Did the Mannings Play Themselves?

The Mannings may be the first family of football, but sometimes they are the first family of dumb. Texas QB Arch Manning refusing to be in the EA Sports College Football game is just a poor marketing move.

Manning is already overrated. I’ve said that many times. If his name were Arch Smith and you watched his high school film at that awful level of competition, you’d 3-star him. But alas, people fall for the last name and hype. I made him a 4-star because of the last name and pedigree, so I guess I’m guilty as well, but for almost everyone to have him No. 1 overall and a 5-star plus or whatever, that seems odd to me. But that ship has sailed. Manning barely played as a freshman this past season at Texas and was third-string. And he’d still be third string had Maalik Murphy decided to stay and settle for a backup role. But with Murphy off to Duke, Manning is the one staying and settling. Is he a competitor? Who knows? But he and his circle aren’t very bright: I know that.

Players get $600 and a copy of the game for their NIL rights. It’s nothing money, and the Mannings are rich. So, this became a multi-faceted decision. Hold out for more money and look greedy, or opt out with the excuse that he will opt-in when he’s the starter. But they forgot a third option — opt-in quietly.

Had Manning just opted in, no one would have said a word. Maybe some would make fun of his 68 rating or be outraged when EA Sports stupidly gave him an 86. Who knows? We will never know. But I do know one thing — had he opted in quietly, no one would have noticed. So now, opting out because you want to focus on football and then changing the story to wanting to wait until he’s the man is all stupid.

Let’s be clear. This is a posture. This is a stance. The Mannings know his name is too big for $600 and a copy of the game, and they don’t want to give EA his NIL rights for peanuts. But they also don’t want to be compensated for pushing the game as many others are because he’s not a starter. Imagine Manning pushing this product as a nothing backup. Embarrassing. So what should they have done?

Negotiate a quiet deal with EA where the kid gets more than anyone else this year, and next, with the agreement, he will push the game as an influencer next season if he’s the starter. Then be a quiet opt-in this year and make a ton of dough next year. Win-win for everyone.

This wasn’t handled well, and honestly, few care because right now, he’s just a name and not a star. But it’s also a dumb way to approach things, and I am wondering if they really know what they are doing with this kid.