BY SHAWN KRAUSE
Now that Super Bowl XLVI has ended in dramatic fashion, you have to put both Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin into a possible Hall of Fame induction process. It wasn't easy for the Giants, but as the season went along nothing came easy for the Giants. They were 7-7 heading into December, then after a come from behind win in Dallas on a Sunday night their season turned around. Just like in that night in Dallas, the Giants had to come from behind in the fourth quarter to win the Super Bowl. It took a phenomenal throw and catch by Hakeem Nicks along the sideline to spur the comeback. Then with 57 seconds left in the game Ahmad Bradshaw scored the game winning touchdown. The Patriots had a chance earlier in the fourth quarter but Wes Welker dropped a pass that he almost always seems to catch. N.E. had to punt and then Manning goes into Super Bowl lore, with the game winning drive. Now Manning has 2 Super Bowl titles, and 2 MVP awards to go with it.
After the confetti is cleaned up from Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts have a major decision to make on the future of the quarterback position. Even though Eli won the Super Bowl, his brother Peyton will dominate the headlines this offseason as the Colts have to make a 28 million dollar decision. I personally think the choice is already made and Peyton's option will not be picked up and he will become a free agent. While the line will form to the left on Peyton pursuers, the potential teams could be Washington, Arizona, Jets, and maybe Miami. He will not go to a place where they can't win right away. If the Colts release Manning I look for them to draft Andrew Luck out of Stanford. Luck has already said he doesn't want to sit behind someone and wants to play right away. If they keep Manning I think they will draft Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Robert Griffin III. Griffin said he wouldn't mind sitting and waiting his turn.
The other intriguing storyline of the offseason is who is gonna be able to dethrone the defending champions. The NFC is loaded with talented teams, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Francisco, Detroit, Chicago(with a healthy Jay Cutler), Philadelphia, and yes I will go on a limb and say Dallas pose a major threat to the Giants. I guess Washington, and Arizona would be listed as an alternate mentions depending on if they get Peyton Mannning or not. Dallas is the major wild card in the challenge for the Giants. If they can get some help through the draft and free agency to fix a defense that melted down late in games. You have to put them right near the top of the NFC class. They were 8-8 last season but blew 3 winnable games late in the 4th quarter and could have easily been 11-5. They have all the pieces in places like the above mentioned teams, with a top level quarterback, and had the Giants on the ropes during the regular season. Lets not forget they also beat San Francisco on the road, who was in the NFC championship game.
All it takes, as the Giants showed, is a top level quarterback and a defense that gets hot in December and magic can happen. Not since the Patriots won 3 Super Bowls in 4 years has a team went back to back. The last 7 years have given us 7 different Super Bowl winners. The odds are stacked against the Giants, but as we saw this year in the National Football League anything is possible.
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