GIANTS 101

Sorry to step away from the exciting backup quarterback and kickoff specialist news cycle, but something made me want to bring up another round of the never ending Eli Manning debate.

I was talking with a friend of mine about the Giants this past weekend, and we started on the topic of increasing Eli’s role in designing and implementing game plans. Basically, we both thought Eli Manning should call the shots on game day, especially as long as Kevin Gilbride is the other option.

Then, with a smirk that indicated he expected to get a reaction out of me, he said: “you know, my dad still hates Eli Manning. Can’t stomach watching the guy play.”

Really? Are we still having this conversation?

It surprised (angered?) me because I think after last season (and his 9 of 14/152 yd/2 TD Super Bowl XLII performance) we would be past this. Last year, with uncharacteristically poor offensive line play and a sometimes non-existent running game, he threw for 4,000 yards and 27 TD’s.

Sure, with no running game and a defense putting you in early holes on a weekly basis he had to.

But that’s exactly the point: he stepped up when he had to, took the reins and produced better than he ever has. Not many quarterbacks can do that at the NFL level.

Sure, he’s not as accurate as Peyton. He’s not charismatic like Brady, and he doesn’t exude confidence and passion like Brett Favre.

But don’t let that fool you into thinking that Eli is not the picture of a rock solid steady leader, on and off the field. But you don’t need to hear it from me, you’ve all seen him step into throws when he saw the hit coming. And you’ve all seen him, week after week, year after year, play his best damn football in the fourth quarter of games.

I won’t belabor you with stats, comparisons or any other pseudo-sophisticated analysis. What I will say is this:

Whatever it takes to be a “franchise” quarterback in the NFL, that “it” factor, Eli Manning has it. At any given time, there’s only 5 or 7 guys in the NFL playing to that level, and you know when you have Eli Manning that you’re always going to have one of those guys.

Even if he is perennially on the outer fringe of that top group…he’s in that group, and quarterbacks who play to that level year-in and year-out are indispensable. After all, 7 QB’s, 32 teams…you do the math.

You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, and you certainly don’t complain about Mark Texiera because he’s not Albert Pujols.

Eli Manning may never be Peyton or Brady or Brees, but as far as quarterbacks go the Giants could be doing a whole hell of a lot worse. You know, like maybe if their quarterback was wrapped up in multiple sexual assault cases

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