subject: Facts About The New York Giants [print this page] Based in New Jersey, the New York Giants have long represented the spirit of America through their perseverance, strong team leadership, and history of great football playing. The Giants currently rank third in the NFL franchises, and have seven NFL titles. 1927 was the year they took home their first title, and they haven't stopped since.
In its earliest years, the Giants progressed very quickly and were more than just a football team. They played numerous games to raise money for homeless and the unemployed. They saw numerous successes and proved the complete domination of pro football over college football, in a time when many questioned whether pro football was indeed more difficult. In fact, the Giants actually played a team made up of players from Notre Dame and essentially wiped the entire team into the ground.
From that point right up until 1979, however, the Giants have been ridden with difficulty. It got harder for them to win their games and they didn't have much in the way of strong quarterbacks or players. This made for drama and divisiveness right up until Phil Simms was added to the team in 1979.
However, 1979 turned out to be a year when the Giants really showed their stuff again. Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor, two star players, helped rejuvenate the team's quality and strength. Lawrence Taylor received numerous awards in his time on the team, and the best linebackers on the team actually were so good that they were nicknamed the "Crunch Bunch." Ray Perkins finally left the team and Bill Parcells took over as defensive coordinator, which was one of the biggest steps towards returning to their pinnacle of football playing.
The Eli Manning era started in 2004 when Eli Manning, Peyton Manning's brother, joined the team as quarterback. The entire Manning family has a strong history of great football players. Many people think Manning is responsible for bringing the team back into its great power, along with Michael Strahan.
The team's value has risen from $268 to $890 million over just ten years. While most of the Giants' fans are located in New York and New Jersey, they do have fans all over the world. Criminal and drug charges have been brought against several players, however, including Lawrence Taylor. This hasn't stopped in 2010.
Projected for the Giants is a great set of years, provided Eli Manning stays with the team. No one knows exactly what will happen when he leaves, but most fans believe the team will stay strong as long as he's still with the team. It's hard to say just how much this may change with a new quarterback, since the quarterback is such a strong part of what happens on the field, and losing Eli Manning could be one of the most devastating things to happen to the Giants for years.
In the end, the Giants are not only a good football team, but also one with a rich and varied history. They do have fans all over the world even though most of them are based in New York and New Jersey. Because New York is such a big part of American history, the Giants represent America in many ways.
