The defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants are 11-1 and possess the league’s highest scoring offense. At the helm of that explosive offense is strong-armed quarterback Eli Manning, the MVP of last year’s Super Bowl. And as the Giants continue to stockpile wins and Manning continues to lead his team into the endzone with remarkable frequency, it’s starting to look like that might not be the only MVP award that will grace the 27-year old quarterback’s mantle.

Eli Manning has also become a strong candidate for league MVP this season.

Peter Schrager of Fox Sports agrees. So do reporters from NBC Sports, The Sporting News, The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and other national and regional publications.

In the Giants decisive win on the road last week against Washington, Manning passed for 305 yards and a touchdown despite the loss of his top receiver, Plaxico Burress, who accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Manhattan nightclub two nights prior. Unfazed by the loss of his star receiver and the media circus that resulted from it, Manning calmly led the Giants offense to victory by completing 21 passes to 6 different receivers.

Many sportswriters are already predicting a repeat trip to the Super Bowl for Manning and the Giants. Some, like Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated, have recently gone as far as to suggest an All-Manning Bowl, in which Eli would take the field opposite his famous big brother, Peyton.

And when it comes to Eli Manning, no reporter in the world knows more than Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, whose new book Eli Manning: The Making of a Quarterback traces the young signal-caller’s career from his college days at Ole Miss up to his stunning Super Bowl triumph. As the Giants beat reporter for the Daily News, Vacchiano has covered every snap in every game and every practice that Manning has taken as a member of the Giants, and his revealing book is reflective of his unsurpassed knowledge of Manning and his football team.

Chapter thirteen of Eli Manning: The Making of a Quarterback is dedicated Plaxico Burress, who former Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi once called “the best free agent signing we ever made.” It examines, in depth Burress’ unlikely friendship with Manning, offering fascinating, first-hand insights into the troubled star’s enigmatic personality.

Ralph Vacchiano is available for immediate interview.

If you’d like to interview Ralph Vacchiano, or receive a review copy of his book, please email jhobbs@skyhorsepublishing.com or call 212-643-6816 x224

Malcontent Wideout More Distraction than Attraction

When the Giants were shopping Jeremy Shockey, the opinions ranged from one extreme to the other. What the Pro Bowl tight end brought to the table as far as receptions and blocking went were never disputed, but the multiple distractions he caused added up to make him expendable.

Big Blue rid themselves of one problem child when they pulled the trigger on the offseason trade of Shockey to New Orleans, but were still stuck with perhaps a bigger one in Plaxico Burress. The veteran wide receiver recently came back following a two-week suspension after playing hooky from practice and not even bothering to phone in.

Most reasonable people – even professional athletes – would be apologetic and remorseful, especially one that just signed a five-year, $35 million contract extension. But not Burress, who seemed defiant during a conference call on Monday.

“I don’t have any regrets for that at all,” he said. “I haven’t lost any sleep. I enjoyed my week off.” (more…)

Big Blue Looks to Avoid Super Bowl Hangover

With the start of NFL training camps, Between the Uprights will bring you a team-by-team breakdown of all 32 clubs vying for the Lombardi Trophy on February 1, 2009 in Tampa Bay. We will start with the NFC East and work our way around the league.

This time, they won’t be able to sneak up on anyone. The Patriots are still shaking their heads that the Giants were able to defeat them in Super Bowl XLII. No one saw that coming, even the Giants themselves.

The team did fine in the post-Tiki Barber era, and will have to become acclimated with losing another steady veteran with the retirement of Michael Strahan. Both may have been controversial, but brought it to the field every Sunday. Strahan will be more difficult to replace than Barber was.

Eli Manning won the respect that he longed for, and may have gained the confidence to put him in the upper echelons of NFL quarterbacks. The offense will be similar to last year’s, the only major difference being tight end Jeremy Shockey’s absence. With the team surviving the stretch run with rookie Kevin Boss, general manager Jerry Reese felt comfortable moving the Pro Bowler to New Orleans in exchange for draft choices. (more…)