Jerry Reese's New York Giants Have Opportunity to Start Something Special

Tomorrow evening, the New York Giants will take part in their third Super Bowl since the 2000-01 season, making them the only NFC team to accomplish such a feat in that span.

Actually, they are the only NFC team to even get there twice, as no other squad in the NFC has reached the Super Bowl more than once since then.

That only begins to describe what the Giants have accomplished, and it also doesn't paint a fair picture of what they could become.

With a win over the New England Patriots (again) tomorrow evening, New York will have won its second championship in five years. Many (myself included) feel that it would probably be their third had Plaxico Burress not infamously shot himself during the 2008-09 campaign, derailing Big Blue's chance of a repeat.

The win could also be the beginning of a Giants' dynasty.

Just take a look at their roster. They are a young team that is absolutely loaded with talent across the board.

They possess an incredible receiving corps with Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and free agent-to-be Mario Manningham; an outstanding defensive line; solid (and underrated) linebackers; a gifted secondary that right now is missing arguably its best player in Terrell Thomas and, of course, Eli Manning under center.

Do not let New York's 9-7 record during the regular season fool you; this is a very, very good team that was just hit by scads of injuries and had an extremely tough schedule. Once the Giants got healthy (particularly on defense), they were off and running; their last loss came all the way back on Dec. 18th against the Washington Redskins.

Regardless of what happens tomorrow, New York will have some decisions to make in the offseason.

These include: whether or not to keep Brandon Jacobs (who now wants to stay, unlike earlier in the year when he voiced his displeasure with the team), giving Manningham what will likely be a pretty nice deal and settling the seemingly endless contract dispute with Osi Umenyiora.

The Giants will also need to address their offensive line, as that is the one area that may be getting "old." But, if history is any indication, general manager Jerry Reese and the rest of the front office will find a way to keep the G-Men relevant.

Reese took lots of heat this past offseason for the moves he made (and didn't make), but where are all of those naysayers now?

They criticized him for letting Steve Smith walk. What was he doing this year? Catching 11 passes with the Philadelphia Eagles. They chastised him for not paying tight end Kevin Boss. Him? He caught 28 passes for 368 yards with the Oakland Raiders. His replacement Jake Ballard? He was busy hauling in 38 receptions for 604 yards.

Reese also cut Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert, staples on New York's offensive line for years. Those two? They aren't even on an NFL roster at the moment.

I think it is very safe to say that Reese knew exactly what he was doing, and he has put the Giants in a position to become a perennial powerhouse.

Even the biggest Giant haters have to realize that the talent and potential that this team possesses is undeniable. And, the funny thing is, as well as Big Blue is currently playing, I think they are going to be even better in the future.

Keep in mind that New York has been playing all year without the aforementioned cornerback Thomas and middle linebacker Jonathan Goff. Aaron Ross and Chase Blackburn have filled in admirably, respectively, for those two, but having Thomas and Goff on the field makes the G-Men that much more dangerous.

The Giants also drafted a young and extraordinarily talented defensive tackle in Marvin Austin last year, and he missed his rookie campaign with a torn pectoral muscle. When he works his way into the fold on what already is a lethal defensive line next year, look out.

Many people called New York "lucky" when it upended the 18-0 Patriots in 2008.

As silly of a statement as I think that is, this much is true (and not just for in football, but all sports): the first championship is for glory; the second is validation, especially in this instance, as Manning and the Giants have an opportunity to beat the legendary Tom Brady for the second time.

I am not losing sight of tomorrow. Clearly, New York has a game to win, and it will be no easy task with Brady on the other side. However, if the Giants are triumphant, get used to it: we may be seeing a lot more of that in the years to come.