Giants Talk: Watching the Giants will not be the same anymore

After days, weeks and months had passed and all of the celebratory hugs and praise had concluded I slowly begin to ponder a very odd thought:

Where do we go as Giants fans from here?

The last 17 years was filled with disappointment, heartbreak and other agita induced moments, it was very natural to hope for the best, yet expecting the worst.

Even last year and throughout the playoffs, the feelings of the past were still very close, never drifting to far away from consciousness.

Then the Giants became Super Bowl Champions, extinguishing all past history in such improbable, historic fashion. A team that was expected to do nothing was now holders of the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

As I look forward to the start of the 2008 season tomorrow night against the Redskins, I have wondering internally how I am going to approach the games.

Never again can I complain about past failures. The “woe is me” attitude is gone forever. Complaining and expecting the worst is no longer acceptable fan behavior, at least not for a minimum of the next three years at least.

Will I get upset when they lose? Sure. However, it will not be with the same intensity as before.

The phrase “heartbreaking defeat” will not have the same meaning anymore (at least not in the regular season) – not after what we all went through in the playoffs.

How will I criticize Eli Manning? Here was a guy who I thought was regressing to the point where I questioned whether he would ever be the quarterback that lived up to his promise. I can remember wondering during times last season if the Giants can find a way to acquire Derek Anderson in the offseason.

Then, Manning transformed from bumbling to brilliant. Perhaps he figured something out about himself along the way.

Leading the drive before halftime in Dallas. Playing tremendous in -25 weather in Green Bay. Then leading the game winning drive to win the Super Bowl and named the MVP.

What more can you ask for?

He has already reached the pinnacle of his profession and if he never won another ring, which would be just fine. Teflon would be the word I can attribute to him.

When he makes a bad throw for an interception, will I get angry?

Probably not. I trust him so much now that if something goes wrong, he likely knows why it happened. The fabric of the team is so much enriched with him now.

The defense that I criticized and put down for so long because they would never come up with a huge play or stop when needed, now I can put my faith in and be assured when it is time to win the game and close the show, they will do so.

No longer can I use the term “Same Old Giants”. From this day forward, that terminology has to be thrown in the garbage.

Much like how the Boston Red Sox eliminated all of their years of doubt, cynicism and pessimism after 86 years, you look at them as winners and believing that they will persevere no matter the circumstance.

When they lose, it will not be because of “jinxes”, “curses” or any of that nonsense. It will be strictly because they were not good enough on that day to execute and succeed.

Do I expect them to go back to the Super Bowl this year?

No, I do not.

Do I expect them to be in the NFC Championship Game?

I would like to think so.

Will I be upset if they miss the playoffs?

Probably. However, if that were to happen, it would be surprised or upset.

There is always talk of a “Super Bowl Hangover” that permeates teams the next season after winning.

I admit that I am going through that myself. Admittedly, I have yet to fully put last year behind me.

It may take seeing the raising of the banner that reads “2007 Super Bowl Champions – New York Giants” for it to finally close the book on last year.

Maybe I need a month of this season for it to settle in.

Or maybe I just need this entire season to get it all out and just not care about the results.

Thursday, when they kick the ball off, I will know my true feelings.

I was three years old when the Giants won their first Super Bowl.

I was seven when the Giants beat the Buffalo Bills to win their second. Since I was so young, I did not have a full grasp of understanding.

Now, I have a championship that I have been able to see and fully take hold. I was there for all of the bad times (see: 2002 in San Francisco). The bad play, the losing streaks and wondering if it would ever end.

It was made these games fun in a way. It was what made winning the championship last year so special to so many people, including me.

Now, the loser label is gone and we have a winner in front of us. How will we react?

I guess we will find out starting Thursday night.