No Plax? No Problem...The New York Giants Are Super Bowl Contenders

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Ever since the unfortunate ridiculous incident involving Plaxico Burress happened in November 2008, any time a TV pundit or other media member hears the team “New York Giants,” the first thing that comes out of his mouth is, “the Giants don’t have anyone to replace Plaxico Burress.”

This is very true...but who cares?

Losing a receiver of that caliber will disrupt any quarterback’s confidence during the season. It’s not even that Burress is that great; after all, the guy has made a grand total of zero Pro Bowl appearances.

In 2008, Burress was only on pace for 56 catches, yet the team was 11-1. People didn’t complain when the team was winning, did they?

Instead, Eli Manning lost a connection that was developed over a four year period.

You know, I made plenty of connections myself in a four year period. It was called college.

Some of those people I met were very good and eventually turned out to be successful, but after I received my degree I moved on and established new connections to help me grow as a professional.

I lost touch with some of the folks from school, because things change. Life moves forward.

This is why this problem falls on the shoulders of Eli Manning and his ability to establish a rapport with his young receivers.

Since the run to the Super Bowl two seasons ago, Manning has all of a sudden been launched into the spotlight. His confidence when speaking to the media was on display from the time when the Giants almost took down the Patriots in the final regular season game of 2007.

After the Super Bowl win, he found himself appearing in more commercials and magazines. Manning also landed a contract this summer that made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. He seems to have embraced the attention and has become the leader of the New York Giants.

So it is now time for Manning to take his leadership role to a new level. He has to take what he learned in those four years spent with Burress and share that with his green group of receivers.

He comes across as a guy who knows his responsibilities, so if there is an issue with chemistry in the passing game I would be very surprised and disappointed. Manning and crew have had over four months to get ready for Washington.

I also don’t want to make this only about Eli and his receivers. What about a defense that ran out of gas down the stretch and all of a sudden forgot how to sack quarterbacks?

What about the lack of depth on the offensive line? That unit can’t withstand any long-term injury. These concerns aren’t any less important if you choose to worry about the state of the Giants.

But I choose to not worry about those things, and here is why:

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