SNYDER: Why would Manning stick his neck out to play for the Redskins?

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

Once again, it’s time to check off some items on my “TIDU List” — Things I Don’t Understand:

• Why Peyton Manning would choose to play for the Redskins.

Assuming he’s healthy, the Colts’ QB will have numerous suitors clamoring for his services. That includes teams that are much closer to winning and play in much nicer conditions than Washington. Besides, Manning needs to drive the offense, and Redskins coach Mike Shanahan isn’t the type to relinquish the wheel.

This winter has been unusually warm, but we’ll see hail in August if Manning lands in Ashburn.

• How Gisele Bundchen was wrong in responding to Tom Brady’s heckler.

She’s a Brazilian supermodel, not the typical, anonymous NFL wife. So she felt free to defend the Patriots QB when someone yelled to her, “Eli [Manning] rules!” and “Eli owns your husband!” She said Brady “cannot [bleeping] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time.”

Remember, in the world of international divas, Brady is Gisele’s trophy husband — not the other way around.

• How anyone can complain if D.C. is overrun by Phillies fans in May.

The Nationals have done their part through a “Take Back the Park” campaign, selling tickets for a Phillies series early and only to buyers with credit card addresses in the DMV area. Philadelphia typically draws the largest crowds at Nationals Park, with a majority rooting for the visitors.

Hey, if you can’t beat them, keep their fans from joining them.

• Why the Knicks waited so long before unleashing Jeremy Lin.

“Lin-sanity” visits Verizon Center on Wednesday night; catch it while you can. There’s no telling when the Asian-American point guard from Harvard will return to the bench. But in 80 minutes over New York’s past two games — more than he logged all-told prior — Lin has 53 points and 15 assists in back-to-back wins.

Had he played Lin a little earlier, coach Mike D’Antoni’s seat might be a little cooler.

• How Georgetown can beat Syracuse on Wednesday at the Carrier Dome.

There’s no shame in losing on the Orange’s home court, where No. 2 Syracuse is 15-0 this season. Georgetown’s vaunted freshman class gets its first taste of the Orange, usually a bitter experience for newbies. And Syracuse has big man Fab Melo back after a three-game absence.

But the Hoyas should be fine … as long as this game doesn’t spark yet another late-season meltdown.

• Why Eli Manning took heat for believing he’s an elite quarterback.

The question was posed to the Giants’ QB in August, and he responded, “I consider myself in that class,” meaning a top-five or top-10 quarterback (a significant difference in range, but I digress). He definitely qualified for the latter group, with a better argument than Baltimore’s Joe Flacco and a Super Bowl MVP award, too.

Now, after another Super Bowl MVP, it’s obvious that you can’t spell “elite” without “Eli.”

• What Wizards management sees when discussing the team’s so-called assets.

I understand “the plan” and I admire owner Ted Leonsis. But he’s deluding himself regarding the Wizards’ young players. The only two who would be in demand — John Wall and JaVale McGee — are the two worth keeping. The others are projects (Jan Vesely) or off-the-bench prospects (everyone else) with minimal trade value.

Sometimes, one man’s trash is just another man’s trash, too.

• How “let them score/don’t score” arguments can be won or lost.

Bill Belichick told his Patriots to clear a path for the Giants. Eli Manning told his halfback to take a dive. The respective strategies make great fodder for debate, with a slew of what-ifs, if-thens and then-whats. Each course has merits and risks, and we’ll never know what would’ve happened otherwise.

Unlike extended-cut movies on DVD, alternate endings in sports are left to the imagination.

• Why Redskins fans mention the team’s two wins against the Giants.

In the season opener, the Giants were missing their top two D-linemen, their top cornerback and their top two middle linebackers. In the rematch, Eli Manning had his worst game of the season as New York concluded its annual late-season swoon. Washington won five games overall; the rest is irrelevant.

Then again, you have to hang your hat on something … even if it’s barely a thumbtack.

• How “Spygate” can be downplayed in Bill Belichick’s shrinking legacy.

The Patriots won three Super Bowls in the four seasons from 2001 through 2004. They’ve been to two since then — after the 2007 and 2011 seasons — losing both. In between going 3-0 and 0-2, the Patriots were penalized for illegally videotaping opponents’ signals; Belichick was fined $500,000, the team was fined $250,000 and forced to give up two draft picks.

I’m just saying …