[coggs]

It is definitely too much for Eli, and I do not like this contract. In a nutshell, Eli is not nearly as good as A LOT of Giants want to believe, but he is not nearly as bad as most non-giant fans seem to think. The Defense was the main reason they won, most of all because of the pass rush. Not sure any other team in the NFC could have beaten the Pats as they wouldn't have been able to get the kind of pressure on Brady like the Giants. Maybe Dallas, but that is about it. As far as offense, that game was a classic team effort. Jacobs and the OLine converted the 4th and 1 on the last drive. Steve Smith caught a pass on 3rd and 11 and got to the sticks and out of bounds. Tyree with his head catch (and the first TD), Burress the game winning TD with one knee. However, there wasn't one single player who jumped out as having a performance that was head and shoulders above anyone else. I thought the MVP should have been given to the entire D-Line, but you know they would never do such a thing, or the corners who shut down Randy Moss for most of the night. Wes Welker had a big game, but he is not going to hurt a team like Moss as was proven. Fans who really know the game of football could make an argument for about 6 or 7 different Giants for MVP. Tuck (2 sacks), Strahan (1 sack and on Brady all night), Steve Smith (5 catches, including the big 3rd and 11 conversion), Tyree (the head catch, 1st TD), Eli, Plaxico Burress (only 2 receptions, but the game winning TD and anyone with real football knowledge knows how he caused DC's to change their game plan), Toomer had 6 or 7 catches and just under 100 yards receiving. Like I said, no one really has anything that just jumps out at you and make you say, "WOW, that is the MVP." Could even make a case for Wes Welker and his 45 catches for 100+ yards.

I'd rather see he can win without Burress and handle the Meadowlands winds in November and December before giving that kind of cash. Hixon definitely has the speed to be the deep threat this season, but after his awful drop in the regular season loss to the Eagles last year, he didn't really get another shot. Seemed like the Giants were afraid to try and stretch the field. Without Burress and Toomer, you have to think the young guys (Smith, Hixon, Manningham, Moss, Nicks, Barden) are going to come in wanting the #1 or #2 receiver role which hopefully drives these guys to bust their asses. My guess is the season starts with Hixon as the #1, Steve Smith as the #2, Nicks as the #3 and Barden as your goal line jump ball guy. Barden is the guy out of Cal-Poly they took in the 3rd round who is about 13 feet tall.