New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is having a nightmare of a season and now everyone is criticizing his lackluster play, even politicians. Manning recently endorsed and attended fundraiser last for incumbent Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer. Councilman Tim Occhipinti who is running for Mayor of Hoboken took the endorsement by the Giants quarterback and is using Eli’s struggles for his gain. The Occhipinti campaign sent an open letter to Manning’s big brother, Peyton, to have him talk to Eli and have him focus less on politics and more on football.
Dear Peyton,
We write to you today, speaking as football fans and dedicated servants to our great city. We are candidates for Mayor and City Council in Hoboken, NJ – hometown to a fellow quarterback who shares the last name Manning.
You must have been proud of little brother Eli Manning, when he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy a few years ago, winning the Super Bowl in a dramatic fashion and earning his second ring and second Most Valuable Player Award. Now, with the Giants starting 0-4, it is looking as if you might be the only Manning playing in the Super bowl in NJ this February. We are writing this letter in the hopes of changing that, though. We are hoping you can talk some sense into our Giants quarterback.
In the past few weeks since baby brother agreed to throw his hat into Hoboken politics, and agreed to attend our opponent’s fundraiser; the Giants have lost every game, and Eli has had a very tough go of it.
We are not sure whether it’s the 14 sacks he has endured that made his off the field political decision-making questionable –or if the 9 interceptions and 2 fumbles this year show that he is making questionable decisions on and off the field.
What we do know is that concentrating on football alone could help our team get back on track.
Peyton, you are breaking records with the Denver Broncos this year. On the field, you are known for fourth-quarter comebacks, incredible production, leadership, sportsmanship, a Lombardi trophy and your 12 Pro Bowl selections stand as the most in NFL history at the quarterback position. Your intensity level and your will to win are legendary, and you are widely known to limit distractions.
As the wiser, more productive, older brother, please talk to Eli. Please remind baby brother that four more years of no parking, flooding issues, bloated administration salaries and budgetary mismanagement are not what Hoboken needs. We need a new energy for all of Hoboken that will bring people together and get things done. When we are not distracted by the lack of production in city hall, we need a football team that produces wins and a quarterback that only concentrates on winning on Sundays.
Please Peyton, talk to Eli and help us get another championship. Let baby brother know that we believe in his football skills. We know his recent questionable judgment on the field and in Hoboken politics can be corrected. The Giants can get back on track and back to their winning ways! Let him know that 0-4 quarterbacks get involved in politics. Winning quarterbacks stick with what is happening on the field. Go Big Blue.
Warm Regards,
Hopefully this won’t be Peyton’s response to the letter.
[Deadspin]
