Eli Manning Recalls Childhood Punishment He Took From Brother Peyton

When you're viewing professional athletes from afar, it's easy to think of them as real-life superheroes. They possess physical talents beyond the realm of mere mortals, never seem to flinch and, after the game, head home to their metaphorical Wayne Manors. But, when you get down to brass tacks, they're real people. Just ask Eli Manning about that.

During Week 5's edition of the ManningCast during the Monday Night Football game, he and his brother, Peyton, fielded a question from Jimmy Kimmel about which sibling loves the other more. That prompted Eli to share some childhood memories about the punishment that he absorbed as part of Peyton's football training.

The situation probably sounded familiar to anyone with a sibling, albeit in rather dramatic terms.

Let's roll the tape.

Eli Found Himself Bruised by Peyton's Passes

Within a group of sporting siblings, the younger person usually ends up doing the grunt work, whether that means rounding up the balls at the end of a practice or stepping into the net to serve as an emergency goalie. In Eli's case, though, that meant catching plenty of passes from his older brother.

Responding to Kimmel's question, Peyton immediately said that the answer was Eli since the former Giants QB appreciated how his brother took him to school and tucked him in at night.

The younger Manning, however, had a different take on what happened.

"You abused me," Eli countered. "You mentally and physically abused me as a kid. I had bruises."

Peyton quipped that his training got Eli ready for the challenges of playing in New York. But thankfully for the curious listeners at home, the story didn't stop there.

"Jimmy, in the middle of summer, when I'm 12 years old, he'd make me go run routes for him, and he threw it so hard," Eli said. "I mean, I had bruises up and down my arms. So then he would put me in sweatpants and a sweatshirt. It's 185 degrees outside and put pillows up and down my whole body and arms so I could be like the Michelin Man and just like block the ball. Outside in New Orleans, the middle of the street. People are watching and laughing at me."

In true older sibling fashion, Peyton countered by saying that Eli should thank him for those workouts.

"They did not make me better at anything," the younger Manning replied.

Both Mannings Found Success

While those childhood training sessions do sound a bit one-sided, they don't seem to have accounted for any major setbacks. Both Mannings, as football fans already know, put together fine NFL careers.

Working in chronological order, Peyton overcame a tough rookie year to become one of the league's top signal-callers. While he was never the most athletic man on the field, his ability to read the game and throw frozen ropes—as Eli experienced during their youth— compensated for any shortcomings. He piled up a shade under 55,000 passing yards and 399 passing touchdowns during his 13 years with the Colts. The QB ultimately slowed in Denver, but he still threw 55 touchdown passes during an outstanding 2013 season and lifted the Lombardi Trophy in his final NFL game at the end of the 2015 campaign.

In total, Peyton retired with two Super Bowl titles and five NFL MVP Awards. He has since rightfully taken his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And while Eli suffered his share of bumps and bruises as an ersatz receiver, the younger quarterback also found his own professional success. He wasn't quite as dominant as Peyton, but the Giants QB still threw for just over 57,000 yards and piled up 366 touchdown passes during his time in the Big Apple. He also led the club to two famous Super Bowl victories over the Patriots, earning MVP honors on both occasions.

In hindsight, maybe those childhood training sessions paid off for both Mannings. Well, at least they didn't affect Eli's performance long term.