By Dan Duggan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Is Giants quarterback Eli Manning a Hall of Famer? It's a topic that generates strong opinions on both sides of the debate. Supporters point to Manning's two Super Bowl MVPs and his ranking in the top 10 in nearly every major career passing category. Detractors note Manning's lack of postseason success outside of the two Super Bowl runs and the absence of consistent elite performance.

Manning's Hall of Fame fate ultimately will be decided by a group of media members five years after he retires. But with the 2018 class announced on Saturday and so many Hall of Famers in Minneapolis for the Super Bowl last week, I polled 13 members of the exclusive fraternity about Manning's prospects.

Here are their answers to a simple question: Is Eli Manning a Hall of Famer?

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William Perlman | The Star-Ledger

QB Roger Staubach

Staubach played quarterback for the Cowboys from 1969-79. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

“I think he will when he finishes his career. I think he’s on the road there," Staubach said. "He’s got another couple of years in him, though. I think he’s going to bring the Giants back next year, actually. I feel he’s going to get some of those injured receivers back and he’s got a new coach. Eli is a winner. He had a rough year this past year, though.”

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Andrew Mills | The Star-Ledger

QB Terry Bradshaw

Bradshaw played quarterback for the Steelers from 1970-83. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

“Yeah. Two Super Bowls in the Big Apple is pretty good," Bradshaw said. "He’s a great player. They don’t like him up there, but I do.”

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John Munson | The Star-Ledger

QB Jim Kelly

Kelly players quarterback for the Bills from 1986-96. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

“In due time, yeah, I think he is," Kelly said.

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Tony Kurdzuk | The Star-Ledger

QB Kurt Warner

Warner played quarterback for the Rams, Giants and Cardinals from 1998-2009. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

“I think it’s an interesting one," Warner said. "When I look at the Hall of Fame, I look at it as kind of an equation that you have your regular season and that’s one part of the equation. You have your postseason and that’s another part of the equation. And some number in between there with the combination of the two equals the Hall of Fame. Some guys have a better regular season and don’t have as much success in the postseason. Some guys do it just the opposite.

"I kind of feel like Eli is the opposite. His regular seasons, if you just stacked them up one-by-one and looked at that, you’d probably go, ‘I don’t know if he is. Probably not.’ But you add in those two epic Super Bowl runs and the fact that he beat Tom Brady and he played his best at the biggest moment, and now that equation gets more into that mix. I think he’s a borderline guy, but I also believe because he won two championships in the fashion in which he won them, I think that’s probably what puts him over the top and gets him into the Hall of Fame.”

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Andrew Mills | The Star Ledger

RB Emmitt Smith

Smith played running back for the Cowboys and Cardinals from 1990-2004. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

“Let’s get there first," Smith said. "He’s still playing.”

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AP Photo

LB Mike Singletary

Singletary played middle linebacker for the Bears from 1981-92. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

“Absolutely. First of all because of the Super Bowls that he has," Singletary said. "Even though the defense was good, at the same time, if you don’t have a quarterback it can be very difficult to win the Super Bowl. But the other thing is he’s had some tremendous games where he exemplified leadership. I just think it’s a shame what’s happened to him in the past year or so. To me, he is a Hall of Fame quarterback simply because he is a leader. I don’t care about all the other stuff you say about him – he is a leader. And he’s been able to take those teams to a place they couldn’t go without him.”

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Jody Sommers | For The Star-Ledger

RB Franco Harris

Harris played running back for the Steelers and Seahawks from 1972-84. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

“As far as I’m concerned, yes. But we’ll see," Harris said. "You don’t know how the voting goes, but he would have my vote.”

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Kirby Lee | USA TODAY Sports

WR Tim Brown

Brown played wide receiver for the Raiders and Buccaneers from 1988-2004. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

“I don’t know why not," Brown said. "He may not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but I certainly see him as being a Hall of Famer, no doubt. Any time you can win MVPs and multiple Super Bowls championships as a quarterback, I think you have to be on that list.”

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Chris Faytok | The Star-Ledger

DB Rod Woodson

Woodson played defensive back for the Steelers, 49ers, Ravens and Raiders from 1987-2003. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

“That’s a great question," Woodson said. "If he doesn’t get in the Hall of Fame, he’ll be the second quarterback to have two Super Bowl rings not in the Hall of Fame (joining Jim Plunkett). The difference is he’s playing in the era where they throw the ball way more so his yardage and touchdowns are higher. So how do you see the value of where he’s at compared to Plunkett? I think they played similarly. I don’t think they were ever the best quarterback to play, but I always thought they were solid players that did everything they had to do. They had some great opportunities to win Super Bowls and they won the Super Bowls.

"That’s been my question mark for Plunkett for all this time: How do you win two Super Bowls and not get in the Hall of Fame? And how do you get a guy like Joe Namath, who wins one Super Bowl and has more interceptions than touchdowns and he gets in the Hall of Fame? So I’m a little bit confused of what’s right and what’s wrong when it comes to that position and really a lot of positions. But that’s one that really stumps me. It’s rare that you get two Super Bowl wins by one quarterback.”

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Stephen Dunn | Getty Images

OL Anthony Munoz

Munoz played left tackle for the Bengals from 1980-92. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

“I think he’s had the career that warrants it," Munoz said. "I’m not one that justifies quarterbacks’ careers by rings, but the guy has been a gamer. He’s won. To me, if you do that and you lead your team, I think it warrants the Hall.”

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Brace Hemmelgarn | USA TODAY Sports

RB Curtis Martin

Martin played running back for the Patriots and Jets from 1995-2005. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

“Yeah. He’s won two Super Bowls and he’s a good quarterback," Martin said. "I definitely think he should be there.”

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Elsa | Getty Images

LB Derrick Brooks

Brooks played linebacker for the Buccaneers from 1995-2008. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

“Yeah, I think he will," Brooks said. "You look at his career and what he’s been able to accomplish and yet to still accomplish. I, for one, still think there’s a lot of chapters to be written in the Eli Manning career book. I don’t think he’s done by any stretch of the imagination. I hate to say it right now because he’s still playing. I’d like to see his career finish and when it’s done, I think the resume will speak for itself that he will deserve a gold jacket.”

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CB Mike Haynes

Haynes played cornerback for Patriots and Raiders from 1976-89. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

“Yeah, I think he is," Haynes said. "You can almost say that Tom Brady is raising the bar by all the Super Bowls he has won. Is he raising the bar for quarterbacks? I have to say he is. Take Tom Brady out of the picture, (Manning) is easily in. Two Super Bowls – easily a contender for the Hall of Fame. But because of Tom Brady and all of his victories, it raises the bar. I think two is still enough.”

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William Perlman | The Star-Ledger

The verdict

This sampling indicates that Manning will be welcomed to Canton if he gets inducted. Of the 13 Hall of Famers polled, Manning got a nod of approval from 11, with two on the fence.

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Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.