There has to be an unprecedented level of nervous anticipation swirling throughout the Giants organization right now. This season offers an opportunity to the team unlike any other has in the past -- and likely more than any other will in the future.
These Eli/Coughlin-Era Giants are already legends. They have given their blue-bleeding fans two absolutely thrilling championship seasons; but, on top of that, they have given the general, football-viewing population two memorable Superbowls. If Eli Manning merely plays well and the Giants remain a good, contending football team for the rest of his career, then he and Coughlin are an absolute lock for Canton . . . if they're not already.
But why be content with that?
These Giants have a Big Blue chance to become both New York and all-time football gods on an unparalled level.
Imagine this:
This recent, two-time championship team winning it all for the THIRD time at what may be the only NJ/NY Superbowl ever. Even if the NFL does allow another one here, it will not be with the nucleus of a two-time championship team going for a third . . . this is a one-shot deal.
That's what makes the promise of this season unique and special.
Should they win it, Eli Manning would not only be revered as the greatest quarterback in Giant history (I love you Phil.) He would also ascend to the top of football's Mount Olympus -- right there next to Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, Zeus, Poseidon and Dave Brown.
The proverbially cherry atop this deliriously rich Superbowl Sundae dream is that I will be there. I'll be working in a suite. (So long as God -- or whatever higher power an atheist might or might not believe in -- allows me to still be roaming the earth at that time.)
If this group did win another, I would want everyone with two or three rings to retire immediately. Enjoy life. No more injuries. Coach, spend all your time with the grandkids. Snee, give him more grandkids. Assuming no financial issues, you win that much, you remove any further risk to yourself and you enjoy the rest of your life.
When as a franchise there were two superbowl wins in a few year, I want them to keep going. If there are three, I'm ok with losing a bunch of key players and starting over if those are the circumstances.
If being a Giant's fan has taught you anything - it should be that expecting great things will generally end in heartbreak. Though from that heartbreak somtimes a Championship is born (and in the same season)
The OL hasn't been a question mark since 2004 and it isn't a question mark heading into 2013. The OL may not be the dominant unit from year's past but the running game struggles fell on the running back more than the OL in my eyes. The pass pro has never been as some people seem to think. Eli is as good as any at avoiding the rush but that doesn't mean the OL is keystone cops out there. If you are sacked near the bottom of the NFL every year, the OL is doing something right.
As bad as they were last year the OL wasn't that bad at all. And now we have reinforcements.
This team is as talented as any under Coughlin. Injuries will play a factor but if everything ends up as planned this team will win 10-11 games in their sleep. I firmly believe that. A lot went wrong the last 2 seasons to slip this team to 9 wins, respectively. It's only a matter of time before things go right for an entire season. We're due.
Every team has holes and question marks. Even the big bad niners have question marks. Did they even stop anyone in last year's postseason? Nope. Seattle? Nice talented young team but they can slip and they too had trouble defending in the postseason. Every team has holes. Not every team has the star power that sits on this NYG roster.
When Mario scores the TD in the NFC title game his body language coupled with Cruz screaming "I told u I told u" leads me to believe he was pretty frustrated in NY.
looks like business as usual