BY: CULLEN TONGE
A few weeks ago, my friends and I were having several debates about the NFL world. Topics like “Who is the top player at each position?” and “Is this guy better than that guy?” are just a few questions that led us to stay up until 4 a.m. yelling at each other. We also had a “segment” where we went around and said names, and everyone else had to say if they should be awarded a spot in the Hall of Fame.
A bunch of guys were thrown around. Names like Julio, Megatron, J.J. Watt, etc. all got about a minute of conversation dedicated to them. Then someone said “Eli Manning”. That conversation lasted for what seemed like a half hour.
Back in 2004, Manning went number one overall to the Chargers. Later on, in round three, he was traded away to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers and a few other picks. I plan to address Rivers in a future article, but it is quite crazy that two of the most disputed quarterbacks in whether or not they should be in the Hall of Fame were traded for each other.
Back to Eli. The brother of one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. Is he a Hall of Famer? Although some might disagree with me, my answer is a guaranteed yes. His stats might not be the absolute best, but he has the hardware. In my opinion, two Super Bowl rings plus two Super Bowl MVP trophies equal a gold jacket for the HOF.
On Feb. 3, 2008, Manning led perhaps one of the greatest game-winning drives in NFL history against perhaps the best team ever in the New England Patriots. We all know how good that Patriots team was, and Manning ruined their perfect season. Yes, he had some help along the way with a clutch catch, but without him, the Patriots go on to win that game.
In that game, Manning threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns. Even though that doesn’t seem like a lot, but to put it in perspective, Tom Brady only threw for 266 yards, and he had 10 more completions than Manning. That game-winning drive secured him his first Super Bowl MVP trophy and is one that will be remembered forever.
Fast forward to Feb. 5, 2012, and it’s the Giants and the Patriots yet again. The Giants put up a 9-7 record in the regular season, with the Patriots going 13-3. Manning put together another game-winning drive capped off by a rushing touchdown by Ahmad Bradshaw that put the Giants up by four with only 57 seconds left. Manning completed 75 percent of his passes that game, threw for 296 yards and a touchdown to earn his second Super Bowl MVP award.
Those two rings and trophies go a long way for me in deciding whether or not Manning should get in. Considering he upset one of the best, if not the best, teams in NFL history and then did it again four years later is absolutely insane.
Some people say Manning shouldn’t get in because of the helmet catch but let me say one thing: The David Tyree catch was clutch, but it is not a crutch that holds Manning back from getting into the Hall of Fame. Remember that: “clutch, not a crutch.”
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