Veteran Jennings happy to be mentor for rookie RB
Rashad Jennings wants to leave his mark not only as a player but as a mentor. He said he believes he is doing that with rookie Paul Perkins.
“When I leave this game, there’s gonna be players that say, ‘Hey man, I remember Rashad,’” Jennings said Tuesday. “That’s what it means to be a team player.’’
Last week, Perkins received his first NFL start and rushed for 102 yards in the 19-10 victory over the Redskins. Coach Ben McAdoo will not reveal the identity of his starting running back for Sunday’s playoff game against the Packers, but it likely will be Perkins. Jennings, the erstwhile starter, is now the second half of the 1-2 punch.
“I’m his biggest fan,’’ said Jennings, 30, an eight-year veteran. “I told him before the season started ‘See yourself as a starter, see yourself as the future of this team.’ That’s my job. I’m here to win and also here to love my brothers and see the future.’’
Eli Manning spent his 36th birthday preparing for his f irst playoff game in five years.
“You know how these last couple years have been a great reminder of how difficult it is to make the playoffs, and you want to take advantage of every opportunity that you get to make them because you don’t know if, when you get another chance,’’ Manning said. “I guess early on in your career you think you kind of know that, but until you get into your later years and you just don’t know if you will get that opportunity again, so you want to give it your all … understand that it is special to get here and you want to try and make a run when you can.’’ CB Janoris Jenkins did not play against the Cowboys and was on the field for just 23 snaps on defense vs. the Redskins as he deals with a sore back. He said he was “good’’ then upgraded his health to “I’m great.’’ As for his limited appearance in the f inal regular-season game, “Jackrabbit” said, “I just played until they told me that I’m done.’’
The forecast in Green Bay for Sunday is a high of 16 degrees and low of 9 degrees, with no chance of snow and not much wind.