2004 NFL Draft: New York Giants Review

Jan 26, 2013, Honolulu, HI, USA; New York Giants guard

(76) and quarterback Eli Manning (10) pose at Ohana Day for the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Goodbye, Chris Snee

Chris Snee is retiring, but don’t take my word for it, just read a recent headline in the New York Daily News. Perhaps something like this from Ralph Vacchiano titled, Retiring Chris Snee hears nice words from NY Giants coach and father-in-law, Tom Coughlin: ‘I’ll take 100 of him’. It’s an excellent read that contains many great words from the Giants coach about the lineman the team drafted 34th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft.

People often say that football coaches are like father figures, with Chris Snee, that sentiment was a reality. But if you let Tom Coughlin tell it, Chris Snee’s only advantage from being the coaches son was that he was too good on the field to let anyone say he was treated better than his play on the field demanded. When discussing the 2004 training camp, Tom said this about Snee’s play:

“It took you about five seconds to see he’s the best lineman on the field.” ~ Tom Coughlin

That’s a pretty clear sentiment, but after all, Tom Coughlin is the Grandfather of Snee’s children. The love and sentiment are very real. Coughlin has a tough image, a winning persona and a scapegoat life in the years he doesn’t win. But when he talks about Chris Snee, you can feel the GIANT family pride in his words:

"“Please, Lord,” Coughlin said. “I’ll take 100 of him.” “You’re talking about a guy who’s a great football player,” Coughlin added. “He is everything that you want in a man and in a football player. Now you may say ‘Well, you’re not very objective about this.’ Well I’m not pleading my case for objectivity right now. I’m just telling you, the quality of the man is greater than the quality and the ability of the football player. “And that’s as good as it gets.”"

If that’s the sentiment, 10 years after a draft pick was made, it must have been one heckuva selection. And that’s exactly what Chris Snee was, a great pick. A decade and two Super Bowls later, Chris’ body is no longer healthy enough to let him be dominant. But make no mistake, this was an incredible draft choice by the New York Football Giants. Who else could they have had?

The Giants could have had stud Safety Bob Sanders. Perhaps they could have picked an excellent center in Nick Hardwick. Or even, one of the nastiest defensive tackles in the league with Darnell Dockett. It could’ve been Chris Cooley, the Redskins TE that had a solid career. This was also the year Matt Schaub was drafted, but that never would’ve happened with Eli, so instead, what about Shaun Phillips, an outstanding LB that has had an overlooked career.  These are still guys that went in the fourth round, it could’ve happened. Once upon a time the Giants could’ve picked Nathan Vasher, a very decent CB. Can you imagine if the Giants drafted Jared Allen. Wow.

However, none of those guys would have been Chris Snee. None of them would call the Giants coach dad. This is purely an instance in the NFL where a team hit an absolute home run, epic perfect hit in the second round. Normally hindsight offers you an opportunity to run through a draft and say, “What if?’ — with attitude. Why didn’t they do this…? If they selected him, they could’ve been contenders… You know the drill.

With the 2004 New York Football Giants, their draft selections actually are the “What if?” factor that’s causing other teams to say “What if?” about their selections — namely San Diego. With Chris Snee, the Giants had one of the best possible outcomes a decade later. And folks, that’s how you draft like a GIANT.