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.
I don’t think anyone predicted the New York Giants to make it to the big game, I can guarantee I didn’t. There were question marks over the head of Eli Manning and Coach Coughlin. At the beginning of the season comments about Eli’s leadership ability were called into question by former teammate Tiki Barber, on the national stage during Sunday Night Football. I’ll say it for you Eli, “Tiki, how you like me now?"
When you look at the road traveled, there were just no signs or even possibilities that the Giants would’ve went this far. During the off season there were uncertainties around Michael Strahan playing or retiring this season, Tiki Barber retired, leaving a big pair of shoes at running back that needed to be filled. During the regular season they were sharing a division with the Dallas Cowboys who led the NFC during the regular season, and whom the Giants lost to twice during their two divisional meetings this year. They shared a division with an emotionally charged Washington Redskin team that lost star safety Sean Springs to an act of random violence. Actually the NFL as a whole, fans and loved ones endured this loss. You can never forget the division rival Philadelphia Eagles, a team that seemingly faces a quarterback controversy every time Donovan McNabb throws an interception. And finally of course, leading up to the NFC Championships, they would face a Greenbay Packer team that has been firing on all cylinders since the beginning of the season, and unlike the Cowboys the Pack showed no signs of slowing down heading into the post season.
A lot of credit has to be given to Coach Coughlin. After last years season I just didn’t see him returning. Ill advised comments from both Jeremy Shockey and Tiki Barber to the media about being out coached added to the detriment of Coughlin and the coaching staff. A quick side note, I hate when players in any sport take their anger and comments to the media because there’s no good that comes from it. Ill say this, the Giants made it to the game without those two players although on any given Sunday I’d opt to play both guys, because they’re pro bowl players that may have been just pissed at the time, but one was injured and the other somehow is anchor on NBC, but I digress. Coughlin played this Giant team through the pre-season, through the adversity of the regular season, which concluded with a perfect post season, and as a result, he and his players have earned a ticket to the dance.
Now when you look at the Giants team that we see today, you see key components that got this team to the Superbowl, starting with the play of Eli Manning. You don’t look for Eli to be his brother, or anyone else but himself. Even I questioned the ability of Eli after watching him make questionable decisions on the field throughout the course of the games this season. Ill say this, he’s earned my respect, just as Peyton did a few years ago when he brought the Colts back from a deficit against the #1 ranked defense of the Bucanners in the 4th quarter to win the game. Now I’m sure they could care less about earning my respect, but heck it’s just nice to say that they have anyway. Eli played Eli ball. That just simply means, make good choices, avoid turnovers, and do what you can to at least keep your team in these games towards the end. Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer were solid on the field, making big plays when needed. And let me just say that the play of Plaxico Burress during the NFC championship game was nothing short of a probowl type performance. The defensive line, which included Mike Strahan and Umenyiora combined for a season total 22 sacks. If not for their improved play during the second half of the NFC Divisional game against the Cowboys, we could’ve very well been watching the Cowboys vs. Greenbay, but thanks to the Giants defense getting to Tony Romo, the team was able to eliminate their division rival, which just happens to be my team, DAMN!! And before I proceed, a wise man once said , “Leave my QB alone!”, so leave him alone.
Let me just say this, I’m not a New York Giant fan, by any stretch of the imagination, but you can’t deny the much improved play of the New York Giants this post season. The two best teams in the NFC played yesterday. It’s not about the teams that played well during the regular season, it’s about teams that get it together as the end of the regular season approaches. The Giants put it together, and went in to the game as the underdog to the Pack. The Giants gave the Packers opportunities to take this game from them in the end, but thanks to a Brett Favre interception and a second opportunity at clutch kicking by Lawrence “Heart Attack” Tynes, in overtime, the Giants eliminate the Packers, becoming the NFC Champion, and ultimately earning themselves a trip to Superbowl XLII to face the unbeaten New England Patriots.
