Super Bowl champ Giants visit White House

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WASHINGTON, June 8 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed the New York Giants to the White House Friday to celebrate their Super Bowl XLVI win.

Gathered with players and head coach Tom Coughlin on the White House South Lawn, the president said: "Now I know for some of you, this is just 'Welcome back.' You guys have been through this drill before. The last time the Giants were here was in 2008."

Obama praised the NFL team for overcoming adversity saying they were 7-7 after week 15 of last season and had to treat every remaining game like it was the playoffs to get to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis where they came from behind in the fourth quarter to defeat the New England Patriots, 21-17.

"But every season is different," the president said, "and last year's Giants were obviously a special bunch, not just because of where they ended up, but because of how they got there."

Obama said coach Coughlin refused to let the team go down, adding sportswriters should consider Eli Manning a top-tier quarterback after his second Super Bowl MVP selection.

"So I would advise the sportswriters out there the next time Eli says he thinks he's an elite quarterback, you might just want to be quiet," Obama said to laughter and applause.