NFL dynasties have become tougher than ever to maintain. If the New York Giants hope to win a second straight Super Bowl title and a third in six years, they’ll have to keep the following key players healthy and productive – in order of increasing importance – including one who’s already hurt, whom they will need back as soon as possible.
10. RB David Wilson
Is it crazy to put a rookie who has yet to play an NFL game that counts on this list? Maybe, but expect this first-round draft pick to make an early impact as the durability of player in front of him, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, remains a constant uncertainty each season. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Wilson ultimately supplant Bradshaw as the Giants’ #1 back, which means he’d be too valuable to lose.
9. P Steve Weatherford
Field position is drastically undervalued sometimes, and the improvement that Weatherford gave the Giants in that area was invaluable last year. This workout fiend keeps himself in too great shape to get hurt, but you never know with injuries in the NFL, and the Giants would sorely miss him if he did get hurt.
8. CB Terrell Thomas
The Giants won the Super Bowl last year without their leading tackler from the prior year. Trying to do that two years in a row wouldn’t be impossible, but it could be extremely tough, especially with fellow CB Prince Amukamara due to miss several weeks at the start of the season for the second straight year. Unfortunately for New York, Thomas, during camp in late July this year, had already re-aggravated a right ACL that he tore last preseason (which forced him to miss all of last season), and which he tore while at USC in 2005. Thomas is expected to miss at least the first half of this season, but the Giants desperately need him back sooner than later.
7. LB Michael Boley
There was a vast difference – from simply mediocre to Super Bowl championship caliber – in the way the Giants’ entire defensive unit performed last season when they had their normal signal caller at linebacker, and when they didn’t.
6. DE Justin Tuck
When Tuck is healthy, he’s dominant. When he’s dominant, he helps to produce possibly the best pass rush in the league, one that is the heart and soul of the Giants’ defense. And, off of last year, he’s a leader who in camp earlier this year, was already talking about the Giants building a possible dynasty.
5. OG Chris Snee
For quarterback Eli Manning to stay as great as he’s been, he obviously needs protection. Although the Giants’ entire offensive like is vital to their success, and David Diehl has been part of that for a long time, the son-in-law of Giants’ head coach Tom Coughlin is the one veteran leader who anchors it all.
4. WR Victor Cruz
Although Cruz has the Giants’ all-time single season yardage record for a receiver (set last year), Nicks is still the top option. But, every #1 needs a great #2 to compliment him well, and Cruz does that and then some. Another “must have” who can’t go down.
3. WR Hakeem Nicks
Many things – especially the play of Nicks – collectively helped the Giants get to Green Bay last January, but would the G-Men have beaten the Packers and ultimately won another Super Bowl without Nicks? Highly doubtful. Good thing his latest injury happened in May, with plenty of time to heal.
2. DE Jason Pierre-Paul
The letters JPP could have easily translated to some others, as in DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year) last season (he was, in my mind). That, and the fact that the Giants’ defense revolves around their pass rush makes Pierre-Paul indispensable.
1. QB Eli Manning
Almost by default, the starting quarterback will be #1 on this type of list for most teams, but go back and watch last season all the way through, from Week 1 through Manning’s Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XLVI, and see how crystal clear the choice is to put Manning at the top of this list for the Giants. He wasn’t just the MVP in the league’s biggest game for a second time, Manning was the Giants’ team MVP throughout the season.
