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The Top 10 Head Coaches in the NFL Today
Published: August 11, 2009
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When you look at the 32 coaches in the NFL for 2009, there are a lot of new faces on teams; the Colts, Rams, Buccaneers, Jets, Chiefs, Broncos and Lions all have brought in first year head coaches and the Seahawks and Browns made coaching changes, but brought in experienced NFL head coaches.
So, who are the top NFL current head coaches going into the 2009 season?
This list will show you who has had the most success of the current ones.
Note: I could not put on the Dolphins Tony Sparano, the Falcons Mike Smith and the RavensJohn Harbaugh because they have only coached one season with their teams and need more time to establish themselves, despite their success in 2008.
Eli Manning Worth Every Penny of New Contract
Published: August 5, 2009
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On Wednesday, the Giants and Eli Manning agreed to a six-year, $97.5 million dollar contract, making him the third highest paid player in the NFL.
A lot of people have been critical of Manning getting such a big contract. One writer on Bleacher Report said in his story that it made little sense for Eli to get that type of deal.
This article is to oppose his, because Eli is worth the contract.
Since becoming the starter for the Giants in 2004, Eli has a 42-29 regular season record and a 4-3 record in the postseason.
Before Manning, the Giants had missed the postseason two straight times, which included his rookie season, but Kurt Warner was the original starter in 2004.
Since Eli became the full-time starter, the Giants have made the playoffs each year he’s been the quarterback from 2005-2008.
Making the playoffs and giving your team the best chance to win a championship shows your worth the big contract.
Now, Manning did have growing pains while trying to establish himself as a top quarterback. During the 2007 season, Eli threw 20 interceptions to go along with a 56.1 completion percentage. But because the Giants established the teamwork method and one of the league’s best running attacks, they finished 10-6 and a Wild Card berth.
Before the 2008 playoffs, people questioned whether Manning could even win in the postseason. He was 0-2 in 2006 (Panthers) and 2007 (Eagles).
Manning took apart the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, going 20-for-27 with 185 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-14 win and now, Manning showed he can win in the playoffs.
The came the third game against the Dallas Cowboys, where Dallas beat them twice already in the regular season. This time was different. Dallas was up 14-7 with minutes to go before the first half where Manning threw a bomb to Amani Toomer to score a touchdown to make it 14-14 and swing the momentum of the the game.
He went 12 of 18 for 163 yards and two touchdowns and Tony Romo’s last second interception clinched another Giants win in the playoffs 21-17.
The third game was going to be toughest in Green Bay because it was minus three degrees in Wisconsin. Playing in the House of Favre at Lambeau Field, Manning was matched up against the Packers and Brett Favre in frigid conditions.
Did it stop Manning? Nope. Manning went 21-for-40 with 215 yards, no touchdowns, but no interceptions either. No picks in minus three degree weather where the ball is like a brick is quite impressive and Eli ended up outplaying Favre, who had three interceptions, the last one gave the Giants back the ball in overtime and allowed Lawrence Tynes to kick the game-winning 46 yard field goal to win 23-20 and send the Giants to the Super Bowl.
Now comes Super Bowl 42 against the 18-0 Patriots and Tom Brady, the three-time Super Bowl winner and two-time Super Bowl MVP. Manning looked to be over-matched. Manning was given the ball on the 18-yard line with less than three minutes to go in the fourth quarter trailing 14-10.
Manning was driving the field, showing he was able to put the game in his hands when needed. Manning somehow escaped three Patriot defenders and launched a hail-mary to David Tyree in what is perhaps the greatest catch of NFL history to continue the Giants championship drive. On third and 11, Manning completed a pass to Steve Smith to pick up a first down and got out of bounds to stop the clock with :39.
Then came the play. Manning takes the snap and throws a fade route to the back of the end zone to Plaxico Burress and has now put the Giants ahead 17-14 with :35 to go.
You know the rest. The Patriots get the ball. A Jay Alford sack and three incomplete passes by Brady and now, the Giants are Super Bowl 42 Champions. Manning was 19-for-34 with 255 yards and two huge touchdown passes and was named Super Bowl MVP. Yes, that’s right. Super Bowl MVP. Not just a Super Bowl winner, but MVP. Nothing anyone can ever say or do will take away that honor.
Manning went from a season of mistakes and criticism to a postseason of being honored as a hero and a quarterback who can win the pressure-packed games.
Eli’s confidence only grew in the 2008 season, where he took the Giants to a 12-4 record and an NFC East division crown, his second one as Giants quarterback; plus their fourth straight playoff appearance.
Manning threw 21 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions and had a 60-percent completion rating, a big improvement from a season ago. The Giants were 11-1 in their first 12 games in 2008 and ranked No. 1 in the NFL.
Despite the Plaxico Burress shooting incident, the Giants were able to make the playoffs and win the division, but Burress’ hole in the offense made a difference and changed the entire face of it because the offensive passing game was centered around Burress. Manning did not throw a single touchdown in the last five games and they lost in the playoffs 23-11 to the Eagles.
Most people didn’t blame Manning for the loss, but Burress because his incident caused a distraction so large and so big, it became too big to overcome. Game changing receivers are almost impossible to replace because guys like Domenik Hixon were not Burress and it showed.
Despite the loss, this is still Manning’s team. Jerry Reese has been able to build an offense around Manning, giving him a great offensive line, a great running attack, and two new wide receivers who could help Manning if they are properly developed in Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden.
If Hixon can recover from his late-season blunders, he too could develop into a good speed threat, as can Mario Manningham. Smith is already developed into the dependable third down receiver. Kevin Boss has become a weapon at tight end replacing Jeremy Shockey. And we all know what Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw can do in the backfield.
But, this is Eli Manning’s team. He’s the main captain and he’s the face of the franchise and all of the NFL knows it.
Ask yourself this, with your team down 20-19 and two minutes are left, who do you want in the game, Eli or Tony Romo? Eli or Donovan McNabb? If you answered Romo or McNabb, shame on you. Because Eli should be your answer.
Eli has shown he is un-phased by the pressure of the big games. He has confidence and coolness that can’t be broken. Give him the ball in the fourth quarter and let him work magic.
Manning’s only 28 and has plenty of NFL career left in him with the Giants. More than likely, he’ll also be providing more postseason moments for the Giants as well since they are favored to be the best team in the NFC this season and are built for the future.
All the nay-sayers can believe what they want, but the Giants have found and locked up their quarterback for the long haul.
Oh, and he’s worth every penny of it, too.
