Bucs/NFL

Prime time features QB's sibling rivalry

By JOANNE KORTH
Published September 10, 2006

Anyone with a sibling will choose a side.

Anyone with children will sympathize.

Peyton and Eli Manning will make NFL history tonight as the first brothers to start at quarterback for opposing teams. Older brother Peyton and the Colts visit Eli and the Giants for a nationally televised family reunion on NBC.

Holiday dinners in the Manning family may never be the same: Uh, bro, since I beat you in that 2006 opener, could you pass the mashed potatoes?

Hey, Merry Christmas.

Those who grew up constantly being blamed for making little brother or sister cry will root for 30-year-old Peyton.

Peyton is the intense one.

Those who grew up listening to teachers rave about what a wonderful student older brother or sister was will cheer for 25-year-old Eli.

Eli is the laid-back one.

As for loving parents Archie and Olivia Manning, well, they're hoping for a power outage.

Failing that, Mom and Dad will be there, cringing in their end zone seats, assured one of their sons will lose.

"When Eli got in the league, I knew it was going to happen someday," said Archie, who played for the Saints. "I was very grateful they're in different conferences. I wish it didn't happen. I wish they weren't playing (each other). Everybody thinks it's so great, but deep down, I wish they weren't."

The boys, at least, seem to be having fun.

Their five-year age difference meant Peyton and Eli did not compete against one another while growing up in New Orleans, unless you count pingpong, bumper pool and hoops in the driveway.

Which, of course, they do.

Eli remembers the first time he beat big brother at anything, a one-on-one basketball game when Peyton was home from college at Tennessee.

"That was the first time it was a real competitive sport, where I was finally at the age where we were even close enough where I could handle him," Eli said.

"I don't know if it was really fair. I was in the middle of basketball season, I think, playing for my high school, and he hadn't shot a basketball in about five years. So I probably had an advantage over him."

Eli did the brotherly thing. He took advantage.

The game ended with a dunk.

"It was one of those tight games, like 9-8, playing to 10, you've got to win by two," Eli said. "I was at the top of the key, and he went for a steal, which didn't work. I got by him and went for the dunk, and that's how it ended. It was one thing to lose to your little brother, but to get dunked on for the last play, he wasn't too happy about it."

Now, like then, neither wants to suffer the consequences of losing to his brother.

"Once Eli became the top draft choice in the league, I knew at some point we were going to have to play each other," Peyton said. "It's kind of been a surprise for us. I know it's going to be difficult and awkward for my family and my parents. I know they will just try to get through it. But Eli and I are excited about the game actually being here."

Not everyone has an emotional investment in the Manning Bowl. Giants defensive end Michael Strahan starts the season with 129 career sacks, ninth best in league history and three behind Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor's franchise record.

Strahan has no problem hitting Peyton.

And hitting him again.

"That's Eli's brother, not my brother," Strahan said.

Yep, pass the gravy.

[Last modified September 10, 2006, 05:07:00]