New York next Giants of NFL? They certainly fit the bill
By Mike Freeman | CBSSports.com National Columnist Follow MikeThere was an interesting scene described by a New York radio station this week and it involved Jets fans behaving in a civilized manner.
Stunning, I know.
|
|
| Give Tom Coughlin credit for changing to fit his team. (Getty Images) |
Players from the Giants traversed through crowds of Jets fans on their way to the field. Yet Jets fans -- probably the second most abuse generating, middle finger raising, f-bomb tossing fans in football with only Eagles fans possessing a higher-quality Ph.D. in team abuse -- treated the Giants players quite well.
Could it be that the Giants are so good even Jets fans respect them?
OK, maybe that's going too far.
If Jets fans don't respect the Giants, they should. So should the rest of the NFL.
That's because the Giants just might be the next great pro football dynasty.
They're the best bet to become the next New England Patriots.
It's only a matter of time before another dynasty is born despite the lack of potential candidates. There are only three: Pittsburgh, Denver and the Giants.
The Giants have the best opportunity because of the combination of these factors:
They have the young quarterback: The Patriots have Tom Brady and the Giants Eli Manning. There was a time when putting the name of those two men in the same sentence would cause a run on the banks and nationwide vomiting. Not anymore.
Quarterback is probably the most important dynastic component. Manning isn't Brady but he has a ring and continues to play brilliantly. If he wins a Super Bowl this season you have to start wondering if he'll be the better Manning brother.
They have the coach: I've said this before and it's still true: Bill Belichick is the best coach in NFL history. He's the engineer of the New England dynasty. Tom Coughlin isn't that good but he's good, borderline great, and I was one of the media members who once believed he was overrated. I was wrong.
Coughlin did something all dynastic coaches excel at and that's adapt. He changed from Gunnery Sergeant Hartman to a more flexible leader.
Michael Strahan told me last year: "I used to hate him, now I love the guy."
That just about says it all.
|
|
| OPE: Why does the media always fall for this early season success trap? The G-men are four games in to their season, and they have a look of dynasty? Let's wait until they at least win a second Super Bowl, OK? They certainly were very fortunate in winning last year. If Asante Samuel doesn't drop that poorly thrown ball for an interception the Pats would be champs and Eli would be a chump. Eli is improving, but is no where near the top level of play, like Peyton, Brady, and a few others. He is still a second-tier quarterback in my mind. |
|
|
| Mike Freeman: You're missing the point, Ope. This isn't solely about the Giants' success now. It's about where they've been (the Super Bowl) and how well the organization is being run now. Smart drafting, smart running of the salary cap, and Eli is terrific. If you think Eli is a punk, then you don't know football. He might be the third best pass thrower in the sport. Stick to lacrosse, Ope. |
| Click here for more Community reaction |
They have the personnel guru: The Patriots' Scott Pioli is one of the smartest men in football. He and Belichick mostly built their dynasty through the draft. Jerry Reese, the general manager of the Giants, is pretty bright too. You know a front office is doing well when in the span of a few months it absorbs losses like Strahan to retirement, Osi Umenyiora to an exploded knee and Jeremy Shockey to a big mouth then still start the season 4-0.
The other thing both front offices have in common is respect for the salary cap.
Reece is a mini-Pioli and has the potential to be better.
They have the luck: All dynasties do. The Giants have had plenty. See: Tyree, David, and the curious case of the football glued to his head.
Don't read this and start measuring me for a straight jacket just yet.
None of this means the Giants will become a dynasty, but there isn't a team that fits post-Patriots dynastic qualifications better than the Giants. Not one.
Just try to name one.
