With Eli Manning's New York Giants career being all but over after the Giants announced their decision to bench him in favor of Daniel Jones this week, everyone is naturally looking back on Manning's career and pondering the question: does he deserve to be a Hall-of-Famer?
It's honestly a silly question, because the answer is obvious, but because it has sparked so much debate, let's examine his case.
Manning entered the league in 2004 and was named the Giants' starting quarterback midway through his rookie campaign. He then instantly led New York to an NFC East division title in 2005, and from 2005 through 2008, the Giants made four straight playoff appearances.
During that span, Big Blue won a pair of division crowns and, of course, a Super Bowl during the 2007-08 campaign. You know; the year the Giants took down the 18-0 New England Patriots, the team headed by the best quarterback and best head coach of all-time.
In that playoff run, Manning was sensational, throwing for 854 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception while completing 60.5 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 95.7. Most importantly, he took home Super Bowl MVP honors after arguably the most memorable drive in the history of the sport, making a nearly impossible throw to David Tyree, not to mention numerous other key throws on what would be a game-winning drive.
The Giants then won yet another Super Bowl in 2011-12, and this time, Manning was even better, racking up 1,219 yards, nine touchdowns and one pick while completing 65 percent of his throws and registering a passer rating of 103.3 during that postseason run. Oh, and he won another Super Bowl MVP after leading yet another game-winning drive. Oh, and it was against the Patriots, yet again.
So, two Super Bowl titles, two Super Bowl MVPs.
Only three other quarterbacks in NFL history have won two Super Bowl MVP awards: Brady, Bart Starr, and Terry Bradshaw. Starr and Bradshaw are both in the Hall of Fame; Brady will be there one day.
Another thing that Manning has going for him is that outside of one game in 2017, when Ben McAdoo inexplicably benched him in favor of Geno Smith, Manning never missed a start since becoming New York's starting quarterback in 2004. That is a heck of an accomplishment.
Additionally, Manning ranks seventh all-time in passing yards. He is eighth in passing touchdowns. He is sixth in completions.
This is really an open and shut case, and the fact that people are seriously debating it is mind-boggling to me. Ryan Clark saying Manning was “not a very good quarterback” was even more asinine. Check his numbers on the biggest stage.
The funny thing is, people say his name is the reason why he gets a lot of his glory, and I actually think it's the opposite. Had Eli's last name been Smith or Johnson or Thompson, he would not have been attached to big brother Peyton, and he probably would have gotten even more credit for everything that he has accomplished.
So let's review.
Top 10 in yards. Top 10 in touchdowns. Top 10 in completions. Two Super Bowl titles. Two Super Bowl MVPs. Beat the Brady-Belichick Patriots in both of those Super Bowls. Missed just one start in his entire career and it was because of a poor coaching decision. The resume speaks for itself.
Let's also not forget that Manning is a class act and a consummate professional.
Eli Manning is a first ballot Hall-of-Famer.
If you say he's not? You have the right to your opinion. You're just wrong.
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