Phil Simms (Getty Images)
Charlie Conerly
CREAM OF THE CROP:Eli Manning, heading to his second Super Bowl, rates as the greatest quarterback in Giants history, surpassing the likes of Phil Simms and Charlie Conerly, Post columnist Steve Serby says. (
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It has forever been my contention that if Jim Kelly is in the Hall of Fame, then Phil Simms belongs in Canton as well.
Because of his toughness, because of his leadership, because of his longevity, because he stunned the Broncos in Super Bowl XXI with the greatest passing performance in the history of The Show, up until today I have recognized him as The Greatest Quarterback in Giants History.
Better than Charlie Conerly. Better than Y.A. Tittle. Better than Fran Tarkenton.
That distinction now belongs to Eli Manning.
The eras are different, the rules are different, quarterbacks nowadays seem to be able to throw for 4,000-plus yards in their sleep . . . but 10 comes before 11.
Simms shot down the young John Elway in Pasadena 25 years ago.
Impressive.
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Manning outlasted Tom Brady in Glendale four years ago.
Touche.
Simms brought the 1990 Giants to the brink of the playoffs before a foot injury ended his season, and forced Bill Parcells to summon Jeff Hostetler to win him Super Bowl XXV.
Manning is the first Giants quarterback to take his team to two Super Bowls.
Simms had a 6-4 record in the playoffs.
Manning has a 7-3 record in the playoffs.
Simms had a quarterback rating of 78.5.
Manning’s QB rating is 82.1.
Simms had a 95-64 regular-season record, with 199 touchdowns, 157 interceptions, 33,462 yards and a 55.4 completion percentage.
Manning has a 69-50 regular-season record, with 185 TDs, 129 INTs, 27,579 yards and 58.4 completion percentage.
But the numbers do not tell the entire story.
Simms overcame an early injury-prone rap to stand up fearlessly to the Big Bad Eagles of Buddy Ryan and the intimidation of Ronnie Lott.
From the time he was anointed starter in the 10th game of his rookie 2004 season, Manning has not missed a game. Not a one. He shows up every time there is a game on the schedule. And he shows up prepared.
While Simms was fire, Manning is ice. Manning leads by example, but there isn’t a soul inside his locker room who doesn’t willingly follow that example.
Simms endured the pressures that are inherent in being a first-round pick, and a surprise one at that, and raged at Parcells for sitting him in favor of Scott Brunner.
Manning wasn’t merely a first-round pick, he entered the NFL as the son of a famous NFL quarterback, as the little brother of Peyton Manning, as a brat, in some people’s eyes, for John Elwaying his way out of San Diego so he could play in New York for the Tom Coughlin Giants. Simms, fortunately for him, never had to live up to the great expectations of a big brother.
Simms was a relentless gym rat in the weight room. I spent many a night waiting in the cold and dark of the Giants’ parking lot waiting for him to finish his last squat and head home.
Manning is a relentless gym rat in the film room.
Manning has more explosive receivers (Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz) than Simms ever had, but do not forget that Simms had Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson watching his back in 1986 and Bill Belichick in 1990. Manning had Jeremy Shockey as his tight end, but Simms had Mark Bavaro.
Manning, over the past three seasons, has had to nurture a corps of young, talented receivers because Plaxico Burress shot his Giants career and repeat Super Bowl dream in the leg. And has made all of them better.
Defenders are bigger, stronger and faster, but Simms had to play against the 1985 Bears and violent, vicious Ryan Eagles. Simms had Joe Morris to run the ball and a more conservative coaching philosophy that championed the smash-mouth cause of Northeast corridor football. Manning this season was saddled with the NFL’s worst rushing attack.
Manning, like Simms, gives his team the belief it can win any game, anytime, anywhere, anyhow if necessary. But Simms was not asked to deliver as many magical fourth-quarter moments as Manning has been, especially this season.
In an effort to temper the expectations on his son, Archie Manning suggested several years ago that Eli try to accomplish what Simms had accomplished as the Giants quarterback instead of setting the unrealistic goal of trying to duplicate Peyton’s Hall of Fameness. Eli sure resembled Simms Sunday night in San Francisco, getting knocked down again and again, and getting right back up every time.
Giants fans have begun casting him in a far different light than the one they shined on him whenever his shoulders slumped and he looked as if someone had stolen his lunch money. They see him as their Peyton now. It was Peyton, remember, who predicted after Super Bowl XLII that Eli would win multiple Super Bowls. He will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the second time if he beats Tom Brady and the Pats again. And there isn’t a Giants fan who doesn’t think he can’t do it.