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Moondizzle... said 03/20, 09:31 AM
This is designed for an intra-division homer debate...so hopefully only Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins fans need accept.

I'm in a homer mood today. So today I'm here to make my argument that Eli Manning is the QB you want leading your team in the NFC East. Eli began his career in NY with much fanfare, forcing his way from the Chargers at the cost of (if the Giants drafted as the Chargers) Shawn Merriman, Philip Rivers, and Nate Kaeding.

Nobody was more down on Eli than I was. I have admitted to begging for a trade in the past. And obviously, upon winning the Super Bowl, I changed my mind. I reserve the right, as far as I'm concerned.

Its safe to say that Eli will give you 24 TD's, 17 or 18 INT's, 3,300 yards, and play all 16 games most (if not all) seasons. Those are roughly his career averages for his 3 full seasons. His completion % will likely stay around 57%.

With Eli, its more than the numbers. Often he has been criticized for his lack of fire, for his demeanor on the field. In NY such things cant be taken for granted. He never threw his team mates under the bus, however I believe the absence of Shockey helped him evolve as a QB. He is still only 27, and a SB champ.

Moondizzle... said 03/20, 10:50 AM
There are different ways to define leadership. The NY and national media villified Eli for his inability to show emotion, or take a team on his shoulders. He proved people wrong.

I'm not giving Shockey credit for being a puppet master. It had nothing to do with his input. It had to do with his route running and what seemed to be a lack of attention. Often, Eli would end up hitting Shockey in the back of the leg with a pass, and we'd kill Eli. It happened so often that perhaps Shockey is the real culprit.

His Super Bowl MVP had much to do with his defense, but can't we say that about many Super Bowl winners? Eli has been a solid 4th quarter QB, and what he did in the final moments of the SB this year was nothing short of spectacular. The players believed in him, and he, together with Tyree, made a play nobody believed could happen.

We can't keep coming up with a new reason for Romo's demise. 2 seasons now with truly ugly performances. You can't say that TO and Crayton COST him wins, especially when his 'really good numbers & accomplishments' are a direct result of HAVING a guy like Owens on his team. Eli delivered a title, together with his defense.

Moondizzle... said 03/20, 12:22 PM
Eli was judged since day one. He's matured since, and been consistent in his approach to the game, win or lose. What have we seen in 2 Romo playoff appearances?

We have seen him get too nervous in difficult situations. We have seen him stray from his gameplan, down against the Giants, and eventually barking commands in obvious anger at his teammates on the field.

The Cowboys weren't just some team last year. They were projected Super Bowl contenders who played against - and beat - the Giants twice in the regular season. And yet the playoffs come around and they lose their way.

This is my focal point: Eli Manning turns it on in crunch time. He is known to do very well in the 4th quarter, he never wilts under the spotlight that is NY, he took a team that was good into the playoffs, on the road, against arguably the 3 best teams in the NFC - and then defeated an undefeated team that they had played just weeks before that. His statistics will never be outstanding. He won't be the $.e.x.y. pick.

Tony Romo can have all the 300 yard games he wants. And the line of succession matters little to me. In the NFC East, right now, I'd want Eli Manning taking my team to a title.