I’ve been so critical of Eli Manning, and his inconsistencies this year that I just feel it only right to rescind that point.  Since the beginning of this season, Eli Manning has been scrutinized, by the media, me, and former team mates. In the previous season, the team seemingly was headed towards a mutiny because of comments made by other players about there dislike of Coughlins coaching. But this isn’t about previous years, this is about the hear and now. Though I am a Dallas Cowboy, I must always give props where they are due.

A lot of the scrutiny of Eli Manning came through because his threshold was set so high. After all he is a Manning. Many felt that much of the positive talk about Eli was because of the things his big brother and his father  did prior to Eli entering the NFL. Many of us attacked Eli calling him, just a good quarterback, but nothing near the greatness of Peyton Manning. Though one game doesn’t make a player a hall of famer, I think we can all agree that Eli has some of the mechanics to make it to that level with other elite players.  There are no shoes to fill any longer. Eli is not Peyton’s little brother,  or Archies kid. Eli Manning is his own standing player with his own miletones to fill in the years ahead.

Understand that the reason the Giants won the Superbowl is because of several components. The New Giant defensive line led by Michael Strahan must get a lot of credit, because they harassed Tom Brady the entire game.  Credit has to be given to David Tyree because of his incredible hands  and of course Plaxico Burress because of his clutch reception that put the Giants over the Pats. Having said that, there is no doubt that Eli was the leader of this team. His composure was the thing that allowed all the big plays of this game to occur. Ill close with this, the Giants team can enjoy and reflect on their  victory because they did something no team has done this year. In the years ahead,  the Giants and Eli can only get better and better. Although my Cowboys still stand to take them down next season, there is only one way to close this. Eli has ascended.