Eli Manning, Tony Romo Get Rob Lowe Treatment In DirecTV's Sunday Ticket Spots

DirecTV launched the latest spots to promote its NFL Sunday Ticket package, and Giants QB Eli Manning appears in one spot "as 'Bad Comedian Eli Manning,' which follows the same format as the popular Rob Lowe commercials," according to John Healy of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Manning's character "appears balding and overweight," and his poor jokes "include how his cable HD stands for 'huge disappointment."' He also "asks an audience if they want to see a picture of his mother-in-law." He follows by saying, "Neither do I" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/25). ESPN.com's Dan Graziano wrote Manning is "now so good" as an endorser that he "doesn't even need his big brother" -- Broncos QB Peyton Manning -- to help anymore. The younger brother "from the duo that brought you the hilariously awful/awfully hilarious 'Football on Your Phone' and 'Football Cops' ads is now on his own." Graziano: "If you're an Eli fan, it will crack you up. If you're not an Eli fan, it's likely to crack you up" (ESPN.com, 7/24).

BIZARRO ROMO: WFAA.com's Landon Haaf noted Cowboys QB Tony Romo also appears in a spot for DirecTV's Sunday Ticket, and his alter ego in the ad "is 'Arts and craftsy' Tony Romo." The character "seems like a weird dude" (WFAA.com, 7/25). ESPN.com's Todd Archer wrote, "Somehow, the alternative Romo is not what I pictured" (ESPN.com, 7/24).