In terms of pure NFL talent, the price was steep. The
New York Giants already had a solid if unspectacular quarterback in Kerry Collins and holes at several positions to fill.
Yet coming off a 4-12 season, Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi saw the opportunity to select a franchise quarterback with the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. There were no shortage of candidates.
Choose the right signal caller and the Giants would not only possess the foundation of the organization for the next decade, but someone who could single-handedly lift the team into contention for the NFC East title season after season. Let's not forget that special someone must also be the bankable face of your team. And in New York, star power is nearly as important as winning.
That's why Eli Manning was a sensible and at the same time dangerous pick to be the torch-bearer for one of the NFL's most venerable franchises.
His bloodline gave hope to every Giants fan. The son of an NFL quarterback and the brother of the most prolific signal caller of his generation, how could Eli fail? Yet the comparisons to older brother Peyton only seemed to weigh him down in such a media-centric town. New Yorkers like their athletes to bring Joe Namath swagger and Reggie Jackson-like clout.
Eli Manning had been neither.
His awkward arrival and steep draft-day price aside, Manning had been a muted figure for much of his first three seasons.
Add to the fact that Peyton Manning led Indianapolis to a Super Bowl title in January — along with the sudden retirement of running back and workhorse Tiki Barber — and the pressure to produce was never greater for the younger Manning as the 2007 season opened.
So to witness this playoff run, capped by Manning's sub-zero embrace by Giants icon Michael Strahan after New York stunned host Green Bay, 23-20, in overtime of the NFC championship game late Sunday, well that said it all. Eli had arrived.
As they have this entire postseason, the Giants hit the road to play the role of underdog to the 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3 in Phoenix. And unlike Week 3 when the Giants were 0-2 and searching for answers, this time there's no doubt Manning can deliver.
Manning, 27, has completed 62 percent of his passes for 602 yards and four touchdowns in three postseason games. It's earned him a 99.2 quarterback rating and the grudging respect of TV analysts and local media.
Until this latest run, there were plenty of second-guessers eager to pan Accorsi's acquisition of Manning. After all, the Giants actually selected Philip Rivers at No. 4, Ben Roethlisberger was available at the 11th pick and Matt Schaub lasted into the third round.
But Accorsi and the Giants coveted Manning. So when San Diego drafted an unwilling Manning with the top pick, Chargers GM A.J. Smith promptly turned around and offered Manning to the Giants for Rivers and a package of draft picks.
Those picks turned into kicker Nate Kaeding (2004 third round), Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman (2005 first round) and tackle Roman Oben (2005 fifth round pick traded to Tampa Bay for the veteran player).
The play of Rivers, Kaeding and Merriman, who took the Chargers to the AFC championship game this season, may well trump anything Manning has done. But in the end, Accorsi and the Giants weren't wrong.
Whether this marks the first of many Super Bowls or the beginning of the end, Manning has already fulfilled some heady expectations where so many other highly-touted quarterbacks have fallen short. (Think Ryan Leaf.) He's led and won when it matters most.
Yet coming off a 4-12 season, Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi saw the opportunity to select a franchise quarterback with the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. There were no shortage of candidates.
Choose the right signal caller and the Giants would not only possess the foundation of the organization for the next decade, but someone who could single-handedly lift the team into contention for the NFC East title season after season. Let's not forget that special someone must also be the bankable face of your team. And in New York, star power is nearly as important as winning.
That's why Eli Manning was a sensible and at the same time dangerous pick to be the torch-bearer for one of the NFL's most venerable franchises.
His bloodline gave hope to every Giants fan. The son of an NFL quarterback and the brother of the most prolific signal caller of his generation, how could Eli fail? Yet the comparisons to older brother Peyton only seemed to weigh him down in such a media-centric town. New Yorkers like their athletes to bring Joe Namath swagger and Reggie Jackson-like clout.
Eli Manning had been neither.
His awkward arrival and steep draft-day price aside, Manning had been a muted figure for much of his first three seasons.
Add to the fact that Peyton Manning led Indianapolis to a Super Bowl title in January — along with the sudden retirement of running back and workhorse Tiki Barber — and the pressure to produce was never greater for the younger Manning as the 2007 season opened.
So to witness this playoff run, capped by Manning's sub-zero embrace by Giants icon Michael Strahan after New York stunned host Green Bay, 23-20, in overtime of the NFC championship game late Sunday, well that said it all. Eli had arrived.
As they have this entire postseason, the Giants hit the road to play the role of underdog to the 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3 in Phoenix. And unlike Week 3 when the Giants were 0-2 and searching for answers, this time there's no doubt Manning can deliver.
Manning, 27, has completed 62 percent of his passes for 602 yards and four touchdowns in three postseason games. It's earned him a 99.2 quarterback rating and the grudging respect of TV analysts and local media.
Until this latest run, there were plenty of second-guessers eager to pan Accorsi's acquisition of Manning. After all, the Giants actually selected Philip Rivers at No. 4, Ben Roethlisberger was available at the 11th pick and Matt Schaub lasted into the third round.
But Accorsi and the Giants coveted Manning. So when San Diego drafted an unwilling Manning with the top pick, Chargers GM A.J. Smith promptly turned around and offered Manning to the Giants for Rivers and a package of draft picks.
Those picks turned into kicker Nate Kaeding (2004 third round), Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman (2005 first round) and tackle Roman Oben (2005 fifth round pick traded to Tampa Bay for the veteran player).
The play of Rivers, Kaeding and Merriman, who took the Chargers to the AFC championship game this season, may well trump anything Manning has done. But in the end, Accorsi and the Giants weren't wrong.
Whether this marks the first of many Super Bowls or the beginning of the end, Manning has already fulfilled some heady expectations where so many other highly-touted quarterbacks have fallen short. (Think Ryan Leaf.) He's led and won when it matters most.
