Is there any question anymore about whose team the New York Giants is? Sure, Tom Coughlin is the coach. Despite the fact that Giants fans call for his head every year just in time for Coughlin to lead his team on a playoff run, he’s still the man in charge. As far as the players are concerned, however, we all know the Giants belong to Eli Manning. It’s a quarterback’s role to be the leader of a team, and Eli has embraced that this season with his fourth-quarter comebacks and winner’s mentality. That doesn’t mean he is above being modest.
“I never got into the deal of saying, ‘Hey, this is my team,’” Manning said during an interview with the Michael Kay Show Wednesday. “It’s a part of a team. It’s everybody’s team. It’s not one player’s team. It’s Coach Coughlin’s team, but we play together. I think my teammates have faith in me. … Am I one of the leaders? I’d say so. I’ve been here one of the longest on the team and have a great understanding of what’s going on, but so do a lot of other players. … It’s not one person’s team.”
That’s admirable of Manning to say, but the Giants would not even be close to where they are right now without his level of play this season. They have sustained injuries to Ahmad Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks — two of their most important offensive players — and kept on ticking. Eli is the only injury New York would stand no chance of overcoming. He’s gotten it done in the clutch and thrown points on the board anytime the Giants need them. 2011 marked the year when the Giants officially, without question, became Eli Manning’s team.
