Eli's numbers are insane. And yes, I'm a homer. Eli's intangibles are the most meaningful to me. Cold as ice under pressure. Game started streak. 2 SB MVP's. But let's look at the yards and TDs from a career perspective.
Player Yds Years Teams
1. Peyton Manning 71,940 1998-2015 2TM
2. Brett Favre 71,838 1991-2010 4TM
3. Dan Marino+ 61,361 1983-1999 mia
4. Drew Brees (37) 60,903 2001-2015 2TM
5. Tom Brady (38) 58,028 2000-2015 nwe
6. John Elway+ 51,475 1983-1998 den
7. Warren Moon+ 49,325 1984-2000 4TM
8. Fran Tarkenton+ 47,003 1961-1978 2TM
9. Vinny Testaverd 46,233 1987-2007 7TM
10. Drew Bledsoe 44,611 1993-2006 3TM
11. Eli Manning 44,191 2004-2015 nyg
If Eli averages 4000 per season, in four years he'll have 60,000 yards and only two other QBs in history will have done that with one team (Marino, Brady). Brady took 4 years longer to do it. That alone is HOF material.
Player TD Years Teams
1. Peyton Manning 539 1998-2015 2TM
2. Brett Favre 508 1991-2010 4TM
3. Tom Brady (38) 428 2000-2015 nwe
Drew Brees (37) 428 2001-2015 2TM
5. Dan Marino+ 420 1983-1999 mia
6. Fran Tarkenton+ 342 1961-1978 2TM
7. John Elway+ 300 1983-1998 den
8. Eli Manning 294 2004-2015 nyg
9. Warren Moon+ 291 1984-2000 4TM
10. Johnny Unitas+ 290 1956-1973 2TM
With an average of 25 TDs per year (and that is being conservative), Eli will be sixth on the TD list and third only to Brady and Marino as a QB to have done it with one team and having done it in 4 less years. That alone gets you in the HOF.
Then you throw in the other great stuff like being the best ambassador of a sport any franchise could ever ask for, the lineage, the SB MVPs, The Catch, The Drive. Blah, blah, blah.
PFF can basically kiss my ass is what I'm saying. Enjoy your Monday, guys!
Favre, Peyton and Brees have more yards, and likely will all said and done for Brees, and did it with multiple teams.
not sure the relevance of that piece of information.
not debating the merit, just asking why the inclusion.
The thing is, if he had been concerned about stats and didn't throw up "jump balls" when we needed a big play (many of which became INTs) it would be less of a question mark. But those throws really cast him in a bad light.
In addition he is not done yet.
Franchise QB is the rarest commodity in pro sports. Eli since his first full year as a starter has answered the bell for this franchise every week. He made it through the adversity this market places on pro athletes, and in particular QB's. He has taken the club to the promised land twice and beaten the best the NFL has to offer during both runs.
Detractors point to stats. Absurd. The lists posted by the OP show Eli will have all time great stats. Get this man a defense so the team can make another run.
What would be the argument to keep Eli out of the Hall?
He's racked up great numbers, and has two SB MVPs...blah, blah
He's never ever been dominant at his position, top five for periods of time, but mostly 5-10 or worse.....blah, blah
So pick your argument based on your opinion and go from there. My concern about letting ELi in: If he gets in, how do you keep all these other stat machines - Romo, Ryan, Rivers etc out?
The thing is, if he had been concerned about stats and didn't throw up "jump balls" when we needed a big play (many of which became INTs) it would be less of a question mark. But those throws really cast him in a bad light.
He'll never get respect. He's had two back to back career best style seasons and he was just called the "most overpaid player in the league", this past weekend.
That's how.
The good news is that Eli will give the voters what they splooge over, the requisite, accumulated HOF-worthy stats.
So are you keeping Ben Roethlisberger out then too?
Top 10 seasons in yards
Eli - 6
Ben - 5
Top 10 seasons in TDs
Eli - 9
Ben - 5
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My concern about letting ELi in: If he gets in, how do you keep all these other stat machines - Romo, Ryan, Rivers etc out?
That's how.
OK, So its the two SB MVPs....But if thats what ultimately matters, then why is OP using also those stats to make the argument, and comparing him to guys that don't have any rings (Marino, Tankenton etc)?
He's racked up great numbers, and has two SB MVPs...blah, blah
He's never ever been dominant at his position, top five for periods of time, but mostly 5-10 or worse.....blah, blah
So pick your argument based on your opinion and go from there. My concern about letting ELi in: If he gets in, how do you keep all these other stat machines - Romo, Ryan, Rivers etc out?
Post season success would be a decisive criterion.
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Two sides are equally compelling....
He's racked up great numbers, and has two SB MVPs...blah, blah
He's never ever been dominant at his position, top five for periods of time, but mostly 5-10 or worse.....blah, blah
So pick your argument based on your opinion and go from there. My concern about letting ELi in: If he gets in, how do you keep all these other stat machines - Romo, Ryan, Rivers etc out?
Post season success would be a decisive criterion.
He will have both: stats plus post season success.
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My concern about letting ELi in: If he gets in, how do you keep all these other stat machines - Romo, Ryan, Rivers etc out?
That's how.
OK, So its the two SB MVPs....But if thats what ultimately matters, then why is OP using also those stats to make the argument, and comparing him to guys that don't have any rings (Marino, Tankenton etc)?
It's not the only thing that matters but all stats being close to equal, something has to be the differentiator, no?
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In comment 13000575 Britt in VA said:
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My concern about letting ELi in: If he gets in, how do you keep all these other stat machines - Romo, Ryan, Rivers etc out?
That's how.
OK, So its the two SB MVPs....But if thats what ultimately matters, then why is OP using also those stats to make the argument, and comparing him to guys that don't have any rings (Marino, Tankenton etc)?
It's not the only thing that matters but all stats being close to equal, something has to be the differentiator, no?
I agree. The differentiator is people's - or more specifically HOF voter's - opinion, which is the essence of the discussion.
I wonder how much LT looks at stats before he votes
Troy Aikman 1989-2000
George Blanda (Also PK) 1949-1958, 1960-1975
Terry Bradshaw 1970-1983
Len Dawson 1957-1975
John Elway 1983-1998
Brett Favre 1991-2010
Dan Fouts 1973-1987
Otto Graham 1946-1955
Bob Griese 1967-1980
Sonny Jurgensen 1957-1974
Jim Kelly 1986-1996
Bobby Layne 1948-1962
Dan Marino 1983-1999
Joe Montana 1979-1994
Warren Moon 1984-2000
Joe Namath 1965-1977
Ken Stabler 1970-1984
Bart Starr 1956-1971
Roger Staubach 1969-1979
Fran Tarkenton 1961-1978
Y.A. Tittle 1948-1964
Johnny Unitas 1956-1973
Norm Van Brocklin 1949-1960
Bob Waterfield 1945-1952
Steve Young 1985-1999
The way I see it (and this is being objective), there aren't 10 out of the 25 who have had better careers than Eli RIGHT NOW, not to mention in 3-4 years when Eli hangs em up. I could even make an argument that other than Favre, Bradshaw, Elway, Young, Montana and Unitas none have had Eli's career.
The interesting thing is that there are a lot of guys who will be eligible in the years before him that will make things look very interesting. Peyton, Brees, Brady and maybe even guys like Warner are going to really change the criteria.
As has been said before, it's also about the narrative. Lots of fans hate Eli because of the SD thing and also that he looks like a goof and has kind of a dopey face. Add in that he does throw many more interceptions than he should and you have a developed idea among a LOT of non-Giant fans that he is a lucky mediocre QB, much closer to a Jay Cutler than an Aaron Rodgers.
My guess- he doesn't go in first ballot (like Strahan) but gets in year 2.
What else does one need?
Oh and one more thing...this idea that he is a "Compiler" and his stats are all high because he plays.....
YUP. That's a good thing. Not getting hurt is a good thing.
Yeah HOF.
If someone said their QB ended their career top 5 in yards and TDs. Won 2 Super Bowls. Went to many pro bowls and the playoffs numerous times..... do you think they would consider their QB a HOFer?
the only box he doesn't check is the least important one IMO and that is he was never considered "the best" of his generation by his peers or the media.
he just doesn't get respect.
He's never in an MVP discussion only four pro-bowls (I believe all as an alternate, one of them he was like the 7th NFC QB asked to go when the two selected couldn't play) and no all-pros.
He's never lead the league in yards in a season, TD's in a season, or other stats besides (game winning drives which is great, but not a main stream stat, and interceptions (3 times). People don't want to hear Rueben Randle ran the wrong route or his line stinks, things are tough all over - you think HOF voters are going to give two shits about that.
So he's lacking in the accolade and season stat leading dept, but to me those are the least important boxes to check and 5 years post-retirement, the ones that should mean the least.
but it all adds up and by the time the vote rolls around it's hard to say how a QB will be remembered when all you have is a stat sheet and accolades.
The media makes up the majority of the voters for HOF - which unfortunately means narratives matter.
He has the longevity, numbers, has been a top 10 QB every season other than 2013 the past decade, and was the best QB in the post-season twice. He should be in. I just don't have a ton of faith in the Selection Committee.
To have 4 seasons of: low # of interceptions and a very high ratio of TDs to picks;
A high QBR rating, consistently;
At least 1, if not 2 SB wins.
A) He's NOT a media darling;
B) His history of negatives: picks, completion ratings, inconsistencies, his'faces';
C) Some media people still angry about the protected Daddys little boy SD situation.
Among the '04 class of Ben, Phillip, and Eli, Eli is the Rodney Dangerfield of the group.
To have 4 seasons of: low # of interceptions and a very high ratio of TDs to picks;
A high QBR rating, consistently;
At least 1, if not 2 SB wins.
A) He's NOT a media darling;
B) His history of negatives: picks, completion ratings, inconsistencies, his'faces';
C) Some media people still angry about the protected Daddys little boy SD situation.
Among the '04 class of Ben, Phillip, and Eli, Eli is the Rodney Dangerfield of the group.
I have to say...if at the end of his career he finishes with better numbers than his peers (because of any reason INCLUDING stayig on the field) and he in the top 4-7 in all these important categories, plus has 2 S8uper Bowl MVP's (or more) in a possible 20 year career for one team?
Why would he have to do anything but pop the BluRay in and point people to ProFootALL reference?
The thing is, if he had been concerned about stats and didn't throw up "jump balls" when we needed a big play (many of which became INTs) it would be less of a question mark. But those throws really cast him in a bad light.
People try to say well Romo has a better QBR. Romo has 1 playoff win (or is it two now). Big Ben won 2 SBs too. OK well Ben might go to the hall too but he didn't win a SB MVP and he had 3 tries. Rivers, no ring. Remember Eli's competition is whoever will retire within a few years of the time he retires as well. That's why I mention those QBs. He might have to compete a little with Rogers which will hurt him.
The question now is what does he have to do to ensure he's a first ballot HoFer. He's already a lock to make it in (pending some kind of scandal or criminal activity which is very unlikely with Eli).
He's racked up great numbers, and has two SB MVPs...blah, blah
He's never ever been dominant at his position, top five for periods of time, but mostly 5-10 or worse.....blah, blah
So pick your argument based on your opinion and go from there. My concern about letting ELi in: If he gets in, how do you keep all these other stat machines - Romo, Ryan, Rivers etc out?
That's my criteria for the HOF, not the numbers, but was the player the dominate player at their position during their playing career.
During Eli's playing time the dominate players at the QB position, just my opinion, have been Peyton, Brady, Brees, and Rodgers. All the rest are on the next level.
Think about any list for QB's made by jounalist or media. These four names all come up right at the top every time.
Eli's among the best ever (12th all time at 4.7%) in this category as well. To put that in some perspective, Roethlisberger has given up 730 yards more in sacks over his career than Eli, despite playing in 14 fewer games.
Sack % - ( New Window )
A HOF QB really should not have such a difficulty making the post season. Yes I know it's a team sport, but Eli's teammates also made enormous contribution -- indispensable contribution, really -- to the two titles on Eli's resume, his biggest claim to HOF admission.
2. If a QB threw for 3200 yards and 22 TDs in 1985 but was generally regarded as a top-3 QB for that season, then of course he's better than someone who threw for 4300 yards and 32 TDs in 2015 but was not generally not regarded as top-5.
So how many season, out of his 12, was Eli generally regarded as among the absolute best in his position? One. This is judged by fans, media, and his peers, and we can't just dismiss them all simply as haters and biased and ignorant.
A HOF QB really should not have such a difficulty making the post season. Yes I know it's a team sport, but Eli's teammates also made enormous contribution -- indispensable contribution, really -- to the two titles on Eli's resume, his biggest claim to HOF admission.
2. If a QB threw for 3200 yards and 22 TDs in 1985 but was generally regarded as a top-3 QB for that season, then of course he's better than someone who threw for 4300 yards and 32 TDs in 2015 but was not generally not regarded as top-5.
So how many season, out of his 12, was Eli generally regarded as among the absolute best in his position? One. This is judged by fans, media, and his peers, and we can't just dismiss them all simply as haters and biased and ignorant.
Not looking up all of them, but Namath only made the playoffs twice in 12 years and went the final 8 seasons of his career without an appearance.
Bobby Layne only 3 "playoff" appearances in his 15 year career, including none in his final 8 seasons. **pre-merger
Brees (not in, but close to a lock) with only 6 appearances in 15 seasons (Eli has 5 in 12 seasons). He's failed to make it in 3 of the last 4 seasons.
Fouts with only 4 in 15 seasons and only 3 postseason victories. He's got a 6 season of no playoff streak to start his career and a 5 season streak to end his career.
But HoF voting has a significant degree of subjectivity to it. This both helps and hurts Eli. On the positive side you have 2 SB wins/MVPs, including possibly the biggest SB win of them all, the Tyree, Plax and Manningham throws/catches, the absurd 2011 playoff run, etc. But on the other hand you have things like "Eli Manning face", some really boneheaded-looking plays and the draft day controversy.
Then you view him in light of his draft class. It's hard to separate the two. Rivers and Roethlisberger are just as accomplished, IMO. Even though Rivers never played in a SB, that's still largely a team issue. I think he's demonstrated that he's an elite quarterback who can win big games and be a dominant player for sustained stretches. Roethlisberger has 2 SB wins, though he played terribly in one of them, and has a big play aura about him. If any of them are on a ballot together, it'll be an interesting vote.
Also, while he's piled up the numbers, he never seemed to have that sustained stretch of absolute dominance or a monster statistical season like Aaron Rogers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees or Peyton Manning. But that also leads you to the fact that Eli's never missed a start in his career, which should help but may actually hurt if it leads voters to the "compiler" conclusion.
So many variable go into this, which makes it such an interesting discussion. I think the HoF is almost a given. The more interesting discussion is where does Eli fit in in the overall story of the NFL.
Will there ever be another family like the Manning family? 3 Quarterbacks, the two brothers being back to back Superbowl MVP's. Combining for a total of 4 Championships.
Will that ever happen again?
I also can't help but wonder how much better Eli's career numbers and achievements would look if he played in an offensive system like that of say, Norv Turner his whole career. Or even Ben McAdoo.
the only box he doesn't check is the least important one IMO and that is he was never considered "the best" of his generation by his peers or the media.
he just doesn't get respect.
He's never in an MVP discussion only four pro-bowls (I believe all as an alternate, one of them he was like the 7th NFC QB asked to go when the two selected couldn't play) and no all-pros.
He's never lead the league in yards in a season, TD's in a season, or other stats besides (game winning drives which is great, but not a main stream stat, and interceptions (3 times). People don't want to hear Rueben Randle ran the wrong route or his line stinks, things are tough all over - you think HOF voters are going to give two shits about that.
So he's lacking in the accolade and season stat leading dept, but to me those are the least important boxes to check and 5 years post-retirement, the ones that should mean the least.
but it all adds up and by the time the vote rolls around it's hard to say how a QB will be remembered when all you have is a stat sheet and accolades.
It's more than that pjacs that holds Eli back and also causes fans around the league to hold him in lower regard than some of his peers , most notably Roethlisberger and Rivers. Lots of people think it's his interceptions, but it's more than that too. It's what many of his interceptions have resulted in, his won/loss record and winning %.
Just looking at winning %:
Brady .764
Peyton .685
Roethlisberger.667
Rodgers .659
Favre .618
McNabb .607
Romo .602
Brees .573
Ryan .573
Rivers .568
Alex fucking Smith .560
Eli .541
Trent Dilfer .529
Eli is sandwiched inbetween Alex Smith above him and Trent Dilfer below in career winning %.
He's closer to Dilfer than he is to Rivers.
And that fairly takes away from his candidacy, like it or not.
BTW I think he'll get in, but he darn well better win at least one more SB.
As for career totals in yard,. TDs, and completions those arguing against him will see a stats accumulator, not a winner.
Also, compiler in football? It speaks to the strength of his candidacy that he answers the bell, week after week, playing a brutal game in a merciless media market and produces.
I can see some merit to the winning percentage argument, but he has also played his best in the biggest games, the best quality of a true winner. Also, winning percentage speaks to team performance. All these years, how often after a Giants' loss do you sit back and think Eli was the main culprit?
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he checks most of the boxes and with a few more good seasons should remove any doubt if there is any.
the only box he doesn't check is the least important one IMO and that is he was never considered "the best" of his generation by his peers or the media.
he just doesn't get respect.
He's never in an MVP discussion only four pro-bowls (I believe all as an alternate, one of them he was like the 7th NFC QB asked to go when the two selected couldn't play) and no all-pros.
He's never lead the league in yards in a season, TD's in a season, or other stats besides (game winning drives which is great, but not a main stream stat, and interceptions (3 times). People don't want to hear Rueben Randle ran the wrong route or his line stinks, things are tough all over - you think HOF voters are going to give two shits about that.
So he's lacking in the accolade and season stat leading dept, but to me those are the least important boxes to check and 5 years post-retirement, the ones that should mean the least.
but it all adds up and by the time the vote rolls around it's hard to say how a QB will be remembered when all you have is a stat sheet and accolades.
It's more than that pjacs that holds Eli back and also causes fans around the league to hold him in lower regard than some of his peers , most notably Roethlisberger and Rivers. Lots of people think it's his interceptions, but it's more than that too. It's what many of his interceptions have resulted in, his won/loss record and winning %.
Just looking at winning %:
Brady .764
Peyton .685
Roethlisberger.667
Rodgers .659
Favre .618
McNabb .607
Romo .602
Brees .573
Ryan .573
Rivers .568
Alex fucking Smith .560
Eli .541
Trent Dilfer .529
Eli is sandwiched inbetween Alex Smith above him and Trent Dilfer below in career winning %.
He's closer to Dilfer than he is to Rivers.
And that fairly takes away from his candidacy, like it or not.
BTW I think he'll get in, but he darn well better win at least one more SB.
As for career totals in yard,. TDs, and completions those arguing against him will see a stats accumulator, not a winner.
Fair point, but winning is something a QB can't do alone. No professional American sport is more a team sport than football. I've harped on this for a while. yes, the QB is the most influential player on the field, but football is NOT a game where the best player usually wins like basketball. QB's routinely get too much credit when their team wins and too much blame when they lose. How do you hear so often "Brady vs Manning has a record of x - y" who cares? they both play QB. brady plays against Peytons defense and Peyton plays against Brady's defense. Peyton vs. Brady h2h win loss record is almost meaningless (as an example).
Some very good QB's don't have great win/loss records and I don't know if voters would weight wins that heavily for a QB when considering him for the HOF
Maybe they will. I wouldn't.
I wouldn't blow up, I don't get upset about stuff like this, but Ben I could see some voters making a case for, his tea is always in the hunt, and he's got some good stats of his own in between his injuries, even though I disagree, Rivers isn't even really close, (in my mind at least) and he had some ridiculous offensive teams and doesn't have the career stats or post-season resume Eli does.