[EmpireWF]

The Super Bowl champion New York football Giants would not be where they are without their current GM Jerry Reese and former long-time GM Ernie Accorsi (he retired one year ago).

This team was made up of many home grown players through the draft, some great signings and a monster trade.

Off the top of my head, the home grown players include: Michael Strahan, Amani Toomer, Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Steve Smith, David Tyree, Kevin Boss, David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Chris Snee, Jay Alford, Osi Umenyiora, Reggie Torbor, Aaron Ross, Corey Webster, Kevin Dockery, Gibril Wilson, James Butler, Michael Johnson and Justin Tuck.

Of course, it was Ernie Accorsi who wanted and traded the world to acquire the rights to Eli Manning. He now looks like a genius because from day one, he said Eli had it in him to be a great QB and as good (if not better) than his older brother. Of course the Giants traded for Lawrence Tynes in the spring...but not as much fanfare as the draft day Eli one...right?

The great free-agent signings include: Plaxico Burress, Antonio Pierce, Sam Madison, Kawika Mitchell, Fred Robbins, Shaun O'Hara, Kareem McKenzie, and Jeff Feagles.

Giantsfootballblog has quotes from Accorsi's recent biography:

“[Plaxico Burress] The best free agent signing of my career.”

“This team has endured more than any team I’ve ever been with. If I were an objective observer and had been told last August, ‘Here is a team that is supposed to be a contender. It’s going to be given the mist difficult start of a schedule perhaps in history. It’s going to lose two All-Pro defensive ends, one of them a All of Famer, plus its number one backup, an All-Pro linebacker, both starting corners, the left tackle, and the greatest receiver in the history of the franchise. What do you think its record is going to be?’ I would have said 4-12, or 5-11. You have endured an incredible amount of criticism from all quarters and yet you made the playoffs and played your hearts out to the last second of the last game. You’re good kids. Stay together. Trust each other and be good teammates to one anothe. I believe there is a championship in this room.”

-From Tom Callahan’s book “The GM”- Ernie Accorsi addressing the team following the Giants’ playoff loss to the Eagles last year, his final game as Giants GM.

So thank you Jerry Reese and Ernie Accorsi.