Eli Should Have Already Assumed The "Leadership" Role

Last year the New York Giants won the NFC East coming off of a Super Bowl victory with hardly any competition in the division during the regular season. Unfortunately they lost to the Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs, yet I can't seem to think that something was missing from last year. Could it be there was no leader?

Reportedly Eli Manning says he's ready to assume the leadership role of the New York Giants. "We're going to put more of the onus on him," Giants GM Jerry Reese said. That's great! Although, wasn't he supposed to be doing that already? I understand I can't be too hard on the guy because he won a Super Bowl, but I thought the quarterback was supposed to automatically be the leader of a team!

Manning has thrown for over 3000 yards the last three seasons, has thrown for over 20 touchdowns in that time, and also threw for 200 yards a game in those same three seasons. If you ask me, it sounds like he should have already been the leader on this team! He plays hard enough, the rest of the team follows his lead, and they live or die by the offense because the defense seems to be just fine.

"I think you got a quarterback going into his sixth year and . . . some young receivers," Manning told The Post Tuesday. "It's my job to make sure those guys are on the same page and my job to be a leader and take control of the offense and the passing game.

"As a quarterback you're always going to be a leader, but now I'm one of the older guys on the offense."

I guess really I don't have a beef unless being the leader hurts the play of Eli and the Giants, because right now if you are in New York, there is really no reason to root for fill in the blank and the Jets. However, if these Giants decide to fall I won't cry too hard, that means the Cowboys might have a shot.