For sometime, even before New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning announced his retirement, there has been a debate over whether he should be elected to the Hall of Fame. After all the critics say, he finished with a .500 record as quarterback. Supporters of Manning’s Canton, OH bid say his two Super Bowl victories should seal the deal for his election. With Jimmy Garoppolo’s performance in Super Bowl LIV, I think we can put the former argument to rest.
Manning belongs in the hall, pure and simple. Take nothing away from Garoppolo, who has two Super Bowl rings, serving as Tom Brady’s caddy in New England. And for three quarters against the Chiefs on Sunday night, he was nearly superb. But when it came to crunch time, Garoppolo did not execute and until he can prove otherwise – and he is only 28 so he has time – his performance will be measured against those who can. And Manning proved he can.
His two championship rings were the result of his late-game drives against New England. When it came to crunch time, with a world watching and dissecting his every move, Manning came through. That is the measure of a champion and Manning did it not once but twice.
So let’s end the babble about Eli Manning’s Hall of Fame qualifications. If there was any debate, that issue has been put to rest, thanks to Garoppolo’s fourth quarter meltdown. Until the 49ers quarterback can prove otherwise, he will have to live with “what might have been”. Manning may have regrets, but his performances when it mattered should not be among them. Two Super Bowl rings, delivered at crunch time against a perennial champion no less, are more than enough to punch his ticket to Canton.
