New York Giants legend Eli Manning is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility and many believe he will be voted in.
However, Manning’s candidacy has long been a hot topic. The debate began before his retirement and it rages to this day. Even the Hall of Fame voters expect “fireworks” when his nomination is discussed in the coming weeks.
Manning is well aware of the discrepancy that exists when viewing his career with an outside lens and claims to understand each side of the debate.
“I feel like this has been an argument going on for even longer than five years, of whether I’ll get in or not. You know, I’ve seen a few of the arguments, and hey, I understand both sides of it,” Manning told the New York Post.
Of course, Manning would like to be enshrined in Canton during his first attempt but if that doesn’t happen — or it doesn’t happen at all — the two-time Super Bowl MVP vows not to sulk.
“I guess it’s different just because it’s all out of your hands, you’re not campaigning for it, you’re not trying to talk to people about it or prove your point,” Manning said. “If I get in, it will be an awesome, unbelievable few days down in New Orleans, and if I don’t, it’s not going to ruin it for me. I’m not going to be in a bad mood, I’m not going to be sulking around. Just to be included in the top 15 this year is a great honor, and so I look at all of this as positive and a fun experience.
“It’s not going to change how I think about my football career and what playing football has meant to me, what playing for the Giants has meant for me and what it’s provided for me. To be amongst the best to ever do it would be an unbelievable honor. It truly would. But if it doesn’t happen this year or if it doesn’t ever happen, it’s still not going to change how I feel about the game and about the NFL and about my time as a player.”
Manning deserves the Hall of Fame but the voters may not see it the same way. His regular season legacy pales in comparison to his playoff legacy and that is largely viewed as a negative by some.
That may seem backwards but they’re the ones holding Manning’s fate in their hands.
