Eli Manning double middle finger mishap leads to complaints against ESPN

Despite the popularity of Eli and Peyton Manning’s Manningcast, a few folks would like to see the younger Manning off the airwaves. The former New York Giants quarterback demonstrated the double-bird gesture leading to three FCC complaints against him and ESPN.

Eli Manning put up his two middle fingers to show how some Philadelphia Eagles fans used to greet him. The “despicable” incident occurred during the Manningcast broadcast in Week 3 for the Eagles versus Cowboys.

Three people reported Manning to the FCC, requesting everything from fines to an outright ban of the Super Bowl-winning signal-caller.

ICYMI: Eli Manning flips the double bird during the #MNF Manningcast while telling an anecdote about how young Philadelphia Eagles fans used to give him the middle finger from each hand. pic.twitter.com/381LmnLHto

— Bet Any Sports (@betanysportsEU) September 28, 2021

“On ESPN ‘Monday Night Football’ Eli Manning used profane gestures that were despicable and unacceptable and fines should be levied,” a viewer from West Chester, PA said in the complaint. “Young Americans should never be exposed to something like that, it was disgusting.”

“Mr. Manning’s actions are offensive to me as a viewer,” another viewer wrote. “It was also offensive as a Philadelphia native and sports fan. There were young children watching that broadcast last evening.”

“The FCC should take all appropriate enforcement actions against Mr. Manning and/or ESPN for Mr. Manning’s conduct to hold them accountable to send the message that that type of behavior (even if he was re-telling a story) is not acceptable, including all appropriate fines.”

Eli and Peyton Manning have a 10-game deal with ESPN for their alternate broadcast this season. They’ve done five of the nine Monday Night games so far.

Is the Manningcast cursed?

The ESPN alternate Monday Night Football broadcast, fondly referred to as the Manningcast, has risen in popularity each week thanks to stacked guest lists.

Eli Manning and Peyton Manning hosted the likes of Nick Saban, Marshawn Lynch, Rob Gronkowski, Josh Allen and more through Week 9. The candid conversations, with a side of in-depth football breakdowns, are a refreshing departure from play-by-play commentary.

However, there is an unfortunate phenomenon developing – a trend NFL fans picked up on following their Week 8 broadcast. Big-name current players who’ve participated in the Manningcast are a combined 0-6 in their following games.

Travis Kelce, Russell Wilson, Rob Gronkowski, Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady and Josh Allen all lost after appearing on the Manningcast. Gronk and Wilson also suffered injuries in their ensuing games.

Half a season in and the Manningcast curse is already achieving Madden cover curse levels of infamy.