The one factor controversial about Eli Manning’s legacy is the Corridor of Fame debate itself.
Manning’s greatness in a few of the largest moments in NFL historical past is unquestioned. So are his two Tremendous Bowl rings, his two Tremendous Bowl MVPs, his admirable sturdiness and his fame as a terrific consultant of himself, the Giants and the league.
It’s the argument over Manning’s case for Canton that attracts out the criticism and push again.
The insistence that Manning have to be enshrined alongside the likes of Joe Montana, John Elway, Dan Marino and his brother, Peyton, is what invitations the holes that get poked in Manning’s resume, main along with his 117-117 (.500) profession common season file.
Eradicate the talk about Manning’s worthiness to qualify the Corridor of Fame, although, and there’s no want to call the negatives.
For one, he may find yourself getting in subsequent yr or in 2027 anyway. And if that occurs, nobody will care that it took two or three years. Nobody will maintain it towards him. And Manning may have a gold jacket, which nobody will be capable of take it away from him.
But when this yr’s voting is an indication that Manning would possibly by no means qualify, would possibly by no means discover his bust alongside different legends in Ohio, there may be nothing fallacious with that, both.
As a result of if Manning by no means will get into the Corridor of Fame, his legacy will stay intact.
He’ll nonetheless be a hero of one of many league’s landmark franchises, the person who delivered two of the most important throws in NFL historical past to David Tyree and Mario Manningham, the ironman who began 210 consecutive video games.
And he’ll nonetheless be represented in Canton, as a result of the Corridor memorializes these historic moments, the Tremendous Bowls that outline eras and franchises and the sport’s historical past.
And no historical past of the NFL may be written with out the Giants’ 2007 toppling of the undefeated New England Patriots within the first chapter.
Admittedly, the truth that Manning didn’t even make it into the group of 10 finalists — after qualifying for the ultimate 15 — may very well be regarding for his possibilities sooner or later.
There was an apparent divide between passionate objectors and supporters, in keeping with voters who have been part of the dialogue. And the dissenters merely wouldn’t yield on the truth that Manning was by no means really probably the greatest gamers at his place whereas he was taking part in.
There’s a whole lot of fact to that time.
Most Corridor of Famers, within the truest sense of the title, are gamers who have been clearly future Corridor of Famers once they have been taking part in.
They have been the cream of the crop, gamechangers who put concern into the opposition, who gave their workforce a definite benefit each week, month and yr by way of the majority of their profession.
Manning by no means gained a single playoff sport out of these two Tremendous Bowl runs.
That is what the Corridor of Fame debate over Manning does, although: when you add his Canton case to the dialog, it turns into a scenario of for and towards. And perhaps it clarifies for New Yorkers that there’s a distinct distinction between how Manning is considered domestically versus how he’s thought-about nationally.
Nonetheless, none of this minimizes Manning’s historic accomplishments, his reliability and sturdiness, his spectacular dealing with of being the face of New York soccer for thus lengthy.
If he have been by no means to get into the Corridor, hypothetically, Manning standing as one of the vital clutch gamers within the sport’s historical past, one of many centerpieces of two of essentially the most memorable championship runs, is sufficient.
It cements him as iconic in his personal distinctive means.
On the similar time, if Manning someday does don a gold jacket, nobody will begrudge him — as a result of his profession may have earned him the votes to make it so.
Both means, he stands as a central determine in NFL and Tremendous Bowl historical past.
The one factor controversial about Manning’s legacy is the Corridor of Fame debate itself.
