The current Giants have no heart, lack a soul, and can’t hold a candle to Eli and the Super Giants. They have Cold hands, cold hearts so I reflect on the past of those happy days.

 

The current Giants have no heart, lack a soul, and can’t hold a candle to Eli and the Super Giants. The organization that was once among the most admirable for consistent winning and annual success has become a sinking ship. Clearly the team lacks talent but the heart and will to win has been lacking for far too long.

When Eli Manning was under center, and Tom Coughlin was the coach there was a drive and a want-to factor. Hence the slogan for Super Bowl XLII “Who wants it more?” The Giants certainly wanted it more in Glendale on February 3rd, 2008, then again on February 5th, 2012, in Indianapolis. This team currently just wants the season to end.

But with the heart and soul of those two championship teams it all started with the field general. Eli Manning never missed a game in his life. Part of the job is showing up. Many argue that those two Super Bowl teams were won by his defense and that simply is not true. Yes, the defense was the strength of the team but the way Eli Manning kept his offense afloat in some of those postseason games was bodacious. In both of those postseasons he turned the ball over just one time each playoff run. Defeating Tampa Bay, the overzealous Dallas Cowboys, the Packers in frigid Lambeau, then slaying the dragon and handing New England their only loss of the season. That was a Giants team that was 10-6 and nobody believed in them, except themselves.

In Dallas Amani Toomer (Ol’ Reliable) reeled in a pass, juked a couple Cowboys defenders, and scored a 52-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Toomer scored again with seven seconds to go till halftime. During that drive on the second touchdown there were 53 seconds left in the second quarter and the Giants had just given up a touchdown. In two minute drill mode Manning orchestrated a 71-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown and a tie game while there was a catch by rookie receiver Steve Smith then rookie tight end Kevin Boss which both moved the chains and the Boss first down set up Toomer’s tying score. With a lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter and Tony Romo driving, the overrated prima donna who spent more time focusing on Jessica Simpson then memorizing his plays threw to the end zone and right into the arms of cornerback R.W. McQuarters and the game was over.

In the subzero temperatures Manning threw lasers, eleven of them caught by Plaxico Burress who had 151 receiving yards and the tag team duo of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw each ran for over 60 yards, and both found the end zone in the glacial conditions in Green Bay. And against Mr. Perfect and the Patriots, Manning engineered one of the most iconic drives in pro football history with 2:37 to go. Brandon Jacobs plunged for a 1-yard rush on 4th and 1 to keep the dream alive. Manning eluded the sack and heaved it to David Tyree who jumped like an acrobat and pressed the ball against his helmet and with all of his might refused to surrender the football as Hall of Famer Rodney Harrison tried to knock it down, but Tyree would not relinquish the ball nor let it hit the ground. A couple of plays later was the forgotten play. Manning slung the ball on 3rd and 11 to rookie Steve Smith who caught the ball just before the sidelines, got hammered and hung onto the ball, and went out of bounds as he was getting smashed. The following play Manning found Burress alone for a touchdown on such a graceful pass and the Giants were Super Bowl champions.

The tenacious defense which held the 17-0 Patriots to 14 points was as clutch as they came with two sacks by Justin Tuck, one by Kawika Mitchell, one by Michael Strahan, and one by Jay Alford. Those guys were glass eaters. Just tough as nails. As well as the burly O-Lineman. David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O’Hara, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, and Kevin Boothe were the colossal group of mammoths that gave Eli Manning great protection.

The signal caller who played in 210 consecutive games was never a super dominant quarterback. He was inconsistent at times and rarely lit up the box score but brought his cooler to work everyday and most importantly brought his A-game in the spotlight of the big games. And it is beyond me that people believe that the guy who is 11th all-time in both touchdown passes and passing yards doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame but that’s another story for another time.

Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were mediocre running backs, but they showed up best in the big spots when they were best asked to. They also were team leaders where the team fed off them. Brandon Jacobs would stand up in the locker room and give pregame speeches and his encouragement and determination went a long way. Those receivers I mentioned were pro bowlers at times but never superstars, yet their grit and never-ending relentless competition measured their hearts.

Even Jeremy Shockey, who missed the 2007 playoffs with a broken leg, was a lunatic but played like a wily coyote that would put his body in jeopardy just to be a game changer or get his team fired up. Such as in the 2006 playoffs when he made a catch and a first down, got nailed and his helmet came off, and he relentlessly surged helmetless with the football amongst six Eagles defenders and refused to go down as his long blonde hair dangled in the Philadelphia cold manifesting like a Viking about to go on a pillage.

When the 9-7 Giants were champs again in 2011 after they beat the Falcons, Packers, 49ers, and Patriots they reenacted the same tenacity and determination. In the NFC championship game at Candlestick Park, Eli Manning hit the ground repeatedly and he bounced right up as if he was Rocky Marciano. It was cold and raining, his jersey was grass stained and filthy and he got the tar kicked out of him but there was no quit and not one lack of a will to win. He was sacked six times. In the fourth quarter after a pummeling hit, his chinstrap was on his nostrils but that didn’t phase him, he shook it off and got up. Lawrence Tynes kicked the Giants to their second Super Bowl in four years and two weeks later they defeated the Patriots again. In what seemed like déjà vu in their 4th quarter comeback Manning threw a magnificent pass that Mario Manningham secured and got both feet in bounds on another iconic play then Ahmad Bradshaw scored the game winning touchdown.

Prior to the post-season Victor Cruz made an outrageous play on Christmas Eve vs. the Jets and that victory propelled the Giants. Even playmakers like Jake Ballard and Bear Pascoe were gritty performers. The 2011 season for Jason Pierre-Paul was unsurpassed and footballers such as Justin Tuck, Chris Canty, Michael Boley, Mathias Kiwanuka, Zak DeOssie, and Linval Joseph were a legendary defensive core. As Wellington Mara said “Once a Giant, Always a Giant” but the 2024 Giants will be remembered as having Cold hands, cold hearts as to why I reflect on the happy days.