
Prior to the 2007 season, when
Eli Manning led the
Giants to a championship, there were some rumblings that maybe he would never become a franchise quarterback, forget about playing as consistently as
his brother.
Those sentiments lingered through most of '07 (rock bottom had to be the Week 17
four-interception effort -- three of the pick-six variety -- in a home game against the
Vikings), before it all came together. Manning played like a grizzled veteran during the final weeks of the regular season, and was close to flawless in the run to the Super Bowl.
Last year, Manning was the unquestioned team leader, and if not for an unpredictable
Eagles team, the Giants would have returned to the NFC Championship game for the second time in as many years. And now, Manning, who was the first overall pick in 2004, is in line for a new deal.