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Worth the wait for Accorsi

Former GM's faith in Eli proved correct in final drive

Bob Glauber

February 5, 2008

CHANDLER, Ariz.

The Patriots had just scored the go-ahead touchdown on Tom Brady's pass to Randy Moss, and Eli Manning trotted onto the field with 2:39 to play. Former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, watching the game from the stands at University of Phoenix Stadium, turned to his son, Michael.

"This is how they define players," Accorsi said. "If Eli is what we thought he was, he's got to do it now."

The game was on the line for the Giants. And so was Accorsi's reputation.

He had engineered a massive draft-day trade for Manning in April 2004, all in hopes of reaching a moment like this. Accorsi, not to mention every other Giants fan around the globe, was a nervous wreck.

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"When I retired, I thought there wouldn't be any more moments like this," Accorsi said.

But Manning rewarded Accorsi's faith in him with one of the most memorable drives in Giants history. He marched them 83 yards to the winning touchdown, a 13-yard pass to Plaxico Burress in the left corner of the end zone.

Along the way, Manning completed a pass to David Tyree that no doubt will go down as one of the most incredible in Super Bowl history - and perhaps the most important in Giants history. Manning spun away from the grasp of Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green before being sacked and heaved a 32-yard pass to Tyree, who leapt over the outstretched hands of safety Rodney Harrison and pinned the ball to the top of his helmet with his right hand to make the catch. Four plays later, Manning hit Burress for the winning score.

Vindication for Accorsi?

"I don't look at it that way," he said. "I just tried to do the best job I could when I was there. I'm delighted it's worked out this way."

Any smidgen of regret that he didn't stick around to win a championship as the general manager?

"Honestly, I don't know how much happier I could be right now," said Accorsi, who was an invited guest of the Giants and stayed at their team hotel over the weekend.

Accorsi was the Colts' GM in 1983 when the team drafted John Elway but traded his rights to the Broncos at the insistence of former Colts owner Robert Irsay. Accorsi resigned shortly thereafter and vowed to never let something like that happen again.

Manning has now filled that void.

The Giants can thank Accorsi for laying the foundation for this year's Super Bowl team. Most of the team's key players were acquired during his tenure: Manning and Burress, running back Brandon Jacobs, the entire starting offensive line, defensive linemen Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, linebacker Antonio Pierce, and defensive backs Sam Madison, Gibril Wilson and Corey Webster.

"I'm just delighted with the way things have worked out," Accorsi said. "You do the best you can."

But it was Manning who would define Accorsi's legacy. With the Giants giving up so much to get a franchise quarterback, Manning had to pay dividends to make it work.

Four years into his career, the case is closed. Even if he never wins another Super Bowl, Manning was worth the investment. Anyway, the feeling here is this won't be his only championship.

"The difference to me is the intangibles," Accorsi said as he reflected on his decision to acquire Manning. "The question you ask yourself is, 'Can he lead you down the field with everything on the line?' He did it at Mississippi."

Now he has done it in the biggest game of all.

Accorsi's successor, first-year GM Jerry Reese, is equally delighted about Manning's success, even if he wasn't the executive to sign off on his acquisition four years ago.

Remember Reese's use of the word "skittish" to describe Manning a day after the Giants were pummeled by the Vikings? The word appeared in a Newsday column quoting Reese's observations about the quarterback.

Reese and I talked about it after Sunday's game. "I knew that would work out for the best," Reese said. "There was no doubt in my mind."

Reese acknowledged there were some heart-to-heart discussions with Manning that week, although the two had cleared up any lingering issues related to the word. Reese then told me about a text message he sent to Manning the night the "skittish" word created such a stir.

"I've never told anyone this," Reese said. "I texted him on my way home from work that night and I said, 'All my eggs are in your basket.'"

A minute later, Manning texted him back.

"I've got you covered."