When I saw Eli Manning as Super Bowl champion, all I could do was laugh.
How is it that someone can throw three interceptions per game during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, and then all of a sudden during the '07 playoffs start magically playing better?
He matched Rex "My play sure is" Grossman's interception to touchdown ratio of last year with 20 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
But when Eli hit playoff time, he was outstanding, throwing six touchdowns and only one interception. (The interecption should have been a completion, but it went in and out of Steve Smith's hands)
I dont know about what other people think, but during the past two regular seasons, I saw a frustrated Eli lurking in his brother's shadow.
I don't think that he had any love or interest in the game of football. It seems that he would blow off practice by not giving 100 percent. He's the kind of guy that would tolerate film sessions, not love them, as some great quarterbacks have.
Basically, he didn't even try.
So what did he do when the Giants defense propelled them to the playoffs?
He started to actually play up to his full potential.
He realized that he had a team that could win some important games. Once he took his team seriously, he was able to go out and play well.
Just look at the difference in stats.
You hear of people playing poorly in the playoffs and blowing plays (Tony Romo anybody), but you rarely hear of people that suddenly have the light in their head turn on and start playing, well, amazingly.
It appears to me that Eli said, "Wow, maybe we could win a playoff game if I actually try."
So he tried.
Now, maybe it's just because I love the game of football too much, but I think that a true champion should be a guy who loves to practice, he should be the first guy to enter the practice facility and the last guy out of it.
Eli seems to me to be more of a slacker than a champion. He has no excuse for why he did as poorly as he did in the regular season. The Giants made it to the playoffs thanks to outstanding defense and a running back who could pass for a defensive lineman.
That is what I am going to remember when I think back to Super Bowl XLII, not the suddenly stellar play of the other Manning.
Why?
Because Eli Manning, in my eyes, is not a true champion.
33 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
John Fennelly about 1 year ago
What you about Eli Manning and Giants football would not fill a thimble.
Eli Manning is one of the hardest working players in the NFL. I, as a Giant blogger and an Eli-basher for the last 4 years, cannot even deny this.
This kid has gone above and beyond in the effort department. He just hasn't put it all together yet. New Yorkers have become impatient. This SB win buys him a lifetime pass now.
This playoff and Super Bowl win is only the start for him, not the apex. He knows he needs to improve - and he will. We in the NY area know he's not out of the woods yet when it comes to his trouble in the Meadowlands.
But one thing is certain. He had the heart and the guts to lead this team down the field for victories in Dallas, Green Bay and against the invincible Patriots.
That, my friend, goes a long way in this town. We'll gladly sit back and watch him fully develop now.
If I were the rest of the league, I'd be more worried....
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
We shall see...I hope it doesn't come to that
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
wow...semi-lame piece, Darec. Let's start with this:
"I don't know about what other people think but during the past two regular seasons, I saw a frustrated Eli lurking in his brother's shadow. I don't think that he had any love or interest in the game of football.....Basically, he didn't even try".
You're piece is based on YOUR opinion, not facts. You used the word "I" 3 times to qualify YOUR views. Are you an expert on Eli Manning? Are you some sort of mind reader who can visualize his conscience? How do you know what was going through his mind? I doubt you were in those meetings where, as you describe, he would "tolerate film sessions, not love them". So Monday morning QB this all you like, but the FACT remains: Eli Manning is a champion. Frankly, your idea that there's a difference between 'true' champions, and 'champions' is ridiculous. I've never read where a team that won the super bowl was referred to as the "True Super Bowl Champions". Super Bowl Champions usually works ok.
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Darec Edwards about 1 year ago
"You're piece is based on YOUR opinion, not facts. You used the word "I" 3 times to qualify YOUR views. Are you an expert on Eli Manning? Are you some sort of mind reader who can visualize his conscience?"
Your right I wish there was a place where I could express my feelings online in a sports website. Oh wait is that what bleacher report is? About my opinions?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Fill a thimble?
You're also the guy who didn't think David Garrad had a good season at QB.
I think that means that you don't know jack about QB's in the NFL
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
I never said Garrard did not have a good season, I'm just not ready to anoint him in the top 10 yet...
is that satisfactory, anonymous?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
you think you can talk about Eli like that? just think, for one minute, can you do anybetter? NO! your probably another fat couch potato who sits at the computer all day. looks like it, that whole thing you just wrote, looks like it was all thought out like you sat there forever. or maybe im wrong, im just the best football player at our school.
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Darec Edwards about 1 year ago
You sound like a big fag rather than a football player. Look at me i'm a football player ooh so am I. So until you meet me don't guess about how I look like and how I act.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Not a true champion? I thought that was unnecessary but I guess you must know him really well. Leave the kid alone, he did a great job! But then I guess you're the type to defend Belichik when he runs off of the field like a coward.
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Sara Drakul about 1 year ago
Not a true champion? I thought that was unnecessary but I guess you must know him really well. Leave the kid alone, he did a great job! But then I guess you're the type to defend Belichik when he runs off of the field like a coward.
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Barbara Busby about 1 year ago
It looks like Eli is just hitting his stride. Who doesn't have to work up to their potential/ He's young and has a long ways to go and who knows how much better he will become. I hope you don't have children, you are negative and not very encouraging.
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Jason about 1 year ago
They obviously will give anyone a space to write an "article" on this site. I'm sorry Darec, but if you are looking to make sports journalism your career, I am afraid you will need to face reality and resume your career search elsewhere. This was awful on so many levels. It doesn't even dignify a response. Pathetic, absolutely pathetic. Good luck doing something you're good at.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Wow. I thought I was reading an article on The Onion.
Nothing substantial or factual was actually used in that article to support your notions. I guess it's just easier to make the assumption that Eli is finally un"slacking-off" for his success rather than
1. he finally had a 3rd reliable reciever when smith became healthy,
2. burress becoming healthy at the end of the season and finally being able to practice.
3. gilbride simplfying game plans and allowing eli to actually manage (and call audibles on 3rd down situation),
4. heck, just simple time to have him mature into his role. I would have accepted that bs simplistic explanation, 'cause you know, it still made sense.
I guess "He didn't even try." is just easier to write up.
Don't worry guys. The writer will have no problem fitting right in with his future job at ESPN.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Eli's receivers LOVE him. So does every single freaking coach who ever coached him, starting in the 7th grade. His linemen love him. The freaking defense loves him. You are incredibly ignorant. Champions are champions. Winners are winners. Eli is Eli. Eli is a champion and he has the ring to prove it. You're -- wait, what's your name again? Oh, yeah -- Da Wreck. No, that's not it. Uh, Duh wreck? Nah, wait, I've got it: Duuuuuuuuuuuuuh Wreck.
And if you hate Eli, I've got some bad news for you, Wreck; Eli is going to be around for a looooooooong time to come. As for you, work on those compound sentences, as they come in handy for a "writer."
Proofreading would be a good move as well.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
If you bothered to watch Giant football you would have seen that the Giants had a ton of drops during the season, route mistakes (rookies, and Plax who never practiced) and played in terrible weather in the second half. Some of you "writers" really are dumb.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Look, say what you want, but defense doesn't not win you games; it keeps you in games -- as in not getting blown out by the other team. You still need to score points to win, and only the offense can do that -- the hub of which is Eli Manning on the Giants.
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Jared Lilly about 1 year ago
only the offense can score points? then what happens when an interception or punt or kickoff is returned for a TD, or what happens when a defense scores a safety.
ive never liked the phrase either tho
TEAMS when games. Not defenses, not offenses, not special teams, not coaching staffs, TEAMS.
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Darec Edwards about 1 year ago
three words 2008 Chicago Bears
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Sam Franco about 1 year ago
How about the FACT that you left out. Eli Manning and the Giants had more dropped passes during the regular season than any other team.
How about when they got to the play off his team mates finially realized they could win and start making catches instead of dropping them and this kept the Giants in the game and Eli didn't have to pass on 3rd and long trying to catch up.
How about the running game only coming through at the end when Jacobs finially got a healthy relief.
How about Boss and Smith learning the system after 15 regular season games.
This game was won by the play of a bunch of rookies as it was by Eli and the defense.
And how about a coaching staff that finially started calling plays that led to Eli's strenths and not his weaknesses.
You are an idiot.
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John Smith about 1 year ago
hahaha this writer seems to be the regular sore Pats fan who is still in denial that yet another Manning has stopped the Patriots from being a Superbowl winner.
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Clayton Buckingham about 1 year ago
You are really reaching for a reason to still bash Eli Manning. You have no factual argument that he is a slacker, or that he is not a hard worker. You, obviously, are not that much of a hard worker yourself, because this is all you can come up with for an article. Why don't you put down the Playstation controller and the bag of potato chips, and work a little harder if you are going to call yourself a "writer."
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
Darec, please explain to all of us what a true champion is, so we can move past this ridiculous argument.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Why has Eli played better? He answered it himself: "Everybody has been playing better. As a result I don't have to go out and feel like I have to win the game. I don't have to force the ball in there."
Eli's play in the post season was better because the entire Giant football team played better. Pretty simple when you look at it.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
The rising tide raises all boats theory
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Well, Wreck, judging by the comments to your column, it seems that YOU'RE the one who isn't a true champion. You aren't making friends and influencing people as a "writer."
Maybe you should "actually try" to improve your writing style, "actually try" to learn more about the game, "actually try" to do some research (Manning, for example, is universally admired by current and former teammates and coaches for his work ethic), and "actually try" to put that crack pipe down.
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Jared Lilly about 1 year ago
ok anonymous, its getting old. first u go around and trash every article u see, where are ur articles? id like to give u some feedback of my own oh yea, u aint got none
secondly, ur making fun of ppls names? the guy who aint got the guts to say his name is making fun of names???
third, ur the best football player at ur school? not only is that conceited, but how we supoosed to believe that, we dont even kno ur name
let the guy put his opinion out there without causing an uproar about it, its alright to disagree but at some point it becomes ridiculous
as for the article. i love the way it was written, but i dont necessarily agree, i think eli has mood swings, if hes doin good, he happy and he does incredible, but the moment somethin goes wrong he gets discouraged and sucks
he needs to learn to forget the plays that just happened and focus on whats coming up
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I agree with the people here who say you don't know anything about what goes on in the Giants. Even before they reached the Super Bowl, there were news articles with Eli's teammates saying how he was always the first one to practice and the last one to leave.
I think it's easier to believe his teammates than you.
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Jared Lilly about 1 year ago
^^ no offense to other anonymous's, ur not the ones goin around trashing everything u read
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Jared Lilly about 1 year ago
^^ no offense to other anonymous's, ur not the ones goin around trashing everything u read
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
"U ain't got none"? Impressive. I'd trash your posts, Jared, but I wouldn't know where to start. But, hey, if you want to chat sometime, just drop by Oxford, Mississippi, when you get the chance, and we'll have a beer (hint: that means that I kind of know Eli. Take my word for it, he's the real deal -- and for fellow Oxonians who might read this and wonder if I'm for real: Abner's, the Hoka, Abbeville, the Tad Pad, Andy Kennedy, University Avenue, Mayor Howarth, Square Books, Ron Shapiro, the Lyceum, Q-93.7, Bullseye 95, the O Zone--thank God that's over, Jackson Avenue, highway 334, Holly Springs, "No cold beer? Are you kidding?"-- gotta go).
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Can any idiot write for Bleacher??? This must be a San Diego fan. Manning's work ethic has never been questioned. People ignore the conditions in which some of the Giants' games were played this year.
It has also been documented that on 2 of the INT's vs Minnesota, Shockey "improvised" his route. If you notice, Eli often throws before the receiver turns (like good QB's often do). If the receiver isn't there ... oops!
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Joe Willett about 1 year ago
HAHA darec got blasted so many times, i love it...just curious, what makes him a san diego fan?
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Nick G about 1 year ago
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
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