The New York Giants' centennial season could not have been worse for the franchise, both on and off the field. It continues to be one of the worst years in team history.
Not only did the Giants finish with a franchise worse 3-14 record last season behind a Jones–Lock–DeVito–Boyle quarterback chaos carousel, but former Big Blue running back Saquon Barkley helped lead the divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl victory.
And just when you thought it couldn't get worse, legendary quarterback Eli Manning was snubbed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot this offseason. Many Big Blue fans were excited about the possibility of seeing the four-time Pro Bowler who brought home two Super Bowl titles over the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots honored in Canton.
In addition to his two Super Bowl titles, Manning ranks in the top 10 for passing yards, completions, and touchdowns. He spent 16 years with the Giants, amassing a 117-117 overall record. And although Eli's overall record may not help his case to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, he deserves to be inducted for everything he has contributed to the league and the Giants organization on and off the field since he arrived in East Rutherford in 2004.
Manning was initially drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers with the first overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft but was traded to the Giants in exchange for Phillip Rivers and a package of picks that included a 2005 first-rounder.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently ranked each No. 1 NFL draft pick from the last 25 years, and he listed Manning as the best player on that list. You're missing something if you don't believe Eli was snubbed from the HoF after reading this article.
Eli Manning should have made the Hall of Fame
The article states that during his tenure in the NFL, Manning was never the best quarterback. He never led any meaningful category and did pace the NFL thrice in interceptions; however, he was drafted over Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger, who both became successful quarterbacks.
What makes Eli stand out more than any other quarterback during this era is how consistent he was during the regular season and how clutch he was during the postseason. Manning is known for his big-time throws in 2007 and 2011, which earned him two Vince Lombardi Trophies over the Patriots, but he wasn't particularly bad in the regular season either.
Manning threw for 57,073 yards with 366 touchdowns while making 210 consecutive starts before former head coach Ben McAdoo benched him in favor of Geno Smith in 2017.
What stands out the most is how Eli helped bring the Giants two Super Bowl Championships and etched his name in history. What more can you ask for from a former first-overall pick?
Manning is considered one of the best quarterbacks in franchise history and one of the best overall players the Giants have ever had. He was inducted into the Giants' Ring of Honor and had his number 10 jersey retired in 2021.
You can't tell the story of the NFL without mentioning Manning; for that reason, he deserves to be a Hall of Famer, especially after beating out every No. 1 overall pick of the last 25 years.