Big Blue Huddle

Well, since this is essentially a repeat of a prior thread 'Eli Manning eligible for the HoF' I'll just repeat essentially what I said there:

For me it goes beyond the 2 SB MVPs, it is the 2 last minute game winning drives.  Some discount the 2 MVPs and 2 SB wins because Jim Plunkett has 2 SB wins including an MVP, and didn't get in, but there's really little comparison.  In xv Plunkett had an excellent game but the game was a blow-out, not so much because he was so good but because Jaworski was so bad, with 3 INTs.  His other SB win was also a blowout, but it was because Marcus Allen ran for 191 yards and the opposing QB threw 2 INTs.  In Eli's 2 MVPs he really was the 'indispensible' man, which really wasn't the case with Plunkett.  The defense was great in both games, but without those 2 heroic game winning drives they'd have had nothing.

Much has also been made of the fact that Eli was basically a .500 regular season QB.  But if we look a little deeper, it is really due to a Tale of Two Teams.  Team 1, starting in his first full year as a starter until the year after the 2nd SB he never had a season below .500 and had a record of 77-51, a 60% winning rate.  In Team 2, which is the rest of his career, his record was 39-60, with only one winning season.  But I'd argue that that wasn't an Eli problem, it was a Giants' problem, as he was still putting up pretty decent numbers in the service of a bad, bad team.

So, while I'm an admitted homer, I think there is a very solid case for him getting in on the first try.

I think he will get in eventually, but unlikely first ballot as much as I would like that. (I hope I am wrong)

We all know the defense was a huge part of the reason we won Superbowl 42, and a lot of Eli detractors will point to that as to why Eli isn't great.  The Giants defense was insane in 07!  What a thing to watch, especially as a fan of defense.  I love to see defense make plays a lot more than offense so I was just loving that whole season.  That was actually the season that I started watching football full time in my early 20s.  Anyway...

This is a team sport.  The defense did their job and put the Giants in position to win.  They gave Eli and the offense the chance to make the plays they needed to and win. And they took it.  Eli broke a sack and put the ball where it needed to be, including the where only Tyree could get it.  That pass to Burress for the TD was decisive and beautiful. The fact is, Eli lead his offense on a drive to win the biggest game there is.  He won when it mattered.  He took advantage of the opportunity, just like any great would.

In 11, I do not recall the defense being as good as 07, but I am probably wrong there.  They did hold the Pats to 17 points.  But again, as Eli was known for he leads his offense on a last minute game winning drive.  Sure, there were some dropped passes on the Pats next drive, but I attribute those things to the defense.  With enough constant pressure, and danger they cause mistakes.

Eli was cool, collected and unflinching.  Put him in the dirt and he gets up and keeps going.  He was Iron Man.  He won when it mattered.  He took the opportunities given and the Giants won two SBs because of it.  He was clutch.  There are better statistical QBs that can't say the same.  And if this is a team sport, he played his part better than a lot.  That is why I think he deserves to be in the HoF.

Hyatt dropped in the Draft because he had to learn a full route tree and we aren't privy to his development. The Giants are using him at the X but unfortunately teams are playing cover two and/or two high safeties which is taking away the deep pass. Mel Kiper has called on the NFL to ban that defense. Scoring is down across the league and that defense is the primary reason why.

That could be why Hyatt has not been thrown to a lot.

I would not vote for him to get in, but I know he eventually will.

New York Giants Film Breakdown

He did what was asked of him, seems like play calling was the problem. Need more blitzing. Very disappointed in the defense scheme and inability to adapt.

Mike Francesa's case for why Eli should be in:

Starts at 18:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sXKGKrDCRQ

Quote from: coggs on Today at 08:45:42 PMHave heard a few people over the year refer to "1/4 of the season".  Last game in September.

I see. Makes sense I guess.

Never heard anyone call Becton a bust, and I didn't think he was one either. The biggest thing holding him back was an inability to stay healthy.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on Today at 08:35:45 PMThe first sentence is odd. Why 0-4 instead of 0-5 or 0-3? Seems like a strangely precise number around which to be predicting "losing the locker room."

Have heard a few people over the years refer to "1/4 of the season".  Last game in September.

My guess is he got this info from vets who have played at other teams before and have seen it happen.  Experience lets you know when something is brewing before it is openly obvious.