Well, as I expected the Pats have made it to The Super Bowl for the fourth in time in seven years. What I didn’t expect was to be sitting here today talking about how they would have to game plan against Eli Manning and the Giants! That’s right – the G-Men, Big Blue if you like. Wow!
I know everything has been about New England this year and rightly so. From the very first game when they “spied” on the Jets from the sidelines, hence Spy Gate, until the final gun yesterday and their quest for a perfect season. They have broken team records. They have an MVP quarterback and Coach of the Year. They have the all time season leader in touchdown receptions. There is a ton more but you know what I’m saying – it’s all been about the Pats.
Well…hang on. We need to give some props to The Giants. Not just because of Eli, which I’ll get to, but for many other reasons. Let’s start with Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey…who? Oh yeah forgot about those guys? Barber is gone, and his whining, distracting behavior with him. Shockey has been injured for much of the season and we haven’t to hear his big mouth and his me, me , me attitude. Barber and Shockey held this team back, not because of their play, but because of their inflexibility when it came to letting the coach and the BEST PLAYER ON THAT TEAM to take control of that team. Tom Coughlin had to concentrate so much on Barber continually berating him and the way he ran his team that he could not effectively get his team to rally around him. Shockey was and is so intent on being the center of attention at all times he cannot allow the likes of Eli Manning to be “the guy”. Well guess what? Eli is the guy. Over the last month the “Quiet Giant” has emerged as the MAN on this team. He has taken this team on his shoulders, managed the game the way is supposed and not turned the ball over. His team mates have recognized him as the leader and taking their cues from him.
Manning is not flashy and he isn’t going to take off out of the pocket on 40 yard runs. He has shown over this last month, however, that he can make proper decisions, deliver the ball and, when he needs to, take off and run for the first down. He isn’t making crazy passes into triple coverage and bailing out when the pocket closes on him. He is maintaining his composure and delivering strikes and giving his team a chance to win.
We are seeing a transformation in New York. Little Eli is growing up, and quickly. Winning 10 games in a row on the road, three in the post season, is difficult in the NFL. The Giants have done it. Eli has done it. There is a lot to this team from a swarming defense to a very solid running game and a very good coach. But it all comes back to one thing – Eli Manning. Without him…they go nowhere. Everyone swallow your pride and take back the bad things you said about him….he has arrived.
Will he and his team have enough to end the Patriots run? I don’t think so. That being said, The Giants will be a team to be reckoned with for some time in the NFC and the NFL as a whole. Not this year however. When I said it is all about New England I wasn’t blowing smoke. It is. They are too good and will find a way to win this game. It will reminiscent of the week 16 match up and be a very competitive game but the Pats will squeak it out 31-28. Great job G-Men you season is one to hang your hats on.
Monday, January 21, 2008
An NFL Kid Grows Up
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1 comment:
You make a great point when you call out the flashy media hogs that come with the NYC spotlight. With all that has been said about Coughlin since he took over the Giants, all one needs to do is look at the roots and fundamentals of his sucess. He is a discipline guy who commands attention to detail and hard work. Eli hasn't played like an all-star, so much as he hasn't made the catastrophic mistake. I'm most happy, pre-madanas out of the picture via retirement and injury, for Tom Coughlin. This Super Bowl appearance saved his job, and casts him in a wholly different light moving forward in the New York Media!
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