I think those two moments in time when Manning was the tallest of the Giants as they stood between the greatest dynasty of the 21st century and even more glory, including a perfect season, supercede everything else.
I have, honestly, always believed the Manning-Tom Coughlin quarterback-coach duo should have won even more Super Bowl titles. They may well have had Plaxico Burress not shot himself in the leg in 2008, destroying what many believe was the best team of the Manning-Coughlin era.
I think that in 2012 or 2013 believing Manning would be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, probably on the first ballot, would not have drawn much argument. The back half of his career, though, damaged that perception.
The other thing I have always believed, though, is that the Giants let Manning down by not surrounding him with the talent needed to compete for more championships after that 2011 season. Somewhere along the way the Giants stopped giving Coughlin the kind of players he wanted, and Manning the kind of players he needed.
I also, though, understand that there are many out there who can’t get past the bad seasons. Can’t get past the 117-117 regular season record. Can’t get past the awkward Manning Face when things went wrong. I think those people are not seeing the forest for the trees, but it’s like politics. No matter what facts you present people to make your case, some folks are dug in aren’t going to budge in their belief no matter what.