Eli Manning Reverts Back to His True Form: A Mediocre Quarterback

If there is one thing that New York Giants fans should get used to, it is the picture of Eli Manning with his hand on his head wonder what the heck happened! The fun thing though will be the New York media's criticism of the one-year wonder. 

I read the yahoo sports column about the Philadelphia Eagles versus the Giants. In the story, it mentioned Tom Coughlin and his ability to not press the right buttons, as well as Manning, who supposedly reverted back to his pre-Super Bowl win form. 

Here's my question to the author of the article in the New York Daily News: What did Manning revert back to? His pre-Super Bowl days.

Well that really seems strange to me because well let's just face the facts, Manning was helped out with all the talent around him last year. 

The defense anchored by long time Giant Michael Strahan, Antonio Pierce, Osi Umenyiora, Gibril Wilson, Sam Madison, Aaron Ross, the talented but controversial Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Jeremy Shockey, and, of course, Derrick Ward on the offensive side.

Yes, Manning had a solid postseason in 2007, but it's never going to be the norm for him. He didn't revert back to any thing because there was nothing to revert back to. Manning will always be the mediocre quarterback who will be talked about for his one Super Bowl victory of the heavily favored New England Patriots.

Manning also has to be careful because in New York there's just one thing you can't do too much of: losing. It doesn't matter if it's the first game of the season or the last game of the season, New York fans don't take too kindly to losing. 

Giants fans better be prepared for the losing because let's just face it Manning didn't lead the team to the Super Bowl it was the Giants defense in 2007 that lead them to the victory. Manning was just the man at the helm for them.

Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens as a starter, but no one believes that Dilfer lead the team to the Super Bowl it was the talented defense of the Ravens. 

Secondly, though Manning will become a record breaker and when I say record breaker it's not a positive thing. In just five years in the league Manning has already thrown 74 interceptions, which is seven more than what Brett Favre had to start his career. 

I doubt Manning will play even remotely as long as Favre, but just to put into context of what Manning truly is, you get the picture. Manning will be always known to be horribly inconsistent and besides the Super Bowl win expect the same kind of results in the playoffs as what happened against the Eagles. 

It must also suck for Giants fans to realize that the team should have never traded Philip Rivers to get Manning. Manning's record as a quarterback for the Giants 42-29 so it's decent. Yet, Rivers record as a starter for the San Diego Chargers is 33-15. Keep in mind Manning has been starting for basically 1.5 more seasons than Rivers and look at the winning percentage of Rivers compared to Manning. 

Even comparing stats must make Giants fans queasy. First, here are the stats for Manning and, by the way, this is the first season that Manning actually got his completion percentage over 60 percent.

Manning has thrown for 14,623 yards, 98 touchdowns to 74 interceptions, and has been sacked a total of 120 times, and has a career completion percentage of 55.9 percent. 

Rivers, on the other hand, has thrown for 10,697 yards, 78 touchdowns to 36 interceptions, sacked 77 times, and has a career completion percentage of 62.3 percent. 

Right now you could say that Manning has had the better career because he's got the ring, but later on when it's all said and done all the accolades and the stats will go to Rivers.

So, all I have to say is this to New York fans good look with mediocrity at the quarterback position, maybe they should look to trade Eli before he gets even worse.