The Antrel Rolle media tour continues. The three-time Pro Bowler’s interview with Gambling Industry News reporter Kyle Odegard has turned heads this week for his opinions on Joe Schoen’s decision making and reunion potential for both Odell Beckham Jr and Jason Pierre-Paul in the Big Apple.
But perhaps his strongest statement came when discussing his former quarterback. Eli Manning has long been at the center of questions regarding his Hall-of-Fame candidacy, but the franchise icon would be on Rolle’s ballot.
“Do I think he will get in? Yes, I do. And I think he deserves to get in,” Rolle said. “And it’s not just because of the name, or because he played in New York. You’re talking about someone who had a very good NFL career, postseason we know what he did.”
Rolle points to playoff résumé in making Manning’s Canton case
Manning, a four-time Pro Bowler, led the Giants to the playoffs six times during his 16-year NFL career, which doesn’t look impressive on paper, but we all know how it ends. The former No. 1 pick led the G-Men to victories in Super Bowl XLII and XLVI, being named Super Bowl MVP in both games.
What’s even crazier is that he was the first quarterback to ever beat Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. Brady is considered to be the greatest player in NFL history, so Rolle doesn’t see that 2011 Super Bowl run as a fluke- it’s legacy-defining.
Yet Manning was still snubbed from the hall in his first year on the ballot.
“Two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, and the guy (Tom Brady) who he beat in both Super Bowls,” Rolle told Odegard. “That stuff speaks for itself, and it doesn’t happen by accident.”
Manning has thrown for 18 touchdowns to just nine interceptions in January while completing nearly 61% of his passes. Not half bad.
But that 87.5 playoff passer rating is the one that should stand out regarding the signal-caller’s clutch gene.
“Eli, to me, is clutch. He gets my vote 200% of the time. And this is not me being biased. He is the real deal at quarterback, and I’m hoping he gets his flowers. I know he will. He deserves it.”
Manning's Hall of Fame candidacy remains one of the hottest debates in recent memory. But if former teammates like Rolle have anything to say about it, his ticket to Canton may be inevitable.