Tom Rock columns

Giants no longer face the pressure of absolutely having to draft one of the top QBs with the third overall pick.

Jameis Winston is exactly what they need at this point to bring some joy to what has for too long been an odious process that has sunk the franchise into a deep pall.

Commanders, Bills and Bears top our list, as does one soon-to-be-rich wide receiver.

Now that Daniel Jones has signed with the Colts, obvious truths can be told. And they are starting to be said, by Slayton and by the organization, both out loud and through actions.

On the field at MetLife as a kid, Cisco turned to his mom and asked, "Do you think I can play here one day?"

They appear to be waiting on Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he wants to join them. 

Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields top the list for available QBs.

Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart could be hearing their name announced by Big Blue at April's draft. 

The Miami quarterback would give the franchise hope for the future.

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner wants to be the NFL's first regular two-way player in more than 60 years.

That first game started with so much hope and hoopla and then . . . well, you know, the rest is history. 

Everything Saquon Barkley does for the rest of his career will be a referendum on the Giants, and Joe Schoen in particular.

Eagles' Jalen Hurts, Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes have demonstrated that without a great quarterback, a team isn't going anywhere.

Don't call it a rematch of two years ago. These Eagles are different. They are better.

Former Giants teammate Shaun O'Hara describes the scene.

At least Joe Montana had a few decades to enjoy being considered the GOAT, never mind that the acronym wasn't even a thing between the time he won four rings and Tom Brady zipped past him toward his seven.

Might that Giants quarterback of the immediate and short-term future be right here in Super Bowl LIX?

Baun is back in the Saints' buildings, literally practicing at their facility with the Eagles and playing Sunday in the SuperDome.

He never had the chance with the Giants, and now he is relishing the opportunity in his first season with the Eagles.

What speaks even more to the franchise's greatness is that Kansas City called this shot at history more than a year ago.

The Eagles' quarterback doesn't have the flashy stats, but he has his team in the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons. 

Wayne Chrebet said of Aaron Glenn: "If you listened to him today, yeah, he said the right things, but you can tell that he means it and things will change around here.''

"It's great for him to be somewhere where he can finally showcase his talent without people talking about this, about that, running backs don't deserve this, don't deserve that," she said. "Yeah, OK. Now we see."

Like it or not, that's how general managers are always judged. 

For the next few weeks, one of the Giants' foes is going to be the toast of the league, while they'll be the butt of the jokes.

Eli Manning, in his first year of eligibility, is one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025 that currently is in the process of being sorted out.

Meddlesome owners are rarely the ones who hoist trophies each February.

Giants let him walk and he hasn't stopped running in Philadelphia; now he's one win away from the Super Bowl. 

The fact is that football is a quarterback-driven sport. It always has been, and lately it's become more of one.

Saquon Barkley, Xavier McKinney and Sam Darnold are still doing great things while their old teams watch the playoffs on TV.

"The NFL is beyond foolish that this guy is not a GM," Mike Tannenbaum told Newsday of Greenberg back in 2021.

John Mara: "If I'm standing here a year from now and we're having the same conversation, I'll take the heat for it."

Sunday was one last chance for Aaron Rodgers to call the shots for the Jets, and he took advantage of it.

Sure, it won't be a popular decision, but let the pair have a true chance to rebuild the roster and repair the damage. 

Plus our picks for Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, Coach of the Year, top rookies and Comeback Player of the Year. 

Deonte Banks had a year with more downs than ups and struggled to adjust to his added responsibilities.

The pomp and circumstance that greeted the would-be franchise savior April 2023 was reduced to a whimper as the end of one of the most disappointing eras in franchise history appears imminent.    

It's easily fixable and would allow the league to maintain all-important integrity.

Victory at home may be a complication for fans, but it's a huge relief for Big Blue.

It was just two short years ago that Daniel Jones was leading a big Week 17 win. Now he's not even on the team as the current players look to earn the Giants' first home win of the season. 

With Lamar Jackson having a strong final push to make it a two-person race, how Buffalo's Josh Allen plays Sunday could be deciding factor. 

The veteran offensive lineman is playing close to home and enjoying being a dad.

Players and coaches aren't thinking about 2025, as a good amount won't even be here next season. 

Brian Daboll is part of the problem, yes. But the whole problem? Not even close.

Former safety Logan Ryan: "Mike Vrabel is definitely one of the best 32 head coaches in the world."

"We're just doing everything we can to try to get a win," Brian Daboll said. It's about all he can say at this point.

The event capped several months of dueling emotions for Conklin. He would spend his days at work struggling with the frustrations of his football team's failures then go home each night to step into the joy of pending fatherhood.

Appreciate this Rodgers resurgence for what it is, but don't let it cloud future thinking.

Malik Nabers went Christmas shopping with a teammate and found a quarterback sitting there in the store waiting for him.

Some of the winners include Brian Daboll, Tom Brady and . . . the Jets? Yes, we'll explain.