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As Associated Press sports writer Tom Canavan framed it: "The Giants bet their future that Eli Manning is the NFL's next great quarterback. Hopefully, he'll prove worthy because the price they paid on Saturday was exorbitant.The Giants traded the fourth pick overall in the draft -- quarterback Philip Rivers, a third-round pick this year and first- and fifth-round picks next year to the San Diego Chargers for Manning.
"I don't consider that the store," general manager Ernie Accorsi said of the deal.
"We all had the unanimous opinion this was a special quarterback, and you don't get a chance very many times, for decades, to select someone like him," Accorsi added.
The trade also all but guaranteed that quarterback Kerry Collins' career with the Giants will end either in the very near future or after the 2004 season at the latest. While he admitted that keeping Collins would be difficult to manage under the cap, Accorsi stressed that it's not impossible.
"He would be ideal to keep, and I hope we can do that," Accorsi said. "We would try to find out if it's possible."
According to New York Times staff writer Lynn Zinser, Collins hopes it is.
"I want to be here," he said. "I feel a strong sense of closeness with this team, with this organization. I don't think there is a finer organization in the NFL. I would like to finish my career right here."
Although Giants officials had not publicly expressed any wavering of faith in Collins, they believed Manning simply could not be passed up.
"They see Eli as a great talent, a guy who can carry the Giants for a lot of years," Collins said. "On that level I can certainly understand why they would want to pick him, and I'll do whatever I can to help him this year."
Collins told Zinser he would also accept a backup role to Manning if that is what the coaching staff decides.
"If I'm here, we'll be on the same team and this is a situation where I'm not going to be bitter," Collins said. "I'm not going to hold it against Eli or the Giants. I'm going to do everything I can for this team to help them win, because I've had a great experience here and I think I owe that to them."
Signed by New York in 1999 after failures in Carolina and New Orleans, Collins knows the Giants helped turn him around. He became the starter midway through the 1999 season and went on to make 67 straight starts until a sprained ankle sidelined him late last season. He led the Giants to a Super Bowl berth in the 2000 season.
But the former Penn State standout's chances of remaining with the team depend greatly on his willingness to rework his current contract. And according to New York Newsday beat man Neil Best, that doesn't sound likely.
Asked Saturday afternoon directly if he would renegotiate, Collins told Best: "No, not at all."
That was before Collins had heard from head coach Tom Coughlin. Early last night, he remained adamant even after Coughlin called him at his New Jersey home. Coughlin and Collins both said that during that conversation, Coughlin told Collins not to assume anything about his future with the team, but added the Giants would need cooperation on Collins' part for cap relief.
So, asked again if he might cooperate in a new deal after all?
"No, sir," Collins told Best, who went on to suggest: "That stance will seal his fate."
Collins said he would like to be cut "sooner rather than later" if the Giants intend to do so. There figure to be teams that would be interested, perhaps including the Cowboys. His contract makes trading him unlikely. ...
In Pittsburgh. ... Tommy Maddox thought the Steelers were going to draft a right tackle with their No. 1 pick. At least, that's what his agent claims his client had been led to believe.
But by selecting Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers quickly and dramatically cast new light on their offensive future and Maddox's tenure with the team.
"Yes, I was surprised," agent Vann McElroy said in an interview with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staffer Gerry Dulac. "Tommy had been told they were going to try to get him a tackle."
Roethlisberger's arrival likely means Maddox, who is scheduled to earn $750,000 in base salary in 2004, will have a difficult time getting his contract re-structured to pay him commensurate with an NFL starter.
"I'm sure he was disappointed when he saw that," head coach Bill Cowher said. "But, at the same time, it was something we had to look at as an organization. You have to make sure you're taking a good football player.
"Tommy, being the professional he is, will come in and compete and continue to handle himself with the same class. Hopefully, he will continue to do that. He knows that the nature of his profession."
As Dulac noted, Maddox and McElroy have contended the Steelers promised following the 2002 season to re-do his contract. The Steelers unofficial stance is they have promised only to discuss the situation.
Maddox has three more years left on a contract he signed before the 2002 season, when he was the backup to Kordell Stewart. In addition to the above-mentioned $750,000 in base salary, the contract stipulates various incentives based on the number of games he plays, yards passing and completion percentage. He earned about $400,000 in extra pay in each of the past two seasons by reaching those bonuses after he became the starter.
Charlie Batch, Maddox's backup, said it will be difficult for the Steelers to make any kind of financial commitment to Maddox now that Roethlisberger was taken with the 11th overall pick.
Batch becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2004 season. Either he or Maddox will not be with the team in 2005.
"You look at the overall position, with the addition of Ben and with Brian St. Pierre, someone's not going to be here," Batch said. "Obviously, Ben is the future. The question is whether the organization will want to take care of Tommy from a financial standpoint."
This situation seems fairly easy to read -- especially given the "red-headed stepchild" approach the team has taken in the recent past by failing to come through when given an opportunity to up the ante for Maddox. ...
In Tampa Bay. ... According to Associated Press writer Mel Reisner, -- a judge took family concerns -- and Michael Pittman's career with the Buccaneers -- into consideration Friday before giving the running back a 30-day jail sentence for putting the lives of his wife, son and a baby sitter at risk.
he sentence included three years of supervised probation and a fine and surcharge totaling $4,500. Pittman arranged to begin serving his sentence on Monday.
He got credit for two days he already served in jail and could be released in as little as two weeks.
If he fails to comply with the terms of his probation, he could be forced to serve another 60 days in jail. He also faces the prospect of NFL action.
"I know there's going to be a suspension, but whatever it is, I'll accept that too, and get it behind me," Pittman said.
If Pittman serves only the 14 days in jail, he'll be free to attend almost every Buccaneers mini-camp or summer practice session. ...
Other Fantasy-specific news and notes from around the NFL. ...
In Baltimore. ... After being spurned by Terrell Owens, the Ravens have settled for Kevin Johnson.
In desperate need of a playmaking receiver to help second-year quarterback Kyle Boller, the Ravens on Sunday acquired Johnson from the Jacksonville Jaguars for Virginia Tech receiver Ernest Wilford, a fourth-round pick in the 2004 draft.
Johnson was released last season by the Cleveland Browns and claimed off waivers by the Jaguars. He had 41 catches for 381 yards and two touchdowns with the Browns before he was waived in November and had 17 receptions with the Jaguars.
Johnson's best year was 2001, when he had 84 receptions for 1,097 yards and nine touchdowns. Overall, he has 332 receptions. ...
In Carolina. ... After selecting wide receiver Keary Colbert with their second-round pick in Saturday's draft, the Panthers tried to quash persistent rumors that veteran wideout Muhsin Muhammad could be released before next season.
"He's a guy that there's been a lot of speculation outside this organization," head coach John Fox explained. "He's been a steady player for us; he proved that a year ago. He's a guy we hope will be back this season."
As Charlotte Observer staff writer Stan Olson noted, if his contract is not renegotiated, Muhammad will count $6.5 million against the salary cap and will collect a total of about $4.5 million.
"He's not the only player in the league that's got a high cap figure, that happens a lot," general manager Marty Hurney told reporters. "We've said all along -- we've been asked quite a bit, but we say the same thing every time. [Muhammad] is under contract and on our football team, and he's a very valuable part of our football team. ..."
Also in Carolina. ... Steve Smith said Friday he wasn't participating in Carolina's offseason workout program, and Fox was asked about it Saturday. "We have more than one guy who doesn't work out with the team," Fox said. "You'd like to say we have 100 percent but we haven't been 100 percent so far in three years. There's a couple guys that aren't involved for different reasons and understandable reasons.
"It's a voluntary thing. There's really not much you can do about it."
Smith's decision to work out on his own with a personal trainer will cost him a $100,000 workout bonus. But the brash youngster claims he has no regrets.
"I look at it like I'm forfeiting $100,000, but gaining the smiles on my family's faces," said Smith, who in March signed a six-year contract worth about $28 million.
Smith also believes getting one-on-one workouts will improve his conditioning. He tries to get three cardiovascular and two weight-lifting workouts in each week.
"We have so many guys in the (team) program, the numbers almost double from the regular season," he said. "You don't get as much individual attention, and I need that. If I don't run for two weeks, it's like I haven't done anything for a month. ..."
In New York. ... After exploring the possibility of trading him away, general manager Terry Bradway told reporters Saturday night that backup running back LaMont Jordan isn't going anywhere.
"LaMont Jordan will be a Jet this season," Bradway said at the conclusion of Day 1 of the NFL draft.
According to New York Daily News sports writer Rich Cimini, the Jets, believed to be seeking a second-round pick for the former No. 2 pick, reportedly talked to the Raiders about a trade.
Cimini went on to suggest that after three seasons as Curtis Martin's backup, Jordan is looking for more playing time, but he apparently is willing to play out the final year of his contract -- unless the Jets offer an enticing long-term deal before the season.