Super Bowl XLII was not just the culmination of an incredible run by an improbable team.
It marks perhaps the beginning of a long period of prosperity for the New York Football Giants.
Just think: They had 11 rookies on their Super Bowl roster, many of them contributing greatly to the bottom line.
WR Steve Smith made numerous big catches in the playoffs. So did TE Kevin Boss. RB Ahmad Bradshaw was both explosive and powerful. CB Aaron Ross played admirably through injuries. DT Jay Alford had a big sack on Tom Brady in the final minute of the Super Bowl. Zak DeOssie has developed into a fine long snapper and also made a key tackle on the Super Bowl's final kickoff.
Then, there's that defense. Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Antonio Pierce, Corey Webster, Ross, Alford, and Barry Cofield. They are all in their early primes.
Their best pure pass rusher, Mathais Kiwanuka, was out most of the season with a broken leg. He'll be back this year, adding to the firepower. So will Kawika Mitchell, Reggie Torbor, and Gibril Wilson. Maybe even Michael Strahan will come back for some more fun.
On offense, there is of course, Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning at the helm. Say what you want about him, but defer to the ring. Johnny Unitas always said, "You judge a quarterback on whether he can take you downfield in a championship game and get in the end zone." I think that says it all, unless you care to refute the Great One's assessment.
Sure Eli will probably have crappy games in the future. But the doubts that he can produce in a big spot have been erased. We now know that he can do it.
But he won't be alone. He still has that great offensive line with Smith, Boss, Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, and David Tyree. Don't forget the Giants won the Super Bowl without their starting tailback (Derrick Ward) and TE (Jeremy Shockey). They will be back.
Decisions, decisions.
DC Steve Spagnuolo was signed to a multi-year deal. Punter Jeff Feagles, at 41, was just signed to contract extension as was kicker Lawrence Tynes.
All of this, plus another year of draft choices by the brilliant Jerry Reese and his staff, will make the Giants contenders for years to come.
People kept telling me at a popular Manhattan watering hole the other night that the spotlight would cut the Giants back down to size.
Really? Am I nuts or didn't they just play five consecutive nationally televised games? Two of which were the most watched in NFL history? In fact, eight of the Giants' sixteen games in 2007 were televised nationally—and one, the game against Miami in London—was televised across the entire English-speaking world.
Get ready for this team to populate TV screens late into January for the next several years.
7 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago
Very solid points. Also with the NFC as wide open as it is, there's no reason the Giants shouldn't be able to get back to the Superbowl next year. Actually, if everything stays the way it is, it is hard to not predict a rematch in Superbowl XLIII.
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John McClory about 1 year ago
If the Giants are going to make a second consecutive SB appearance, they're going to have to step it up considerably to get there again. Somehow I don't see them pulling out road wins by a margin of 3pts and Eli chucking up jump balls. Too much can go wrong and the chances of them getting hot at the right times next year is hard to imagine. It's hard to believe their leader Strahan will return and Eli and the secondary aren't nearly as polished as people think. Sure, the NFC is wide open but that also means it's wide open for just about anyone at the right time.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I dont know maybe the Television sets are defective in Hawaii, But all i saw was the referee`s let the giants get away with holding, pass interference, and encroachment. Look at this weeks sports illustrated page 47 of giants 23 and 28 clearly holding moss as the ball falls just in front of moss. no pass interference call. or page page 39 where giants number 60 holds pats 93 so ellie wont get sacked, no call there either, The only way the giants will last is if the officials are paid of the by las vegas again.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
Nice try. This is a photo of the 3rd and 20 play. The ball has already hit Webster's and Moss' hands and is bouncing past them. There was no interference on this play.
You might be referring to the 4th and 20 play. That ball was underthrown and no one in the stadium had a chance at catching it. Moss never turned around. I just watched both plays again.
I don't know what planet you are from, but this game was not fixed. If you're complaining about holding calls you're barking up the wrong tree. You can't tell me that the Pats offensive line was not holding the shit out of us in this game. The officials never called it, and it didn't really matter anyway. We still were all over Brady.
And that short pot pass they do to Welker is a pick.
Please stop whining about these things
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
Thanks, Ringo
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Is the other Anonymous person serious or is that suppose to be a joke or something. That's the most ridiculous comment i've ever read. Are you kidding me your telling people to go look at the pictures in Sports Illustrated and actually think your making any sense in your arguement. Your just like the rest of theses pats fans just stop talking and making excuses for the loss because they got dominated No Questions asked. And yes it is possible for a repeat but our division is gonna be the harder then it was this year but then again we are the World Champs and have the superbowl MVP!!!!!!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Las Vegas lost a lot of money on that game, I hardly think they paid the refs. Anyway, I think if you watch any game closely, both teams get away with more penalties than you think. Let them play the game.
The G-men won fairly and Eli is more solid than people think. If anything winning the Superbowl has secured his confidence.
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