By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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From Oxford, Mississippi to New York, New York, it’s been a remarkable ride for Eli Manning

As Eli Manning stood atop the podium in Indianapolis Sunday night as the MVP of Super Bowl XLVI, the now two-time world champion essentially elevated himself to Hall of Fame Status. Amidst the blur of confetti and rush of reporters, came a clear realization: the son of a legend and brother of another had become larger than life.

Manning, his legacy fortified by the iconic images of two storied late fourth quarter Super Bowl drives, has become the new Tom Brady. He may now, at least for the next year to come, be the face of the NFL. He plays the most glorified position in this country’s largest city in our nation’s most beloved game. The world saw him join the likes Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, John Elway, Joe Montana and Brady as one of just a dozen signal callers to win multiple Super Bowl championships. He now stands alongside Bradshaw, Brady, Montana and Bart Starr as the only quarterbacks to win at least two Super Bowl MVP awards.

Before going to the Big Apple, Manning spent his college years in northern Mississippi in modestly-sized Oxford as an Ole Miss Rebel. While older brother Peyton broke family tradition in favor of Tennessee, Manning followed father Archie to Lafayette County. While looking to establish his own brand, comparisons to the past were overwhelming. Mentions of Archie are sprinkled all over town and Eli, like all residents, couldn’t drive a single mile on campus without reference. The official speed limit at the school is 18, dad’s college number.

A stellar sophomore season where he threw a career-high 31 touchdown passes opened the door for more national attention and, potentially, more criticism. Manning’s numbers regressed his junior year with a more pedestrian 21 touchdown passes compared to 15 interceptions. While he finished with a flurry, winning the Maxwell and Unitas awards and being named a Heisman Trophy finalist as a senior, Eli still had his haters. Some cited his inability to get Ole Miss to the SEC Championship Game. Others questioned his intangibles as the NFL Draft approached.

With the measure being perfection, exceeding expectations proved to be quite the challenge for the third Manning in line.

Even his inception into the professional ranks was a controversial one. Eli had stated his plans to not play for the San Diego Chargers if they selected him with the number one overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. While that did occur, the Chargers promptly traded Manning to New York for Philip Rivers and later selections.

Playing under the microscope that came with his last name and the pressure that came with the Empire State, Manning’s every move was a major one his rookie year. His fourth start, coming against the Baltimore Ravens, was a trying afternoon that resulted in young Eli being benched with a 0.0 passer rating. Even up until this past Super Bowl week, that struggle was still a point of discussion.

“I remember a lot of things,” former New York QB Kurt Warner explained before going on to compliment his former teammate’s remarkable progression. “As far on the field, I remember that Eli struggled — a lot. I often tell people, it’s amazing to see him now in his second Super Bowl. Some of those games were some of the ugliest games I’ve ever seen quarterbacking, in my life.”

In 2005 and 2006, flashes of brilliance were mixed with second-half inconsistency. Being a Manning, being in New York, probably magnified the struggles. Midway through an up-and-down start to the 2007 season, concerns over his ability to win the big game started to mount. Eli would soon quiet his critics.

Qualifying for the playoffs as a wild card team, Manning would lead the Giants on an improbable postseason run. Consecutive road wins over the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers earned New York a berth in Super Bowl XLII in Arizona. There they would face seemingly insurmountable odds against the 18-0 New England Patriots, a franchise in the middle of a full-fledged dynasty and a team favored by 12.5 points.

In one of the most storied Super Bowls in recent memory, Manning showed incredible grit and persistence in leading the Giants to a stunning 17-14 upset victory. His effort became forever lamented on a miraculous 32-yard pass play to David Tyree on 3rd-down and 5. Four plays later Manning connected with Plaxico Burress for the game-winning score with 35 seconds left.

One year after Peyton won his first Super Bowl and was named game MVP, Eli did the same.

“The guys on this team and the run we’ve made, it’s hard to believe — it really is,” Manning explained after the historic win. “The drive at the end, there were so many clutch plays by so many guys. It is an unbelievable game and an unbelievable feeling.”

Mere weeks after there was a growing sentiment of doubt about his ability to step up in the spotlight, more so his future, it was Manning’s will that led New York to their first championship since the 1990-1991 season.

The next three seasons offered, largely, disappointment. Though the Giants won the NFC East in 2008, a home loss to rival Philadelphia in their first playoff game did not sit well with fans. Following a 5-0 start, the 2009 season saw New York go 3-8 down the stretch. Included in that slide was a baffling 41-9 home no-show against Carolina in the last game ever at old Giants Stadium. Not all of that was Manning’s fault, of course, though it seemed that way at times.

Another missed chance at the postseason in 2010 again had fingers pointing Manning’s direction. With more injuries and youth around him, Eli threw a career-high 25 interceptions. Though he also set a new mark with 31 touchdown passes, New York lost two of their final three and missed out on the playoffs. Everything, frustration included, is magnified in the Big Apple.

Fast forward to early December, 2011. A recent four-game losing streak had the Giants at 6-6 with a critical game at Dallas up next on the schedule. With his back against the wall, Manning decided his season wouldn’t end before the new year. He threw for 400 yards, finding Mario Manningham and Jake Ballard on touchdown passes. Manning and company would go on to top the Jets and Cowboys again to win the NFC East.

In what proved to be deja vu all over again, Manning would throw for 1,219 yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception in a defining four-game playoff run against Atlanta, Green Bay, San Fransisco and ultimately New England. His play, his career, culminated late Sunday night with a magnificent 30-of-40 passing performance and another brilliant final period of play.

After having his attitude and toughness questioned for a good portion of his career, Manning unflappably led the Giants on another last-minute Super Bowl scoring drive.

A quiet, sometimes awkward big name coming out of Ole Miss, Manning has fought through the media, the NFL’s and his town’s toughest challenges. Suffice to say, he’s now much more than just another Manning. He’s a captain and a leader. He’s a fighter and an overcomer. For the second time in four years, he’s a champion. Still, with his popularity at an all-time high, Eli isn’t likely to show it.

“It’s been a wild game, a wild season,” he stated after the 21-17 win. “This isn’t about one person. It’s about one team, a team coming together.”

Back in the pre-season, reporters asked Eli about his stature amongst the league’s best. Manning, controversially at the time, responded with confidence. Now such questions are being asked from a historical frame of reference. Where does he rank with the NFL’s all-time greats? How does he compare to Peyton? From Oxford, Mississippi to New York, New York, it’s been a remarkable ride for Eli Manning. As he stood in celebration with his teammates in the moments after Super Bowl XLVI, this Manning ensured that he will one day be standing in Canton.