The Super Bowl-Winning QB Is Now No. 2 in His Own Town

Just a thought as the New York Giants play on Monday Night Football:

Has a quarterback ever won a Super Bowl and had his stature in the city in which he plays diminished almost immediately?

It has happened to Eli Manning.

And he probably couldn't be happier about it.

Manning has been the No. 1 quarterback in New York ever since the Giants selected him with the top overall choice in the NFL draft in 2004. He became the Giants' starter just after the midway point of his rookie season, and he has been one of the most scrutinized athletes in pro sports ever since. He was a Manning. He was a top overall draft pick. He was playing quarterback in New York. And he wasn't living up to what he was supposed to be.

Until last season's playoffs, when he suddenly became the quarterback that the Giants had envisioned.

Now he's a Super Bowl champion.

But he's also the No. 2 quarterback in town, with Brett Favre having arrived to take over the Jets.

The guess here is that Manning isn't the least bit annoyed. He always has been uncomfortable in the brightest of spotlights, even though he learned to handle it. More than once, I've heard him answer a question by reporters surrounding his locker, and then ask them if he did a good job of talking without actually saying anything. If Favre takes over the back pages of the New York tabloids, it might provide some relief for Manning.

By Mark Maske |  August 18, 2008; 9:12 PM ET  | Category:  Giants , Jets
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