Ezra Shaw - Getty Images
3 months ago: INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 05: Co-Owner Steve Tisch and Senior Vice President and General Manager Jerry Reese of the New York Giants celebrate after defeating the New England Patriots 21-17 during Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Since 2007, the New York Giants have won two world championships while the Indianapolis Colts have... none. A big reason why is the spectacular draft record of Giants G.M. Jerry Reese, and the rather putrid record of former-Colts president Bill Polian during that span.
Yes, from 2007-2011, the Colts made the playoffs four times. They also played in a Super Bowl. However, their overall playoff record during that stretch was 2-3, with three one-and-done trips.
The Giants made the post-season only twice during that same stretch. Both times, they won the Super Bowl.
No matter how much we argue, the Giants are indeed more successful during that span than the Colts. Team greatness is based on championships, and a franchise that makes the playoffs only twice in five years, but wins the Super Bowl during both those trips, will be viewed as having a better five years than the team who seemingly got to the playoffs every year, but did little when they got there.
So, how did New York get so good? Simple, they drafted better than Indy did.
I'm not using this article to bash Bill and Chris Polian yet again. They are gone, and part of the reason they're gone is they didn't draft well from 2007-2011. Meanwhile, the Giants have been making a killing in the draft since roughly 2004, when they made their now famous trade with the San Diego Chargers for Eli Manning.
That trade helped define two franchises. The Chargers have been a consistent playoff disappointment under the direction of Philip Rivers, the player they got in exchange for Eli. The other players they received in compensation for Manning (kicker Nate Kaeding and linebacker Shawne Merriman) didn't do much to help San Diego in the playoff wins department.
Since 2004, these are NY's first day draft selections:
2004- Eli Manning
2005- Corey Webster
2006- Mathias Kiwanuka
2007- Aaron Ross
2008- Kenny Phillips
2009- Hakeem Nicks
2010- Jason Pierre-Paul
2011- Prince Amukamara
There are not misses on that list. Not one. Eli is a franchise quarterback. Webster and Ross are excellent corners. Nicks has played brilliantly since he arrived in NYC, as has Jason Pierre-Paul.
It's worth noting that, in 2005, the Colts had a chance to draft Webster, but opted instead for Marlin Jackson. In 2009, the Colts were in prime position to take Hakeem Nicks, but opted instead for Donald Brown.
It's also worth noting that, in several cases, the Giants were drafting late in the first round, but still managed to find good talent. Nicks and Phillips were both late first rounders. Webster was a high second rounder. New York didn't have a first round pick that year because of the Manning trade the season prior.
Every single person on the NY Giants draft list, with the exception of the rookie Amukamara, is a starter in NY. Not just a starter simply because they were a first rounder. A legit starter.
Factor in other players like Justin Tuck, (fifth rounder 2005), Barry Cofield (fourth rounder, 2006), Steve Smith (second rounder, 2007), Kevin Boss (fifth rounder, 2007), Ahmad Bradshaw (seventh rounder, 2007) Mario Manningham (third rounder, 2008), Terrell Thomas (second rounder, 2008), and Jonathan Goff (fifth rounder, 2008). I mean, look at that draft haul! Tuck and Bradshaw are studs. Manningham was been a big play receiver all throughout the 2011 season, and made THE key catch in Super Bowl XLVI. Thomas is a good corner, while Smith, Boss, and Cofield were all key players for the Giants before moving on to other teams.
Also, there were important rookie free agent acquisitions like Victor Cruz (free agent, 2010), and Jake Ballard (free agent, 2010).
THIS is how your team is supposed to draft. This is why New York has two trophies in five years, and we have bubkis.
1 recs | 28 comments
It’s also worth noting that Marlin Jackson was very good and part of the reason we won a Super Bowl.
It’s also worth noting your very last post was complaining about the utter stupidity of judging only based on championships.
I might agree with you about the Giants being better only on the basis of championships if the Giants had 3 Super Bowls to the Colts’ 0. It’s 2 to 1. Are they instantly back down to equal to the Colts if Gronk pulls in that hail mary?
Oh, and it’s also worth noting that I agree that Polian was terrible over the past five years. Jackson wasn’t really part of the problem, we got several very good years out of him and the injuries were unfortunate.
nailrat - February 6, 2012
The Gaints have 2 super bowls in 5 years
and we have 2 super bowl appearances, 1 super bowl win and a playoff team that was decimated by injuries in 5 years. Bubkis indeed!
jopat18 - February 6, 2012
Justin Tuck
Tuck was drafted in the 3rd round. Not the 5th.
ColtsPensacola - February 6, 2012
sigh
you do realize that by the Giants missing the playoffs a few times, they got higher choices than the Colts giving them a better pool of talent to choose from
metal_militia - February 6, 2012
thats the danger of making blanket statements with such confidence
its very blustery in here at times
CoolJohnnieBNasty - February 6, 2012
I remember fans hated when Giants drafted Pierre-Paul.
PV Mike - February 6, 2012
Yup, I know I did.
We were all lamenting about how badly we needed a LB, and most of us wanted Rolando McClain or Sean Witherspoon. Even though you couldn’t go wrong with Spoon, he’s a beast in ATL. But we were reminded once again of the mantra held by many of us: In Jerry Reese We Trust.
tommy d. - February 6, 2012
Really? Another draft bashing article? Really?
The Giants drafted higher than the Colts nearly every year over the last five years. OF COURSE their picks ended up being better. That’s how the NFL is supposed to work.
Seriously, get over it.
TrueBlue87 - February 6, 2012
Is there any dear horse left to beat?
Seriously. Can’t compare Giant’s drafting to Indy since they draft in a different order, obviously. Victor Cruz was not even given a chance until this year. Please give it a rest.
buymymonkey - February 6, 2012
Frig. Dear>Dead
buymymonkey - February 6, 2012
2003 WAS
William Joseph so it’s better to start the analysis in 2004.
javen - February 6, 2012
If you are just comparing the past few years, yes but what if we looked a little deeper.
Starting at 1994 -
Giants – Thomas Lewis, Tyrone Wheatley, Cedric Jones, Ike Hilliard, Shaun Williams, Luke Petitgout, Ron Dayne, Will Allen, Jeremy Shockey, William Joseph, Philip Rivers/Eli Manning, Corey Webster….
Colts – Faulk, Ellis Johnson, Harrison, Tarik Glenn, Manning, Edge, Rob Morris, Wayne, Freeney, Clark, Sanders, Jackson…
The Colts had a great run that would rival any team’s first round picks. While Peyton and Colts were starting and in the middle of their historic run of wins and playoff appearances, what were the Giants doing?? You can throw in a few years of getting hot at the right time mixed in with a lot of sucking and inconsistency.
The Colts had their moments and chances of glory for sure, but c’mon it’s way to cheap and easy to compare 4 or 5 or 6 year runs.
Guy LeDouche - February 6, 2012
Giants drafted way higher than the colts. Nuff said.
fanatik - February 6, 2012
Also
The G-Men have drafted big strong and athletic…Colts have inexplicably drafted small guys who have speed but cant make the play because they are overpowered…
It wouldn’t hurt to use the old Al Davis philosophy for a year or two…
(206)NightRidah - February 6, 2012 via mobile
To the people
Complaining about two bash articles I think it’s obvious he wrote the previous one with this one as planned as a detailed follow-up. Yes, the Giants have drafted better than us due to draft postion , but there are tons of teams that have better 2nd rounders than our first rounders, which defeats many of your points. All we can hope is our GM and HC land some great picks starting with our first pick. Whether we hit on this pick, which should be the next FHOF, should determine our team’s sucess.
BobInBlue - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Not trying to bust your balls but isn’t the playoff record from 07-11 2-4 with 3 one and dones? The superbowl counts
Tricky Bobby - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Oh and the giants made it in 08 as a 1 seed and lost buddy. They didn’t do nothing but win superbowls in that span, they choked too…
Tricky Bobby - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Giants were 10-1
When they lost their best receiver cause Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg. That’s circumstancial. If Plax was still playing, Giants might’ve gone all the way. This is not a shoulda, woulda, coulda situation, this is legit cause you don’t expect your star receiver to be going to prison.
KBUnitz - February 6, 2012
I agree, nothing the colts could have done about the decimating injuries of 07 and ’10. but I was just pointing out the false stats in the article.
Tricky Bobby - February 6, 2012 via mobile
The same could be true about 07 when we lost just about everybody, including Freeney. Freeney getting the Lis Franc is comparable. It made the defense just not work.
nailrat - February 7, 2012
Aaron Ross
He’s been an underachiever so far. He’s nowhere near a bust, but he would not be starting at corner if Terrell Thomas had not gone down in preseason. And there’s a reason why Giants drafted Prince Amukamara as their 1st selection this year. They we’re giving up on Aaron Ross, but he’s had a resurgent year.
KBUnitz - February 6, 2012
This is possibly the laziest article I've ever read.
Your logic is mystifying.
James Broschat - February 6, 2012
I still say
We should’ve waited for Marc Ross and Perry Fewell. That way we could’ve had part of the brain trust from the G-men and SB winning, aggressive coordinator that could upgrade our 4-3 defense as HC.
As a side, I wanted Nicks in 2008. I did sign off on Gonzalez after winning the SB but hated the Ugoh trade with a passion.I also was not found of Pollack nor Hughes. I really wanted the Indy T Safford the yr we drafted Hughes. I also remember calling for Dumervil in the 3rd rd and the form KR from Hampton U that made he pro bowl for the Texans in the 2nd. I just hope that Grigson’s instincts are better than what I see so far. On to the draft!
supercolt - February 6, 2012
several fans wanted ross and some wanted fewell
however irsay wanted a younger bigger clone of him who let him be jerry jones midwest. ryan better be worth it since if your looking at the front office results it should have been ross hands down.
BigMan74 - February 6, 2012
My sentiments exactly
I still think Irsay and Grigs should ask Ross to be the VP. It is a big promotion from where he is at. Offer him a boat load oo money, he will come. I said it once before and I’ll say it again. The number one pick is a done deal. Free agency and picks 2-7 will probably end up being more important. People want to dismiss the Giants drafts but player for player, I would argue that they’ve had the best drafts the last 3-4 years and I think Ross has a lot to do with that. Colts have to take advantage of this down year and kill this draft……I don’t think the Colts have hired anyone else for the front office and this makes be just a bit nervous because if Grigs sucks at drafting, there will be no voice of reason to help him out.
Dito29 - February 6, 2012
Coaching
Some credit should be given to the coach and his staff. They have done an exceptional job.
Antillar - February 7, 2012
"The Giants made the post-season only twice during that same stretch. Both times, they won the Super Bowl."
Should have been “thrice”. They were one and done in 2008 against the Eagles.
Peter Storgaard - February 7, 2012
This is a really poor premise for an article which overvalues the outcome and ignore the reality of the details and facts.
1- The Colts haven’t been as bad as everyone claims in recent drafts. Sure they’ve missed some picks that were busts, but they are above par with the rest of the league on players panning out and then you add in the talent level which relates to where they were picking in comparison. Your premise that the Colts have done poorly is incorrect.
2- While the Giants have won 2 SB’s, they’ve also missed the playoffs the past two prior years before this season. How can you characterize a team in such high regard when they bounce up and down from mediocrity of .500 and missing the playoffs to winning the SB twice and being some sort of ongoing success story? The past 2 seasons they missed the playoff in utter collapsing fashion and in both circumstances, their coach was on the hot seat for being fired. Hardly a model or ideal situation to plan a blue-print for success from for others. Also, a passing note regarding Eli, during the first SB run season, 3/4ths through the season, everyone in the NFL and every Giants fan was ready to give up on him and call him a bust. People are very quick to judge and either give way too much praise or far too little all based on what occurs after the fact.
kk5b - February 9, 2012
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