Eli Manning just served up a zinger, and it’s aimed straight at his old rival, Tom Brady. The former New York Giants quarterback turned social media jokester hilariously targeted the GOAT, saying, “Cute Minnow, Tom,” in a playful dig that’s got fans buzzing. Brady, who’s conquered the NFL seas as the ultimate big fish, now finds himself the subject of Manning’s cheeky wordplay.
The jab, part humor, and part nostalgic rivalry, shows that Manning’s game is still sharp — off the field, at least. Touché, Mr. Manning!
Eli Manning Trolls Tom Brady, Reigniting Their Iconic NFL Rivalry
“Cute Minnow, Tom” — Manning just delivered another Hall-of-Fame-worthy troll to Brady, and it’s pure internet gold. After Brady posted a shirtless snap showing off his catch of the day (a fish), Manning swam in with the ultimate burn, calling the fish “cute” and flexing his own fishing prowess on X (formerly Twitter).
Cute Minnow, Tom! pic.twitter.com/W4tEgN5BdN
— Eli Manning (@EliManning) December 2, 2024
Manning’s social media jab isn’t just fun and games — it’s a callback to one of the NFL’s most iconic rivalries. Manning dunked on Brady twice in Super Bowls (XLII and XLVI).
In 2008, the former Giants QB ruined Brady’s perfect-season dreams with a shocking 17-14 win. Four years later, Manning delivered yet another blow, a 21-17 dagger to Brady and the Pats.
Brady’s GOAT status is undeniable, but Manning holds the ultimate bragging rights: two unforgettable wins on the sport’s biggest stage. He’s like the football version of Thanos, snapping Brady’s invincibility out of existence, one Super Bowl at a time.
Now, at 47, Brady’s fishing up some peace and quiet, but you can bet those two losses to the Giants still sting, especially the one that snatched away his perfect season. If NFL rivalries had a meme section, this would top the feed.
Brady Faces Tough Criticism in the Booth
Brady may have seven Super Bowl rings, but his rookie season as Fox Sports’ $375 million football analyst is drawing some sharp criticism. New York Post columnist Phil Mushnick didn’t hold back after Brady’s Thanksgiving Day commentary during the Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants game, calling him “force-fed” to the nation and “a tad overpriced, by roughly $375 million.”
Mushnick’s main gripe was that Brady’s analysis felt surface-level and uninspired. His Week 13 performance was no different from the first 12 weeks, Mushnick noted, with a succession of basic observations like, “good call,” “good catch,” and “good throw.” According to the columnist, Brady was “irrelevant and superfluous,” leaving boothmate Kevin Burkhardt hanging on underdeveloped commentary.
To be fair, Mushnick didn’t pin the blame entirely on Brady. He criticized Fox’s track record of failing to elevate its on-air talent, citing examples like Daryl “Moose” Johnston and Greg Olsen. His “Einstein Theory of Sportscasting Insanity” suggested networks rarely help announcers improve, so why would Brady be any different?
With $375 million on the line, Fox clearly bet big on Brady. But for now, his transition to the booth is proving that even the GOAT can fumble. Maybe greatness on the field doesn’t always translate to the broadcast booth.
