I agree that this was a PR move by the Chargers all along. If you have paid attention to what they have been saying and the guys they have paid attention to most during the offseason, I don't think they were ever all that high on Eli. I don't think they EVER palnned on taking him... but the fan outcry and general consensus that he is THE man (which I don't beleive he is) forced them to make a move to have an "excuse" not to draft him.
Think about it... prior to yesterday the only team in serious talks with the Chargers for Manning was the Giants... but now that teams think San Diego HAS to trade out of the 1st spot, there will be more teams calling and enquiring on what it would take to move up. Even though some of those teams might not be willing to give up a lot because they feel San Diego doesn't have a lot of leverage, the more teams that get involved the more San Diego will eventually get.
I beleive San Diego has coveted Phillip Rivers all along. (There is a REASON he was invited to the Draft... the NFL polls the top teams confidentially for the top players on their draft board to get that list of invitees) Remember, Rivers was also one of the 4 players that San Diego began negotiations with, and Schottenheimer coached him during the Senior bowl and practices. It may all be a smoke screen, but i doubt it.
I said it before all this came out... but I guarantee Manning will be the biggest disappointment in the draft. Maybe he won't be a "bust" but he is gonna be a lot more Tim Couch than he is going to be Peyton Manning. The only reason his stock has risen so high has been his last name. If he was evaluated PURELY on his own talents... he would likely be far behind Rivers and Roethlisberger... and maybe neck and neck with Losman. Scouts keep saying, "He is more PHYSICALLY ready than Peyton was coming out." But that means NOTHING. The INTANGIBLES: anticipation, game study, timing, audibles, play-action fakes, etc. are what make Manning one of the best (besides Harrison.) They just assume, that he will develop all the intangibles Peyton has because his last name is Manning. But, he never showed those intangibles in college, and most sscouts say he doesn't have the work ethic of Peyton. But, somehow they beleive the magical football gene will just give him all the intangibles Peyton has. He's a Mirage!!