Chris Canty, defensive tackle for the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, was making the media rounds on Tuesday, and during an appearance with Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco on ESPN Radio New York Canty found himself answering lots of questions about quarterbacks.
Canty was asked about New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow as well as being asked to compare his own team's quarterback, Eli Manning, with Tony Romo.
Canty said that Manning, with two Super Bowl titles (and two MVPs) was "disrespected" by the NFL players who voted him 31st on the NFL Network Top 100 players list.
"I just don't understand that. For goodness sake, just look at the resume, look at what's he's been able to do," Canty said. "He's an elite football player and I think it's time people recognized that."
As for all of those people (ahem, Dallas Cowboys fans) who still insist that Tony Romo is a better quarterback than Manning? Canty said Manning was "absolutely" better in the clutch than Romo.
"Tony Romo is a terrific quarterback, can't take that away from him. Statistically he's a top five quarterback," Canty said. "Eli's ability to elevate his game and elevate the play of all the guys around him in the most crucial situations in the football game I believe is the difference. That's what makes him a championship quarterback."
On Tebow, Canty said:
"The kid is a winner. You've got to appreciate the way he goes about his business. He might not be the best pure passer in the game but he's a true quarterback in the sense that he finds a way to elevate his team and get them the opportunity to win."
Asked about the Jets and all the attention they get compared to the more business-like Giants, Canty gave what has become the Giants' party-line answer:
"We'll let them have the headlines, we'll worry about winning championships," he said.