Quote:
Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3
Something is wrong with the Giants, do they not look at his completion percentage or int's?
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I think the Giants are looking forward and you're looking backwards. No QB has played under more media and fan scrutiny in the last five years than Eli -- and there was a lot to scrutinize up until about half-way through the 2007 season.
But since then, he's led the Giants to a Super Bowl win, their fourth consecutive playoff appearance last year (first time in over a half-century), and had a career year in terms of QB rating, comp. %, and interceptions.
There's no way he's the best QB in the NFL, but up until today, he was probably the best QB without a long-term contract... you can compare his numbers to McNabb, Rivers, or Delhomme... but none of them have Super Bowl rings and ultimately that's the most important stat. The fact that he's been able to get better and better under such a microscope in NYC sets him apart from his peers as well.
So the Giants had to either pay up or risk losing or franchising him after this season. And while they certainly paid A LOT of money for him, it doesn't seem out of line with the market rate for franchise QBs. Matt Stafford got $72 million before playing a down. Matt Cassel got $63 million after an 11-win, non-playoff season. So $97 million for a 5-year starter who has gotten better and better and has won a Super Bowl seems pretty much right on to me.
He'll miss Plax and Toomer, but the Giants have a very deep, young group of receivers and one of the best running games in the league. I don't think he'll miss a beat.... (and this is coming from a non-Giants fan).