The best Quarteback in the league?

by R.A. on Oct 14, 2009 11:24 PM EDT Comment 49 comments

Ever since Eli Manning arrived on the scene my hopes for the team has risen. While I have been hard on him at times, I've rarely doubted his ability. Of all current active QB's, Eli has the highest QB rating in game winning situations. His career ratings in close 4th quarter games jumped from 86.4 to 132.7. Yet I rarely hear this stat from NFL "experts" on sports talk shows or radio. Nor do I hear about the fact that in two games already this season, Tom Coughlin(a man of true integrity and sportsmanship) has benched Eli by or before the fourth quarter. Once before the heel injury and once after, of course in both cases the Giants were destroying their opponents; and Eli could have still played against the Raiders and put up monster numbers. Now this might not have went over well with those of us who have Eli as our starting QB on their fantasy league(I start him every game period!), but how many QB's has this happened to this season......I'll wait........can't think of any? Neither could I. Yes the Giants have an awesome defense(what else is new) but it doesn't take away from the fact that Coughlin knew had he kept Eli in the game, the Giants would have flat out embarrased those teams. I know what your thinking, "what about the Cowboys game?" Well my friends let me hit you with another stat, 0 for 5 in the red zone. Yep, the G-Men's offense was marching up and down the field at will against the 'boys and had it not been for their ineptness in the red zone, would have crushed the Cowboys. Dallas never had a chance to win that game because they couldn't stop Eli and the offense. I have been watching football for over 20 years now (I'm 24) and rarely have I ever seen a quarterback dominate a game like Eli. Not because he puts up gaudy numbers a'la Peyton Manning but because he doesn't have to. Watch a Giants game and watch how the offense dominates time of possession as if it were the most precious jewel on the planet. Kevin Gilbride has a good game plan,not great but good, and it's Eli who executes like no other. When the game is on the line, Eli rises to the occasion; last years playoffs shouldn't count because his receivers were dropping balls right and left, afterall they were top three in the league in dropped passes. Super Bowl XLII

Eli Manning (via OleMiss140)

was not Eli's coming out party, you are witnessing it as this season progresses. Finally he has complete control of the offense minus Barber, Shockey and Burress. While other QB's throw the ball 35 to 50 times a games, Eli throws it 30 times tops and is still top three in touchdowns and QB rating. Don't be shocked if he blows the roof off of the Superdome this Sunday and all you hear about is his receivers, running game and defense while Eli gladly slips into the shadows and laughs as he continues his season long domination of every defense put in front of him on his way to another Super Bowl title. Giants vs Saints coverage

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Eli is money.

And I agree that he’s definitely put himself in the upper tier of QB’s with his solid statistical improvement from last season, and his absolute dominance with the start of this season.

However, Peyton is in his own world. It doesn’t matter who the “Offensive Coordinator” for the Colts is, because Peyton calls the shots. He is the best quarterback in football today, period. If not the best quarterback of all time.

I believe Eli is a top 5 QB, but Peyton is head and shoulders above them all.

That being said, if you offered me Peyton for Eli today, I’d laugh in your face and ask you

“Do you know what it takes to win a Super Bowl in New York? Becausethat guy thought it was tough in Indy…”

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 15, 2009 12:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I concur

This is why I put a question mark after best quarteback in the league. I agree with you that right now Peyton is the best QB in the league. It’s not just his stats, more to the fact that he just makes everything looks sooooooo………..easy! but Peyton said it himself after the Giants Super Bowl victory that if you asked him who would be the better QB and win more Super Bowls overall he would honestly have to say Eli. I don’t think Eli is quite there yet but I believe he will be by the end of this season. It’s almost like watching a rose blossom right before your eyes.(Now if you’ll excuse me I’m gonna go throw up for writing that horrible example just now)

by R.A. on Oct 15, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eli a top 5 QB?

He is certainly playing like it this season. He is AWESOME this season!

With that said, I’m going to definitely agree that Peyton’s the best in game. Brees is lights out! Brady is still Brady. And (as an Eagles homer) I’d have to put McNabb next in that line up, but yeah, you could easily make a case for Eli (SB win) or Big Ben there.

The only reason I’d hesitate with Eli is the fact that his supporting cast is so good that there isn’t a single guy on your roster that has to carry the game on his shoulders. Would Eli be this good on another team? There’s no way to know for sure, but I’m not sold yet that he would be.

"What did it feel like? That collision, I didn't feel nothing, because he was pretty much defenseless. It was like running through a cardboard box. Seriously. Cardboard box."- Sheldon Brown on his pounding of Reggie Bush in the '06 Playoffs

by jalarsen1 on Oct 17, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BUT.......

coming into the season everyone thought his wide receivers weren’t good enough to make up for the losses of Plaxico and Toomer. Steve Smith is only in his third season, Domenik Hixon drops the ball alot when he is actually on the field, Manningham(2nd season) was a second round draft choice and four other wide receivers were chosen before Hakeem Nix(rookie). Manningham was bad last season and Smith and Hixon had drop-i-tis at the end of last season. Nix is the one receiver I can say that came out gate flashing his talent. When the running game gets shutdown-which has happened twice already this season-Eli carries the offense if you’ve been watching the games. He gets this team up and down the field on a regular basis. Yes, his receivers have improved but give Eli his credit where credit is due. People fail to realize that he IS making his wide receivers better and if you don’t believe that just look back to last season as I’ve already pointed out, the Giants were top three in the league in dropped passes. Top 5 QB? ha! Try top 2 but if you don’t believe it just watch the Giants Saints game this Sunday and I guarantee you Ice Water Eli will show and prove.

by R.A. on Oct 17, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good Point

Again, this is the season that Eli could really convince me, especially if he keeps playing as he has been.

I’m well aware of Hixon’s drops…I thank him much for a big one against us last season.

I’m also aware of a QB working with a group of unproven receivers. Donovan’s done it his whole career (except for 1 year with TO, and this year w/ DeSean and now Maclin stepping up)

Smith is very good, and Hicks has been productive and reliable.

Eli could convince me…he is playing very well

by jalarsen1 on Oct 17, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The two minute drive

against the Pats to win the Superbowl should have convinced you that Eli is a top 5 QB. As far as Eli and Donavan, in their Superbowl appearances, one Qb led his team to the winning TD, the other blew chunks, but we still consider Donavan a top QB. What does Eli have to do to convince you that he’s a top 5 QB? He’s won with a known supporting cast (Plax, Toomer) and now he’s doing it with guys that are unfamiliar to non Giants fans. Eli is for sure, top 5.

by njgiant on Oct 17, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

of course you aren't jalarsen....

it just sems that unless he leads the league in every passing category or at least is top 5 in it…that he won’t be thought of in the top 5.

There is no QB in the game, since Eli came into the league, that is more clutch in the 4th. Take that for what you will; maybe its the defense keeping him in the game, maybe it was his mistakes making the game not a blowout…

but the game being close, Eli is the best….in the entire NFL, in the 4th the last 5 years.

Yes…his team is good. But his father Archie was a pretty good QB, probably just like Eli. He was widely regarded as one of the better QB’s in the game at the time, but its just that the Saints were horrible every year he was there…but not cuz of him.

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 17, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Big Ben

He sucks, but in 2 minutes he’s the most clutch qb Ive ever seen

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Oct 17, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ben is good

and in the clutch he’s great.

Eli is similar to that, tho I don’t think that Eli is nearly as suck as Ben before the 4th.

Both are clutch, but Eli’s QB rating really goes to the top in the clutch in the 4th.

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 17, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clutch

Yes, Eli is fantastic in the 4th..a big reason why you guys are NEVER out of a game.

Again, I’m just not convinced he’s elite…YET.

Last season, your defense and running games were fantastic. Once you lost Plax, the wind fell out of your sails, and Eli couldn’t get it done. This year really seems to be a different story, but the jury will be out as far as I’m concerned until we get further into the season and your competition gets a bit tougher.

by jalarsen1 on Oct 17, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

20 yrs?

I lost my first bet on the Giants when they lost to Baltimore(Colts) in the “Greatest game ever played”. Norm Snead, Phil Simms, Fran Tarkington, Y.A. Tittle were all great QBs and three of them played with crappy teams. Eli is also great and benefits from having a great team around him.

by 7mike on Oct 15, 2009 4:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not true

all of those QB’s had one thing in common……….they played with good to great defenses. Let’s not forget that coming into this season everyone believed the Giants offense would be crappy with no no.1 receiver and oh yeah……….the Giants have always had a great running game or have you forgotten.One more thing, Phil Simms was injured half the time anyways but i digress……..

by R.A. on Oct 15, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the '86 Giants considered one of the greatest teams ever?

I’m not going to say that Eli is better than Phil Simms because those Giant teams ran it much more than any Eli’s Giants ever have. I still love Phil.

by Major on Oct 15, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

me too

you have to say Eli’s “the drive” is somewhat comparable to Simms’ near perfection vs. the Broncos though… in terms of how treasured it is… if Eli takes just 1 more bowl he’ll be the favored

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Oct 15, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if when

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 15, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

YEA

I do too actually…………………..and L.T…………..the……original L.T.………that is

by R.A. on Oct 15, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just read a stat in ESPN the Mag, that the only QB in the game that has seen his

QB rating increase when the game is on the line in the 4th, the past 5 years, is none other than Eli Manning. I know its ESPN…but in the article they actually downplayed Tom Brady (his QB rating in the 4th has gotten lower the past 3 seasons….)

Captain Clutch is used by #2 over there in the Bronx, but Eli is definitely deserving of a similar name (to which I cannot come up with right now..)

Is Eli the best in the game? As of right now, no. Peyton may be the GOAT (tho he still has as many champs as Eli…), Tom Brady is still Tom Brady as #2, Drew Brees is #3 and I’d put Big Ben and Eli right there fighting between #4 and 5. McNabb, Palmer and Rivers are all in there too fighting for that # 4 and 5 spot…but they don’t have something that Ben and Eli have.

At the end of this season however, if Eli just keeps on going like he is, and I see no reason why not and has one of those nice playoff runs, he’s a lock for #2. Considering Brady really is back to being pre-2007 Brady too, I’d even consider it an all Manning top 2.

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 15, 2009 7:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wanted to.......

I was this close to calling Eli captain clutch but I had to stop myself. One other thing he has in common with Derek Jeter………….INTANGIBLES!!!!!!! they don’t have a stat for that but I’m sure if they did, Peyton and Eli would be 1 and 2, you choose the order.

by R.A. on Oct 15, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Captain clutch? I like silent assassin.

by Major on Oct 15, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll go with Easy E

by njgiant on Oct 15, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea I like Easy E too.

But I just use E for the most part.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 15, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or to steal a name from the WWE

The Cerebral Assassin.

by njgiant on Oct 15, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how about Colonel Clutch

I mean, Jetes never beat a 162-0 team, right? Eli’s gotta outrank him

"[The Giants] beat us down. We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us. ... It wasn't even close." - Raheem Morris, 9/27/09

by cjmulrain on Oct 15, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eli's a top 5 QB

Peyton’s a top 5 QB…of all-time

by cjmulrain on Oct 15, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Peyton human?

That guy will make a star out of anyone. Look at what he has done with a dog and a waiter.

by njgiant on Oct 15, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's incredible

I watched the end of Montana, Marino, and Elway’s careers, but it’s been something else getting to watch Peyton’s entire career. I wasn’t a fan of his until he hit the dual whammy of finally winning the Super Bowl and then coming out and cheering for Eli the next year. Those two things made me do a 180 on Peyton. Now I love the guy.

by cjmulrain on Oct 15, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He seriously showed 10x the emotion

In Eli’s Bowl than he did in his own.

That must be a pretty awesome feeling.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 15, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's the brother

that actually has emotions. Eli is a terminator. The iceman, bitches. I know, I know, Chuck Liddell.
p.s. Hope A-Roid reverts to his Mr. May ways and the Yanks dive!

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Oct 15, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chuck Lidell is dancing...

Eli is the real Ice Man.

Matty “Ice” down in Atlanta don’t know jack about pressure compared to E.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 15, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Has there ever been a QB in history that has the kind of pressure Eli has had to win?

Lets spell out that pressure;
A) Archie Manning was considered a great QB and would have won SuperBowls on a better team.
B) Oldest brother Cooper was an All-State WR in High School and had a bright future if not for an injured neck. Cooper is the biggest competitor in the family according to Peyton Manning who couldn’t beat him at any sport. The best athlete in the family.
C) Peyton Manning is only going to finish his career as quite possibly the greatest QB of all time and has more charisma in his pinky than in Eli’s entire body.

Imagine how much work Eli has to put in just to sit down at thanksgiving and feel some sort of pride in himself around these guys. It doesn’t stop there though;

D) He forces a trade to NY on draft day(Meaning that he has to live up to his family name in the media capital of the globe. While Peyton is a god in small town Indy but he actually WANTED this kind of pressure).
E) Teammates blatantly shout at him on the field for his lack of accuracy.
F) The media destroys him and basically calls for him to be traded and a former teammate calls him a clown that no one takes seriously on national TV.

All of that and more and the guy finds a way to win the superbowl and elevate his level of play and has never complained about the Giants being a run first team. Can you imagine how much fight is in this guy? I’ll take Eli over all the Romo’s and Brees’ and Rivers’ of the world and wouldn’t think twice about it. He doesn’t show his emotions but I don’t think there is a more tough minded QB in the league.

by Major on Oct 15, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let me tell you a story Major...

There’s this quarterback, he’s from the South, and he becomes an absolute stud in the SEC. There’s more hype about him coming out of college than seen in quite a few years, and after a lot of fanfare, he winds up in New York, where he’s going to be the savior to revive a reeling franchise.

Almost instantly, though, there are issues: the media is all over him like white on rice, a lot of his very own teammates question him, and the fans…my god. Every week there are questions about his physical ability, his mental maturity, and more focused on than anything else, his ability to be a lead this New York franchise.

Now if this QB was lighting up the score boards there probably would be no issue, but things aren’t quite peachy on the field either. A great performance is followed up by a questionable one ( to say the least). He leads the league in interceptions twice in his first three seasons. And when going into his fourth season, more fans than ever are ready to quit on this kid, while even his most consistent supporters are starting to second guess his abilities.

Then, during his fourth season, something happens…but not right away. For most of the season, it’s more of the same. A golden game here, a lame duck there. But, somehow, when his team needs big performances late, he always seems to give it to them…a comeback kid.

Then, the playoffs come, and he’s nothing short of brilliant, almost a different quarterback. The two running back attack is working, and he’s the one conducting the orchestra. There’s a confidence in his gait and in his eyes that no one has ever seen before. His teammates can see this and in stead of fighting it, they feed off of it. Suddenly, there is no doubt he’s the guy, and they will go through battle with him.

So this once erratic and inconsistent QB leads his team into the Super Bowl, where he faces unbelievable odds, against a seemingly invincible coach. And you know what? He wins that game, the MVP, and in doing so becomes a legend.

Who is this quarterback you ask? You know him very well…

It’s Joe Namath.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 15, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very nice tito

I like. Namath was featured a little on this docu that I watched last night on the AFL and NFL merger. Good stuff. Plus the guy has good taste in women…..Namath to Kolber..“I want to kiss you”….gotta love Broadway Joe.

by njgiant on Oct 15, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is one of the funniest moments in football history.

Even to this day I’ll laugh at the thought of a seemingly drunken Joe Namath hitting on that poor unsuspecting reporter.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 15, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

corrections:

Kolber: Namath was definitely, not seemingly drunk, to hit on that pile.

But God, it was great… from my memory, it was like:

Kolber: And how do you think the Jets are doing out there?
Namath: I don’t care how the Jets are doing. I just want to kiss you.

Jesus christ. I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE JETS. How hilarious is that.

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Oct 15, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And people wonder why...

He’s the only quarterback to win the Super Bowl MVP without throwing a TD pass…

Obviously he charmed the Jets to victory.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 15, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Classic Joe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQqIQyT-RuM

by njgiant on Oct 15, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great post!

by Major on Oct 15, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excellent

I like that one Tito. Although I wasn’t young enough to watch Namath play, I still love watching old highlights of the greatest New York Jets player to walk the planet……………..that is unless Sanchez has anything to say about tha
t

by R.A. on Oct 15, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

who said anything about Blair Thomas

we’re talking about Joe Namath here

by cjmulrain on Oct 16, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I saw him play a lot.

You couldn’t help but like him. Very colorful and really comfortable in his own skin. IMO, very underrated. He came into the league with a bum knee,so never had a chance as a pro to demonstrate his athletic ability. He ran well at Alabama. He might have been beat up more than any other QB during his career(he has two artificial knees.) That upset of Baltimore was something. The Colts geared their D to stop Joe, but the Jets had two gifted RBs, Emerson Boozer and Matt Snell (they blocked for each other) who ran wild. That Jets team was small, even for those days except for LT Sherman Plunkett, one of the first, if not the first 300 plus linemen. He protected Joe pretty well in his early years. The Raiders were their greatest rivals. They had a DE, Ben Davidson, who used to toss Joe around like a rag doll (when he wasn’t spearing him>)

by blue gonz on Oct 15, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's when the QBs called their own plays out there right?

And why Namath got a lot of credit for that win even though he didn’t pass much.

He loved throwing the ball and never thought twice about calling his own number, but in that game he knew the Colts were gonna focus on him, so he just kept handing it off, probably the only way they could win.

"With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands."
-E

by tito (eight and oh) on Oct 15, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

George

who did you root for in SB III? I’ve always wondered how old school Giants fans would have felt in those days – technically they weren’t competitors, being in separate leagues, so I could see just rooting for the NY team. On the other hand, I could see rooting for the NFL just to keep proving that it was the superior league.

by cjmulrain on Oct 16, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ELI

You talk about a guy that is most underrated QB in the NFL..you want to talk about overrated, Tony Ono Romo..

Yes, when he started, he didn’t look to pretty but for some reason..he made it to the playoffs every year and if you look at his stats yearly..his TD are up and INTS down..

He’s a great manager, reads defense with the best of them..

The Giants will be nothing withoout him and thats the truth..

by dyenboy on Oct 15, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs