams, including the New York Giants, talked to the Chargers about trading into the top spot to grab Manning.

He still appears to be the favorite to go No. 1, just as brother Peyton did in 1998 when he was picked by the Indianapolis Colts, who went on to become one of the AFC's best teams with their new quarterback.

Archie lasted just a little longer - he was drafted second overall by the New Orleans Saints in 1971.

On Saturday, the 23-year-old Eli will represent a better future for some franchise, exactly as his father and brother once did.

Of course, it won't be the first time Eli has been anointed savior.

Ole Miss was pretty good, but far from great, for decades after the first Manning era in Oxford, Miss. (Peyton starred at Tennessee.)

When Eli signed with the Rebels out of high school, the faithful were overjoyed, but they had to wait for their hero. He sat out his first year and then backed up a senior.

Well-seasoned under the tutelage of Rebels coach David Cutcliffe, Peyton's position coach at Tennessee, Eli put together a brilliant sophomore season, throwing 31 touchdown passes.

His junior year wasn't as good, but he was still rated as a likely first-round selection if he wanted to skip his senior year and enter the 2003 draft. He chose to stay at Ole Miss and both he and the Rebels reaped huge rewards.

Mississippi went 10-2, its best season in 32 years, and Eli finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. He got the glory of leading his father and mother's alma mater back to national prominence, and he will make millions as a result.

But he's also making headlines with the family decision to spurn the Chargers.

"All the other things going on, its not going to diminish how far Eli has come to get to this point," Peyton said. "It's going to be a great day no matter what happens."

Eli and Peyton are remarkably similar players. Eli's about a quarter of an inch shorter than his 6-foot-5 brother. Peyton's got a few more pounds, but at about 220, Eli probably will fill out in the pros just like Peyton did.

Neither was blessed with their dad's elusiveness.

"We're not going to run away from anybody. We can slide away or shuffle up a little bit. We're not going to beat anybody with our speed," Peyton said. "We both try to use the cerebral part of the game to make quick decisions and (we're ) both very accurate with the football.

"Those things you've got to have to be a good pro quarterback."

Good genes apparently don't hurt, either.

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