New York Giants: 5 Reasons Critics Will Never Lay off Eli Manning

Eli Manning is having the best season of his eight-year career right now, but it's being overshadowed by the injuries and lackluster performances of the New York Giants as of late. 

Critics will be quick to point out losses to less-than-spectacular teams such as the Washington Redskins this year, and put the blame fully on Eli. 

I think the notion of putting the blame for the Giants' season squarely on the shoulders of Eli is ridiculous. 

Give this man a better coaching staff and fix the suspect offensive line, and the G-Men would already have their ticket to the playoffs punched in. 

Interceptions

Eli Manning has thrown for over 4,000 yards for three seasons now, but his 25 interception season in 2010 will haunt him for the rest of his career. 

Never mind the fact that his wide receivers were injured throughout most of that season. 

Never mind the fact that 10 of those interceptions were tipped off said receivers' hands. 

Never mind the fact that Drew Brees threw for 22 interceptions himself in 2010.

Let's just blame Eli for everything because we don't like him or the way he acts.

Gotta love the "critics." 

The Giants Could've Drafted Ben Roethlisberger or Philip Rivers

Both quarterbacks are great players in their own right. As I write this article, I'm watching Rivers put on a clinic against the Baltimore Ravens, one of the best defenses in the league.

However, I'll still take Eli Manning. 

Rivers hasn't had much playoff success, and I believe that Ben Roethlisberger is extremely lucky to be on the team he's on. 

If he wasn't on a team that was as mentally and physically tough as the Steelers, I'm not sure if Big Ben would have the same amount of success that he has had in the NFL.

The New York Giants weren't fit for either of those players; Eli is, and that's why they traded for him. 

His Attitude

If you're not a huge New York Giants fan, you might look at Eli Manning's body language or his expression when something goes wrong during the game, and take it as he doesn't care. 

His "aw shucks" attitude gets him his negative press for the media, but that's the thing, he doesn't care. 

It's that "aw shucks" attitude that allows him to go out there every Sunday, and be the quarterback for the New York Football Giants. 

If you don't like it, oh well, deal with it. 

His Own Playoff Wins Came on the 2007 Super Bowl Run

Some people call the 2007 Super Bowl run lucky, and I call those people ill-formed (I'm being nice). Nothing is lucky about going on the road and battling your way to the Super Bowl and beating a record-setting New England Patriots team.

I'll be the first to admit that it's not just Eli Manning, but the New York Giants as a whole that need to make the playoffs and play better down the stretch. 

Eli's playing level has been high all season, but the defense and the offensive line leaves some room for improvement. 

Both are going to have to step it up if the G-Men are going to even make the playoffs this year, much less win a playoff game.

His Big Brother Is Peyton Manning

What's it like to to have a big brother who's at the very least a top 10 quarterback of all time? Ask Eli Manning. 

Having Archie Manning as a father was rough enough to live up to, having Peyton Manning as a big brother is absolutely brutal. 

Peyton Manning is a robot. No, he's not a human being. 

This is the man who can read any defense like the back of his hand. This man is ridiculous, it's almost impossible to compare to him.

How has Eli tried to do the near impossible? He won a Super Bowl. Eli has as many Super Bowl rings as big brother Peyton. 

Neither has enjoyed a large amount of playoff success, but Peyton has 11 Pro Bowls and won the MVP award four times. 

Eli isn't Peyton, nor is he Archie, but he's a top 10 quarterback right now. 

Eli is his own man, and that's all we can ask him, or anyone else to be.