Eli Manning = Elite NFL QB

By James Sheldon on January 23rd, 2012

Is there any doubt left in any mind?

If ever there was ever a chronic case of judging a book by its cover.

The “Aw, Shucks,” demeanor of Manning The Youngest has long pushed him into a negative spotlight, and for reasons unbeknownst to me, the spotlight continues to glare red. Is he good? Sure. List the stats. An NFL record, 5-0 in road playoff games. Single game numbers better than the likes of Tom Brady, big brother and a playoff winning percentage that would make any NFL quarterback jealous.

The controversy with Eli has always been his TD/INT ratio. Too many mistakes. Unfortunately, the average fan–aka Joe Fantasy–knows little else to look for. He/She’ll calculate the QB rating, look at TDs to INTs, check out his yardage, completion percentage, garble, garble, garble…OK. Fine. He’s a good QB.

But, Joe Fantasy, here’s the deal. And yesterday’s NFC championship was another case in point–Eli’s receivers are always athletic, yet none of them have ever been great receivers. Receivers who understand when to sit in the window, break off or hit their hot-route. No Marvin Harrison, no Reggie Wayne, no Dallas Clark, no Randy Moss, no Deion Branch, no Troy Brown, no Wes Welker. One might argue that Victor Cruz could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Before the start of the season when asked if he belonged in the company of elite QBs such as Brady, Brees and big brother, Peyton. Eli replied…yes.

And so began the discussion: Is Eli really elite?

I have always believed Eli Manning to be an elite quarterback–often surrounded by talent that lasted for no longer than a season. Quick, someone tell me…where’s David Tyree? I would love to see a few other elite QBs play for New York Giants fans–one of the most rabid, damned if you do, damned if you don’t, what have you done for me lately, I know everything about football fan bases–and do the things that Eli has done. Honestly, has this guy ever thrown to a legitimate, big-threat receiver!? For the love of it…he is going to his second Super Bowl with Tom Coughlin.

His career has been nothing but a machete hack through various fields of weeds and reeds, playing on teams of Tiki Barber types who mouthed off at the first sign of kinked armor…offering interviews to ignorant members of the news media…watching other elite QBs playing in far more stat-friendly systems. Eli Manning is nails. You cannot question his toughness. He has proved it over and over again, and proved it again yesterday. He was pummeled, and emerged the victor. And his reward? A 3.5 point underdog in the Super Bowl.

My money is on Eli.