As we say goodbye to 2009, Big Blue View has a look at the top Giants at their position for the last 10 years. If the Giants were lining up their top 11 on each side of the ball, this is what it would look like:
Offense:
QB: Eli Manning. Kerry Collins started the 2000's off strong for the Giants, who helped him resurrect his career, but Eli is in his 6th season, has a Super Bowl MVP trophy, a Pro Bowl appearance, and is in the midst of the best year of his career. Could be on his way to being the best QB the Giants have ever had.
RB: Brandon Jacobs. This was a tough call, with the great seasons Tiki Barber had before retiring to pursue a career as the next Suzy Kolber, but Jacobs has not only put up great numbers, but is a huge part of the formula for Giants success.
WR: Amani Toomer. The best wide receiver the Giants have ever had, although will probably have relinquished that title by the time we cover the next decade in 2019. For all the great wide receivers that have played in the NFL, I've never seen anyone better at getting his feet in bounds than Amani.
WR: Plaxico Burress: While his Giant career cannot be termed as anything but "tumultuous", there is no doubt about how many big catches he made while with the Giants, including one in Glendale, AZ that will play in our minds forever.
TE: Jeremy Shockey: Despite the fact that he is a pain in the rear loudmouth, the simple fact is that he's the most talented at the position the last 10 years.
OL: Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, David Diehl, Rich Seubert, and Shaun O'Hara.: Their ability to stay healthy and keep Eli well protected over the years puts them on this list together as a unit.
Defense:
DE: Michael Strahan: Simply the best at the position in Giants history, not just the last 10 years. Giants still miss his emotion on defense.
DE: Osi Umenyiora: Outplayed Strahan at times, and has carved out a nice career for a guy most Giants fans called "Who the hell is that?" on Draft Day 2003.
LB: Antonio Pierce: The emotional leader and QB of the defense, and while most Giants fans would agree his best days are behind him, the Giants have sorely missed him when he has been injured.
LB: Brandon Short: Flew somewhat under the radar during his 5 seasons in NY, but was a solid player who was among the team leaders in tackles during his first 4 seasons with the Giants.
LB: Michael Barrow: led the Giants in tackles three of his four seasons in the early 2000s.
CB: Will Allen: 5 solid seasons as a starter for the Giants, biggest knock on Will was his inability to make picks.
CB: Corey Webster: After a shaky start to his Giant career, turned it on during the 2007 season, and has become a reliable corner for the G-Men.
[Note: our "All-Decade" team has 3 corners, due to the fact that only one safety was worthy of making this list]
CB: Terrell Thomas: A surprise pick here, Thomas is only in his 2nd year, but his nose for the ball (6 INT's in two seasons), combined with his ability to be a blitzing corner puts him on the list. There has been talk around the NFL that he is on his way to becoming one of the elite corners in the league.
Safety: Gibril Wilson: played both safety positions for the Giants, led or tied for the team lead in picks twice.
K: Lawrence Tynes: It pains me to put a guy on this list who has missed so many gimme field goals and several extra points, but quite frankly the other options (Feely, Daluiso at the end of his career) weren't any better.
P: Jeff Feagles: One of the best to ever play the position, but should look at his inclusion on this esteemed list as the final icing on his career cake and ride off into the sunset.
Honorable Special Teams Mention:
David Tyree, for stellar play on special teams, and I thought the guy who made the biggest play of the Giants decade needed to be on this list.