Eli Manning is the most powerful athlete in New York, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
The Giants quarterback was ranked 17th in the magazine’s latest Power 100 poll, highest among locals in the list that’s based on appeal to fans and advertisers and on-field achievements.
Of Manning, Businessweek writes, “The past two seasons have been rough for Eli Manning — he just missed the playoffs in each — but Manning’s selling power remains strong. Memories of his amazing last-second triumph in Super Bowl XLII remains fresh. Athough he led the league with 25 interceptions last season, we estimate that he took home $7 million in endorsements for the year.”
The report puts his annual income at $27 million. Manning, 18th on the list last year, has endorsement deals with Citizen Watch, Reebok, Oreo and Toyota.
Eli’s brother, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, was ranked No. 1.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was second in New York, falling from No. 26 to No. 33 overall, with earnings of $31 million that include endorsements for Gatorade, Gillette, Visa and Ford.
“The aging Yankee hasn’t been batting quite as well in recent years but that hasn’t harmed Derek Jeter’s stature on or off the diamond,” Businessweek writes. “Last year wasn’t bad: Jeter was selected as an All-Star for the 11th time and signed a $51 million deal to play three more years with the Yankees.”
Yankees teammate Robinson Cano, a newcomer to the list, was ranked 54th.
“He’s on his way up with big endorsements coming through,” Businessweek says of the second baseman.
Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire is 58th; Jets running back LaDianian Tomlinson is 68th; and Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is 69th.
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez fell from 61 to 81; Mets third baseman David Wright dropped from 52 to 91; and Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia went from 32 to 95.
Other notable droppers on the list were Tiger Woods and LeBron James.
Woods was ranked No. 1 last year, but is now third after a tumultuous 2010 that saw him admit to numerous extramarital affairs and divorce from Elin Nordegren while scoring no victories on the golf course.
James was second in 2010, but is now 11th after tarnishing his image with July’s poorly conceived ESPN special in which he announced he was leaving his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers to sign with the Miami Heat.
Peyton Manning’s yearly earnings are pegged at $30 million, with endorsement deals from Mastercard, Reebok, Gatorade and Oreo totaling $15 million. The four-time MVP was ranked fifth on the Power 100 list last year.
Explaining the top ranking, Businessweek called Manning “marketable, recognizable, and down-to-earth.“
X-Games star Shaun White is ranked second this year, up from 51st in 2010. Businessweek calls the 24-year-old snowboarding-skateboarding star “an attractive athlete to brands that want to appeal to youth.“
Golfer Phil Mickelson was fourth and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady fifth.
In compiling the annual rankings, Businessweek does not consider retired athletes, coaches, managers, owners or executives.
With Newscore