Loading ...Although they may be a tad bit biased, several of Eli Manning's teammates came to his defense on Thursday during Chris Canty's "Camp of Champions", saying the New York Giants quarterback got gypped on the NFL's Top 100 List for 2012 despite a ranking of #31. Like defensive end Justin Tuck, who called the ranking a "joke", linebacker Michael Boley said the two-time Super Bowl MVP deserved at least a top five nod.
“It’s just a poll, I guess. Obviously he’s a lot better than the 31st, he definitely should be top five, if not No. 1," Boley said. "His stats, winning two Super Bowls, that speaks for itself. Eli would have definitely got my vote for No. 1. He’s not the flashiest, but he wins games."
Canty also chimed in on this ongoing debate, saying that Eli's demeanor is what sets him back in the eyes of his peers in a "talk, talk, talk" league. And if it's not his quiet persona, it's that he continues to live in the shadow of his older brother, Peyton Manning … despite owning more rings.
“When you break Johnny Unitas’ record for fourth-quarter touchdown passes I think he deserves to be a little higher than 31," Canty said. "He elevates the play of everybody around him. He allows the defense to play with more confidence. We know if we get him the football late in the game we don’t have to worry about winning. What he does for our football team and what he means to our team is invaluable…He’s number one in my book."
Manning may not have received the recognition befitting of him on the NFL Top 100 List, but he certainly did in the Pro Football Focus Top 101 Players of 2011 where he ranked eight overall. He was the third ranked quarterback behind Green Bay Packers signal caller Aaron Rodgers and New Orleans Saints gunslinger Drew Brees.
In addition to Manning, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (17) and wide receivers Victor Cruz (37) and Hakeem Nicks (50) also cracked the PFF top 101.
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Giants 101: Dan Benton’s Big, Expensive, Verbose, Slightly-Repetitive, But Nonetheless Sincere, Love Letter to Eli Manning
I’ll tell you what, I liked it a lot better when we would all laugh at how stupid it was for Eli not to have been on this list. That way, we didn’t have to have 67 articles each week dedicated to some sort of commentary on why Eli is better than #31.
Facepalm…
I wish we were writing 67 articles a week.
I have always believed in the mantra that in a team game especially like football with so many players , it is very difficult for one player to totally affect the level of the whole teams performance . Thats why I am not a big fan of lauding or blamng the QB for a win or loss in most cases . Yes the QB has to play well because thats where it starts , if the qb has a lousy game then its obvious and the qb gets the blame . but , how about the qb plays well , does his job but his supporting cast doesnt play well ?(Think Bradys throw and Welkers non catch ) Does this mean the qb gets the blame – most times yes it does . I go back to Fran Tarkenton – he played on some very poor Giants teams and was known as a scrambler , which came in handy since most games he was runnng for his life . The teams were poor and there was little he could do to win games – perhaps if he had played on better teams he would have been more universally recognized for his kill than where he is placed now . Also the classic case like Elis dad Archie . A top QB playing on an absolutely terrible team . Most games if the Aints had 12 men on the field they still would have lost .
Having said all that , Eli did his job very well in the latter part of last year and into the playoffs . Yes , he played well but (just to pick two plays at random ) In the Super Bowl If Manningham hadnt caught the ball and if Blackburn hadnt intercepted Brady , both above and beyond plays by other team members then we would be talking about how close the Giants came NOT
how the Giants beat the Patriots .
Eli won , Brady lost , I dont think thats a fair assessment but it does put the SB in a one line catch phrase .
Having said all that , Im going to sound like I am reversing myself and say Eli is the player who last year anyway , gave his team mates the best chance to make plays
Sort of in connection with the Cruz article, I’m just hoping all the mouthing off these guys are doing is not bombast but a response to legitimate confusion at their treatment by peers and the media. If that’s the case, I certainly wouldn’t mind it so much because whatever bulletin board material opposing teams concoct from it won’t be worth an entire team of SB caliber players going into each game like they’re the underdog with something to prove. That’s a nice bit of insurance against the champion hangover, and if the leaders on the team tap into it (how could they not) than it’ll be a nice boost going into the season.