Loading ...In 2007, Michael Strahan was the unquestioned leader of the New York Giants. He was a veteran who demanded the attention of any room he walked into. Memories of a loss in Super Bowl XXXV left Strahan and company extra-focused.
"I think the magnitude was overwhelming to us, whereas the second time, I remember myself and Amani Toomer had a chance to address the team and we told them, 'Hey, it's just a game. Everything around it is great, but let's not get caught up in it.' "
The Giants famously wore all-black suits on their flight to Glendale, Arizona for Super Bowl week, a sign of unity.
The fact that he and fellow veteran Amani Toomer had experienced the feeling of losing the Super Bowl left them with an unfortunate understanding of the bitter feeling of what it feels like to get that close to the top.
The second both the New York Giants and New England Patriots advanced to Super Bowl XLVI, media outlets and newspapers the nation over prepared headlines about just how dialed in Bill Belichick and Tom Brady would be for this game.
Surely they shared the same feelings as Strahan did back in 2007, which offers them the early edge.
Now, the Giants have adopted the personality of their leader, the business like Eli Manning.
Having won his first trip to the Super Bowl, Eli knows what it takes to win, but he also watched his brother lose a Super Bowl not two years ago. He wants every member of his team to continue the "All In" mantra and put their best foot forward in Super Bowl XLVI.
"I was just telling them a little bit about how to prepare for this," Manning said. "Just a few things on just the mindset of this week. Prepare this week like you're playing this week, because once we get to Indianapolis, you've got to take a bus ride to practice and the whole schedule gets thrown off."
According to Antrel Rolle, the message got across.
"Excellent message from Eli," Giants safety Antrel Rolle said. "Even for a player like myself who's been to a Super Bowl, it's still great to hear someone speak with that kind of leadership. Eli doesn't say much, but when he says it, he means it and you know it comes from the heart."
Between Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin, the Giants are led by men with a one track mind, much like the Patriots.
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re-post ’cause I can’t keep up with you guys.
Now that most of the world has grudgingly (there are still a few holdouts) acknowledged that one Eli Manning IS a pretty special quarterback, and in light of Jim’s note (in a previous thread), perhaps it’s time to recognize that the Giants may have actually become better as a team through the loss of a number of players.
I’ll start with Tiki. Now, you cannot make up for his talent. I know many Giants fans hate him, and cannot assess him fairly, but he was a GREAT, not just very good, running back who could do everything on a football field and was someone who gave 100% at all times. I don’t expect to see another back as good as Tiki on the Giants for a long, long, time. Those we now have aren’t even in the same universe. BUT, he was a problem for Eli who as a young, developing quarterback, did not need a team star demanding the ball, publicly saying the Giants weren’t running enough, and undoubtedly at times saying in the locker room what he later said about Eli in public. You cannot become a team leader under those circumstances because Tiki had earned credibility from his play. HE was the best player on offense when he was here, and along with Strahan, the best players on the team. There was no psychological space for Eli. The subtraction of Tiki helped create that space because there was no longer a better offensive player on the Giants. Eli became the leader of the offense by default, even before he earned it during that 2007 season.
Of course, during 2007 Shockey goes down and with him goes the malcontent dirtbag who was constantly showing up his young signal-caller by very dramatically showing disgust on the field when he was either not targeted, or missed when he was. Never mind that he wasn’t running good routes and was the cause of plenty of interceptions. It was all Eli’s fault as far as this clown was concerned. Thankfully, he’s gone come 2008 and with him a very strong but unworthy personality that was an impediment to Eli’s comfort, which became important down the road.
Next goes Strahan. Hall of Famer, proud upholder of the Giants’ tradition that the defense drives the team, overwhelming personality and clear team leader. A great leader, but still a defensive player in a league where franchise quarterbacks are made both by their play and their ability to lead.
Then Antonio Pierce steps up and tries to fill Strahan’s role and also become a coach on the field by spending nearly as many hours in the film rooms as does Eli. He has a fierce personality and a big mouth and even though he is not even close to the best player on the team, his force of will creates a last stumbling block for Eli, who by 2008-2009 has little to prove in regard to his quality of play and cool under pressure but has not yet literally taken the full mantle of leadership away from the defense.
And then suddenly Pierce is gone (as is the other resident dirtbag, Burress, who does his best to make Eli look bad when he doesn’t throw enough to Plax by doing a strong imitation of the Shockey throw-hands-in-the-air gesture) and while Justin Tuck evolves into the leader of the defense and a team paragon, the way is clear for the Prince to become King. The quarterback whom everyone on the team respects for his quiet leadership but still harbor questions about his consistency suddenly outgrows his regents and competitors and, like Prince Hal blossoms overnight into Henry V upon ascending to the throne. He is their leader, and he acts it. He keeps people focused. He has a quiet confidence and an ability to shut out distractions and just work to get the job done that permeates the team. He works constantly to get better and sets an example that must be followed. He works on the little details and shows others that they must too. And most importantly, he instills belief in his teammates that when the going gets tough he will find a way, and that if they simply keep fighting he will help them triumph. And then he makes throw-after-throw, play-after-play, under the crush of overwhelming pressure that game-by-game shows his team that his performance in the 2007 post-season was no anomaly, that he is a BIG GAME QUARTERBACK, and that they can follow him to great things.
There is no longer any question that this is Eli’s team. And there is no question these players will run through a wall for him (and his coach). And there is no question that each player on that team works to do his job as well as he is able because he knows that with Eli Manning under center there is some way that it will pay off. And because Eli is the man he is, no one feels like he is a “minor” player in the team scheme. It takes a leader like Eli Manning on the field to have that “All In” really mean something, and not be just a nice phrase that is paid lip service.
Jerry Reese did a nice job finding players who could make up for the loss of Barber, Shockey, Strahan, Burress and Pierce on the field. Without that this would not be nearly as good a team. But without them Eli has found the space to become the true leader of the Giants and has made them into a team that may be like no other in the league, one that really does play for each other, and one that does in its own way act as the “band of brothers” standing on that muddy field at Agincourt facing long odds on St. Crispin’s Day.
You can say that this post is maudlin and overemotional, but what I see is a team that has a look, a look that comes from belief, and that belief is in their team leader on the field and their coach. That belief was made even stronger when they saw their leader stand up to brutal punishment this past Sunday and still guide them into the Superbowl. But that sense of Eli as a leader required not only superb play by him, but the space within which to become that leader, which required the loss of some talented players along the way, some by retirement, some by exile, some by a shot to the leg.
Now this would be a truly interesting story line for the ESPNs of the world, but it’s one they won’t recognize. Just as well.
Eli is focused. He’s total football. Like all the Mannings.
If you compare his career arc with Tony Romo you see the difference immediately.
Two similarly talented players … but only one was driven to realize his potential. The other partied, played golf, and enjoyed the celebrity of his position.
If you look objectively at the product on the field … there’s not that much difference between the Cowboys and the Giants … except at QB, where it matters the most.
(nice post ff)
I don’t agree.
I feel our Dline is MUCH better than the cowboys.
Linebackers are comparable.
Our secondary is MUCH better.
RBs are comparable.
Our WRs are slightly better., but close.
Their TEs are better.
Olines are comparable.
Our QB is LIGHT YEARS ahead of Romo.
Our Kicker is better,
Their punter has a strong leg, but ours can directional kick…
Special teams are comparable.
In conclusion, our offense may be similar if you take out the QB, but our defense is much more stacked than theirs.
Oops, I considered Ware as part of the line.
But if you put him as a backer, then the edge goes to them. But regardless, our line makes our backers so much better. Our secondary is still much better than theirs.
I think are WR’s are more than slightly better, and to be honest, I don’t think Eli is lightyears ahead of Romo. I thinK Romo is a very good QB. But Eli’s work ethic and ability to grow as a player is much better. Eli’s ceiling is the sky. Romo is at it now.
D-line is probably more comparable then you think. They’re pretty good. Their LB’s are better.
Agreed on the secondary, and O-line.
I really don’t know about that assessment of Romo. He has clearly improved and played a lot better this year. He minimized his mistakes. But when the game is on the line, I just don’t see him as reliable. In the face of pressure, he does a lot of favre-esque idiotic throws.
Great article by Kyle and comment from FF55Y.
my repost:
Here’s another reason how lucky we are to have Eli Manning as our QB.
The league, reporters, analysts, fans have grown more and more impatient in regards to the development of a young QB. This pressure is ten-folds in the big apple. In my opinion, Sanchez is not a horrible QB. He’s simply a young QB. However, he’s lacking great leadership from the coaches which limits his growth. Aside from actual talent, you need to be incredibly mentally strong to survive in NY. With his players ripping on him, and fans/reporters bashing him, I predict he’ll be a goner within a year. I’m not saying he’s weak mentally, but the pressure to play QB in New York/ New Jersey is tremendous. I predict he’ll crumble. Not everyone can handle the spotlight. I think NY will kill his career.
This just makes me appreciate Eli so much more. He took his shots and criticisms in stride. He never let them affect him negatively. It’s amazing how he’s able to deflect the heat he took. Really makes you wonder how many QBs out there now can do what Eli has done.
I feel bad for Sanchez. By all accounts he’s a decent fellow. Not the trash talking type at all. And up until the team threw him under the proverbial bus he was handling the Big Apple just fine.
The Jets are well into the process of ruining this kid. He’s too green to handle that toxic soup posing as the Jets locker room. They’ve done him dirty, and I hope they’re proud of themselves.
Well said.
I’d also add that in Rolle they’ve added a player who leads in the vocal Strahan/Pierce kind of way. Stirs up that machismo/bravado in the locker room to get everybody’s blood flowing. But at the same time there is no question that he is merely the cheerleader, not the standard bearer.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Report-Gronkowski-has-ligament-damage-in-ankle.html
Don’t let this fool you. He’ll play with one leg.
Oh i’m not… But the injury COULD be worse then reported…
Yeah I think he’ll be slowed up and not as effective.
Oh our side, I’m a bit worried about Nicks. He went out and was pretty much a non-factor afterwards. I hope he’s close to 100% for the game.
nicks will be fine he did not tear any ligiments
The Giants have already been instructed to go for the ankle. Not to worry ;)
What do you guys think about the Pats’ defense? Did they turn the corner as well? Or did they play well because of lesser competition?
I haven’t seen them play much late in the season. I still believe we’ll score on them quite a bit. I’m feeling a pretty decisive victory for our NY Giants this superbowl!
look at what joe flacco and his ravens did 2 him
Is anyone else planning on driving to Indy?
wish i could afford sb tix 2k a pop out of my price range
One of your best posts F55. I think it makes perfect sense. I think it’s hard for an Eli type leader to be a leader immediately but after time he can because his play and how he prepares his teammates can truly respect. With other more respected players it was hard but as they left Eli naturally became the leader.
I think Sanchez is far from done. I know people here don’t like to hear it but it reminds me of exactly what Eli went through in his first 3 years. Remember after the Carolina playoff loss? I wasn’t here but I’m sure most posters killed him the way Sanchez has been killed. Does Sanchez have the mental makeup and physical talent to become Eli? Probably not but I wouldn’t write him off at becoming a very good (Romo like) QB.
I think too many here think they need to bash Romo in order to support Eli. Romo is a very good QB. I think Dallas can win to the highest level with him but the team around him isn’t good enough. So Romo isn’t Eli, I think at least 20 teams would gladly take Romo as their QB. Eli has proven to be better than Romo but that’s because Eli has played great and not because Romo is some average QB.
I rewatched the superbowl in the past few nights. Boy that was fun.
It was somewhat weird to see the old faces there, even though, it’s just four years removed. Crazy how a team’s scenery can change so drastically.
The WR cast is completely different with Plaxico, Smith, Toomer, Tyree.
Both TEs Boss and Shockey (thank goodness he’s gone, what a poison).
It was great to be reminded of the veteran leaders Strahan, Pierce, Madison, O’hara, Seubert, Feagles, Toomer.
And then there are our supporting cast: McQuarters, Mitchel, Torbor,
And how can we forget our bench warmer Sinorice and our preseason sensation Mike Jennings
Good times. What a game.
Oh almost forgot our perennial scapegoat James Butler lol
For us Gillbride supporters, Peyton agrees:
“There’s a reason Eli and [Giants offensive coordinator Kevin] Gilbride have been together for so long, because Gilbride has called good plays and Eli has played well. Me and Tom Moore earned the right to stay together. It’s a compliment to Eli and Gilbride. If you call good plays and it’s working, they shouldn’t want to fire you,”
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/25/peyton-manning-enjoyed-respite-from-colts-facility/
I was reading through Peter King’s article (Deja Vu All Over Again) that Original Gman linked to early and came across this little tidbit that I didn’t catch during the 49er-Giant game.
“Offensive coordinator Greg Roman, one of the league’s top head coaching candidates, ran unusual packages to try to get something going. The coolest: A 930-pound triangle of blockers on the right side of the line—tackle Joe Staley and defensive linemen Justin Smith and Isaac Sopoaga—to clear a path for 233-pound back Anthony Dixon on the first series of the fourth quarter. Amazingly, the Giants clogged the lane against that formation, allowing only three yards on two carries and forcing San Francisco to punt.”
2 Wows awarded here. One for the 49ers OC for thinking out of the box, trying desperately to get a 1st down and some rhythm for his offense. Second to the Giants run defense in stopping this formation and preventing the 49ers from gaining a rushing 1st down and any momentum.
I haven’t re-watched the game yet. But I would bet dollars to donuts that both JPP and Kiwi stopped this formation. I’ll let you know when I re-watch and dissect the game.
If memory serves me right, I believe Kiwi blew up Smith and completely disrupted the run on third down. Great play by him. He needs to be extended for long term.