Mannings tell Chargers to avoid Eli

NEW YORK -- Eli Manning is more than happy to have the San Diego Chargers use the No. 1 pick in Saturday's NFL draft on anyone but him.

In fact, that would make his whole family happy. And the Chargers know it.

Eli's father, Archie, said the decision to tell the Chargers to pass on Eli was made by the Mississippi quarterback and his agent, Tom Condon, with input from the family and others.

Archie Manning wouldn't give specific reasons why San Diego was asked to back off.

"I don't want the Chargers to be exposed in a negative way," he said Thursday during an NFL luncheon.

Manning, a former pro quarterback, also said he was surprised and disappointed that Chargers general manager A.J. Smith went public with Eli's request.

Eli, who attended the luncheon with his dad, wouldn't say what he would do if the Chargers picked him anyway.

"I plan to be playing football next season," he said. "I've talked to New York. I've talked to Oakland. I've talked to a lot of teams, and I like a lot of teams."

Last week, the Chargers asked Condon to open negotiations with Eli Manning in anticipation of possibly drafting him. Since then, Archie Manning said he has spoken to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and has met with Chargers owner Alex Spanos and coach Marty Schottenheimer.

"This is nothing personal against anyone," he said.

Archie Manning was an outstanding player stuck on a dismal team, the New Orleans Saints, for most of his career. Eli's brother Peyton was taken by the Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick in 1998. At the time, the Colts were a struggling franchise, too.

Condon has not returned phone calls from The Associated Press.

The New York Giants, who have the fourth pick, are one of three teams who talked to the Chargers about trading for the No. 1 selection. In recent days, there were rumors Condon was trying to swing a trade between the Giants and Chargers.

The Chargers have missed the playoffs for the last eight seasons and are 43-85 since making their last postseason appearance in 1995.