Giants Franchise Five Eli Manning edges

Although the most recent three seasons tell a different story, the are one of the most winning franchises in NFL history. The Giants rank No. 3 all-time among all NFL franchises with eight NFL Championship titles. Only the (13) and the (9) have totaled more championships over their franchise's run than the Giants. New York racked up four of their eight championships in the pre-Super Bowl era (1927, 1934, 1938, 1956). In the post-Super Bowl era, the Giants have been victorious another four times (1986, 1990, 2007, Zydrunas Ilgauskas Jersey 2011). The Giants have also made more championship appearances than any other team in the NFL with 19 in total.Four Super Bowl victories and eight championships in total (third among all franchises) stand out when reflecting on the franchise's succe ses, but its longevity is what makes the Giants one of the NFL's most iconic and important franchises. The Giants were one of five teams to originally join the NFL in 1925 and they are the only team of that group that still remains in the league today.CBSSports.com's Franchise Five series dives into five most impactful people in each NFL's team history. Our rules here allow us to pick one head coach, one quarterback and three non-quarterback players. Let's take a look back at some of the men that have made this franchise one of the more special ones in the NFL.The Giants have had 29 players inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame and four players have earned regular season MVP honors, so it's not exactly an easy task. When it comes to the Giants, most of these selections were easy to make and unlikely to be contested with the exception of a couple. It wasn't hard to name arguably the greatest defensive player of all time to this list, or the coach who got the most out of him (and the rest of the roster), but we completed our five with the players we felt made the greatest impact on the team's succe s. If you have read any of my prior content on the Giants, you'll know Larry Johnson Jersey that I'm a staunch believer that winning starts up front. The skill players get all the glory -- especially in today's fantasy-driven landscape -- but they are nothing without their offensive line.So with that in mind, I spoke with CBS Sports' own Pete Prisco -- who grew up a Giants fan -- to see if there were any offensive linemen worthy of the five. Two names stood out immediately and after a solid debate, we came to an agreement on one of them.Without further ado, let's dive on into the Franchise Five and kick things off with one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history. Coach Bill ParcellsGiants tenure: 1983-1990Giants resume:Two-time Super Bowl championThree NFC East titlesLed team to best regular-season record ever (14-2)Ring of Honor inducteePro Football Hall of Fame inductee8-3 playoff recordOnly two losing seasons (*one losing season was during 1987 strike year)Before Parcells took over as the head coach, the Giants had enjoyed just one winning season in their last 10. Let that sink in for a moment. You see the results above, but the story of Parcells and the Giants could have gone a lot different. During his first season as head coach, Parcells made a controversial decision to shake things up and bench starting quarterback Phil Simms for Scott Brunner. The decision backfired and the Giants finished 3-12-1.During this disastrous season, there was movement behind the scenes. The Giants bra s was considering a change of guard and even offered University of Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger Parcells' job. Fortunately for the Giants, he declined. Over the next two seasons, Parcells turned back to Simms (immediately) and led the Giants to their first postseason appearances in consecutive seasons since 1961-1963. The very next season, the Giants went 14-2 and won Jarrett Allen Jersey their first Super Bowl under Parcells in 1986.Parcells stands out as the franchise's greatest coach for a multitude of reasons. He did an excellent job of getting the most out of his players with a hard-nosed coaching style, but he also understood and executed the Xs and Os on defense at a high level -- starting with his 3-4 base defense. Lawrence Taylor changed the game when it comes to rushing the pa ser, but Parcells was a Rodney Hood Jersey big factor in his development and the "big blue wrecking crew" defense. Super Bowl XXV proved to be Parcells' shining moment as a coach. His game-specific plan to take the air out of the ball against one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history was brilliant. The Giants held football via the run game, dominated the time of po se sion, and shortened the game's po se sions. The Giants at one point trailed by nine points, but a 75-yard touchdown drive that ripped off 9:29 seconds of the game clock took the air out of the . Running back Ottis Anderson was named Super Bowl MVP after rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.While Tom Coughlin matched Parcells in Super Bowl victories and playoff appearances, the overhaul under Parcells was more dramatic and he takes the top spot on our list.QB Giants tenure: 2004-2019Giants resume:Two-time Super Bowl ChampionTwo-time Super Bowl MVPMost pa sing yards in an NFL postseason (1,219 yards; 2011)Most fourth-quarter TD pa ses in a single season (15; 2011)Top-10 in career pa sing yards (No. 7), pa sing TD (No. 8), game-winning drives (No. 9)4x Pro BowlerWalter Payton Man of the Year award winnerOnce a Giant, always a Giant, only a Giant. That's what Manning said to a jam-packed room of reporters, former coaches, and former teammates during his final pre ser with the franchise. Although he may have had opportunities to continue his career, Manning held his time with the Giants in the highest regard and didn't want to play anywhere else. His impact both on and off the field will be remembered by the fanbase forever, and although his final box scores weren't always the prettiest, Manning played his best when his back was against the wall and the pre sure was at its peak. His tenure is highlighted by two Super Bowl victories over the dynasty with -- including one against the 18-0 New England squad in 2007 -- arguably the biggest upset in NFL history. During Manning's first championship in 2007, he certainly benefited from a dominant Giants rushing offense and a defense whose pa s rush came together in elite form during the postseason.However, the same cannot be said about Manning's 2011 Championship run and ultimately the MVP award he received for defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots for the second time in the Super Bowl in four seasons. In 2011, the Giants' rushing offense ranked dead last (No. 32) in the NFL. The 2011 Giants also ranked dead last in pa s blocking, according to Pro Football Focus. Although some Dante Exum Jersey NFL fans like to remember the 2011 Super Bowl run as another one carried by the defense, the facts don't align. The Giants' defense ranked No. 27 overall in 2011.Although Manning was never able to replicate his level of play from 201