Those who followed my twitter handle "@BigTymeReportin", already know that my picks yesterday did not pan out. I wanted the Ravens to win over the Pats and the 49ers to win over the Giants. 
Okay, now that I have cleared the air, I am pulling for Eli and the Giants to bring this trophy on home. There are so many angles about this game that I could mention, but I am going to go in a total different direction. I am going to ask all of you a question: If Eli Manning wins a second ring, is he better than Peyton Manning? Sound crazy right...well not exactly. In every sport when people are comparing two awesome players, they begin speaking on the championship accomplishments between the two. For instance, is Kobe better than Jordan? Most people would say "NO", Jordan has 6 rings and Kobe has 5. Is Brady better than Montana? Most people would say "NO", Montana has 4 Superbowl wins and Brady has 3. Okay, if that is the criteria for who the better player is, then I have to ask the question again: If Eli wins a second ring on Feb.5th, 2012, is he better than Peyton?
At this point Deon Sanders may be correct when he says, "believe in Eli".
7 comments:
Excellent read...But let me say this.
If Eli comes away with the win in 2 weeks he should be considered better than his brother. Just look how they both perform in the heat of the playoffs. Eli seems to play his best when the pressure is on while Peyton tends to fail more often than not. Even during Peyton's championship season of a few years back he was shaky in just about every game.
QB's make their name while in the playoff pressure cooker.
Like him or not(I don't) Eli has been a Playoff Beast !!!!
RP
This is a no brainer. When Peyton is healthy and on the field is argualbly the best QB in the game. I have never seen Peyton playing shaky or rattled, that sounds more like his brother. It takes an entire team to win a championship. Just ask the now jobless fieldgoal kicker for the Ravens. If you had one game to play to win it all who would you take a healthy Peyton or Eli?
Okay, here is my take on this topic. I am not going to crown Eli "king" based on yesterdays victory, but I will acknowledge the fact that he is much better than I thought he was. I also noticed that his scramble ability, quick decision making, and physical toughness, has awarded him two Superbowl visits in 7 years.
Another thing, Eli has never had the offensive line that either Peyton or Brady has. Eli get beat down every single game and yet he still seems to pull the Giants through.
As for the take on whom I would rather have in a 2 minute drill to win a game, my answer is Peyton. But that is like asking me if I would rather have LeBron take the last second shot in the game for me or Robert Horry. Of course I would say Robert Horry eventhough LeBron is the more talented player. If Eli wins another championship in two weeks, I may not say that he is an overall better quarterback than Peyton, but he would certainly be a better post season big game quarterback than him.
2011-2012 Team Stats
GIANTS
Total First Downs 331
Third Down Conversions 77/206
Fourth Down Conversions 4/13
Total Offensive Yards 6161
Offense (Plays-Avg-Yards)1028 - 6.0
Total Rushing Yards 1427
Total Passing Yards 4734
Sacks 48
Field Goals 19/24
Touchdowns 47
Time of Possession 29:29
Wins/Losses 9-7
Turnover Ratio +7
2011-2012 Team Stats
PATRIOTS
Total First Downs 399
Third Down Conversions 89/194
Fourth Down Conversions 7/11
Total Offensive Yards 6848
Offense (Plays-Avg-Yards)1082 - 6.3
Total Rushing Yards 1764
Total Passing Yards 5084
Sacks 40
Field Goals 28/33
Touchdowns 61
Time of Possession 28:47
Wins/Losses 13-3
Turnover Ratio +17
Food for thought gentlemen
The Archman
Now, all this discussion about QB greats left me scratching my head looking for tidbids of useless factoids that we can use to determine greatness.
A lowly 6th round draft pick out of an offensive scheme that was comprised of "Run-Run-Run-Punt" throughout his collegiate career. WTH knew what they were getting with this pick. EVERYBODY passed on grabbing him sooner. Anyone know who I'm talking about? Hint..think Bo Schembechler and the University of Michigan...that's right...Tom Brady. His own teammates didn't know what they had until Drew Bledsoe went down and The Hoodie NEVER looked back and their success is directly tied to Tom Brady. The same can almost be said of another lowly 6th round pick (see the relationship yet?) except this kid played every saturday on the Notre Dame Broadcasting Channel otherwise known as NBC. Yeah, Joe Montanna...I'm not going to bore you with the rest. You guys already know we're talking about Hall of Famers.
That brings me to Archie Manning's boys. Archie Manning. A decent QB in college, a mediocre one in the pros that went nowhere. 10 years he played for the Saints...only one of those years did the team play .500 ball! Yet he dictates to the NFL which team can draft his boys and which ones they'll actually play for. What a joke! I actually felt bad for Peyton. He had a great coach in the awesome Tony Dungy. His successes are almost directly tied to him. Look what happened to the team upon his departure. Personally, I think he's done and he won't be coming back. His brother Eli, let's just say that he's not going to lose the game based on his abilities. The Giants are a solid team that plays well together and have enjoyed a good run. When you look at the Saints and Packers on paper from this season and throw the Giants into the mix you laugh at the comparisons! That said, I firmly believe that Tom Brady's last game was his worst performance of the season. He played like a man possesed against the Broncos...TWICE! He showed the league how weak and ineffective Timmy Tebow and his Option only driven Broncos were. He splayed him open like a gutted fish the 2nd time they squared off. It was the highest rated show the NFL had of the season and when they flashed the stat on the screen Brady 6 td's to Tebow's 3 completions anybody that's watched Timmy play KNEW he isn't a starting QB. It's not Timmy's fault he can't run plays from the Shotgun formation...nor checkdown...or lock eyes on his primary receiver...or throw on his right foot with somewhat of a spiral, or is it? How many decent QB's have the University of Florida turned out that did well in the NFL? Spurrier? Grossman? Wuerffel? LOLOL!!! It's called TRADITION! Sorry Timmy...great guy...poor QB. Anyways...I got off track...Brady will be practicing because he KNOWS the eyes of the World will be watching the Super Bowl. He doesn't turn in back-to-back bad performances.
I just see the Pats winning this one and to shut the naysayers up about the 2004 Super Bowl...The Hoodie won't reign in his team and hold them from scoring like he did against the Broncos.
I must agree with you T4 (I'm just now recovering from my 49er disappointment and willing to talk football) as I think Eli is much better than I ever thought ...and tougher. The Niners knocked him down so much and the dude bounced back like Gumby.
However, as most have stated, Peyton's still the best between the two as I don't think "The Rings" make the man (shout out to Mark Rypien, Brad Johnson and Jeff Hostetler).
Sometimes great players come along at the wrong time in history. Hank Aaron was upstaged by Willie Mays, Barry Sanders by Emmitt Smith, and Peyton by Brady.
But I bet his younger brother will be saying, "Na Na, told you I was better than you!"
Yeah...Eli saying he was better than Peyton when Peyton is handicapped in a wheelchair because his pride couldn't allow him to stand down!!!!
Riight!
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