Yesterday, Pete cited the article written by CHFF’s KerryByrne for a good part of his reasoning in why the Super Bowl XLVI triumph was less than satisfying. Pete is one of 6 contributors to this NY Giants blog, and his opinions are based on a unique perspective that are going to be different with that of others. The comments received yesterday were predictable. Everyone has their own perspective, and the only difference here is that I have the luxury of offering mine as part of a post. Consider it part of the zen of understanding the Giants in 2011, that we can have two posts on two successive days, two different viewpoints, two Furmans (Pete is my cousin), two generations, a little bit of yin and yang.
Truths that I hold to be evident, the cold hard football facts for all Giants fans and NFL fans to acknowledge:
1) THE GIANTS ARE SUPER BOWL XLVI CHAMPIONS.
2) STATISTICS HELP US LEARN BUT THEY WILL NEVER EXPLAIN INTANGIBLES.
3) THE GIANTS GOT LUCKY. LUCK IS 20% OF FOOTBALL.
4) IT IS BETTER TO BE LUCKY AND GOOD THAN UNLUCKY AND GREAT.
5) COUGHLIN GETS ALL THE CREDIT FOR AFTERBURNER AND TWO SUPER BOWL TITLES.
6) THE GIANTS WERE THE BEST TEAM AT THE MOMENT IT MATTERED MOST.
7) FREE AGENCY MAKES THE PLAYOFF BYE WORTH A LOT LESS.
8) LINEBACKER STILL MATTERS PLENTY.
9) REESE HAS MADE MISTAKES, BUT THE COACHES AND PLAYERS GET EVEN MORE CREDIT FOR COVERING UP THOSE MISTAKES.
10) FREE AGENCY HAS MADE THE NFL A WEAKER PRODUCT BECAUSE THE REGULAR SEASON DOES MATTER LESS.
In 2008, as Giants fans, we did not feel that the best team won Super Bowl XLIII. That goes the same for Aaron Rodgers for Super Bowl XLVI. It is not very much more complicated than that. So I laughed when I heard that Rodgers was essentially biting his lip, unwilling to acknowledge that he or his team failed. Rodgers believes his team is rightfully better than the Giants. TFB. We on this site were just as apoplectic about the playoff loss to the Eagles. We all had our culprits- be it Eli in the wind, Plaxico’s bullet, Gilbride not adjusting to Johnson’s pressure… And I am sure that Rodgers has his- 7 drops, a defense that completely F’D up at the end of the first half, yada yada. Pete grew up in a world where the best team for an entire season was the Super Bowl Champion. Now, in 2012, the best team in the playoffs is the Super Bowl Champion, so you just have to get to the playoffs. That is the way the world works in 2012. The Giants were fortunate to have been 9-7, to have been outscored during the season, yet still manage to make the playoffs. It probably drives many Eagles and Cowboys fans crazy knowing how they too could have easily been in the playoffs, if for just one less mistake here or there. But that is exactly the way we as Giants fans felt in 2008, and even in 2010. You have to be handed some breaks, but then you have to have the courage to walk through the door. You have to have the courage to be great. The Giants have that courage. The Giants are Super Bowl Champions.
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