To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln from his Gettysburg Address, the world will little note nor long remember that Eli Manning was the first-round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers in 2004.
Nor will most of the world remember what Ernie Accorsi, former general manager of the New York Giants, said when he made a blockbuster deal to acquire Manning from the Chargers that draft day.
Accorsi said, "There are two types of teams in the NFL — those that have quarterbacks and those that are looking for quarterbacks."
The Giants have their quarterback.
And after their victory over Green Bay on Sunday in Green Bay, it is impossible not to recall the Giants of 2007, when they won the NFC championship in Green Bay.
Then, they spoiled the New England Patriots' perfect season with a 17-14 victory in Super Bowl XLII.
Comparisons to the 2007 season abound.
"We can't keep talking about 2007," said Giants linebacker/defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. "This is a brand new team."
Not exactly.
Manning still is the quarterback. Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck are the anchors of the defensive line. Coach Tom Coughlin, once gruff, now kinder and gentler (by comparison, anyway), remains in place.
The Giants must win at San Francisco Sunday to advance to Super Bowl XLVI and play the winner of the Baltimore-New England game (hint: It will be the Patriots).
The Giants have been built for postseason success.
They have the quarterback, running backs and wide receivers.
But what separates the Giants from other teams, especially in the compact schedule of the playoffs, is their defensive front four.
When they beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, many remember the amazing (some might say lucky) catch made by David Tyree to keep the Giants' game-winning drive alive.
But the determining factor in the contest was the constant pressure the Giants put on Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady.
Some of the names have changed, but the Giants' pressure remains the same. The Giants' outstanding defense means the offense can be patient, knowing it does not have to score on every possession to win.
"That is based on getting pressure out of a limited number of rushers," Coughlin said. "And we're getting it."
It's premature to crown the Giants as this season's NFL champions. They must win at San Francisco, and the 49ers are a talented defensive team.
But the Giants aren't intimidated by road games. They once stared down seemingly invincible New England and discovered the Patriots had not been completely submerged in the River Styx.
"I think we're a dangerous team," Coughlin said.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is in trouble.
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