Big Ben, Eli or Philip Rivers? East Coast sports show makes their picks

Oct 30, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) looks on in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

This is one of the more overly talked about debates in recent NFL history.

Quite frankly, the debate between Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning or Philip Rivers being the best quarterback of the 2004 NFL Draft is talked about more than Donald Trump’s luscious hair.

There are many arguments for each of these three stars. Rivers has put up Hall of Fame-worthy numbers, while Roethlisberger and Manning have won two Super Bowls a piece. Bolt Beat contributor Louis Gorini wrote up a great list of achievements that each of them have accomplished.

Feb 5, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning during the Walter Payton man of the year press conference at Moscone Center in advance of Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

And we all know how each of them got where they are today. The San Diego Chargers selected Manning No. 1 overall despite being told before the draft that he refused to play for them. Then the blockbuster trade happened: Rivers, who was selected No. 4 overall by the New York Giants, was traded (along with a handful of picks) to the Chargers in exchange for Manning. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Roethlisberger at No. 11.

Many Chargers fans would argue that, regardless of zero Super Bowl wins, they are happy with Rivers. He is a great quarterback, but would you choose him over the other two?

But this isn’t about what Chargers fans think this time. My company, the YES Network (Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network), airs a television/radio show in New York called The Michael Kay Show. On Wednesday, hosts Michael Kay, Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg brought up this topic. Kay and La Greca are Giants fans, and Rosenberg is a Washington Redskins fan.

Realistically, there’s really no correct verdict. All three have done great things and will forever be linked in history. We can talk about how Rivers could have had a chance to get his ring if it weren’t for Marlon McCree’s fumble, Nate Kaeding’s missed field goals, star RB LaDainian Tomlinson sitting out due to injury and Rivers himself playing on a torn ACL, all of which happened in the playoffs; but the past is the past.

But it was cool to see who each one picked and why, especially from an East Coast point of view (you’ll be surprised). Take a look at the video below and let me know your thoughts.