CHEMISTRY LESSONS
PHOENIX − Eli Manning is taking Brandon Marshall to chemistry class next week at Duke University. Manning and Marshall have not met face-to-face since the Giants signed Marshall on March 8, which came less than one week after the Jets released him. Manning annually brings his receivers to Duke to work on timing and bonding prior to the offseason program opening and this year Marshall will be the rookie in the group for the session that runs April 3-6. “We’re going to throw and watch film,” Marshall told the Daily News on Monday after he finished addressing the NFL owners at the league meetings. “It’s just a jumpstart on chemistry building and coming together and learning the offense for me. I think for me personally it’s about getting a jumpstart on learning the offense and what they are expecting of me.” Marshall was not sure which other receivers were going to be at Duke, but certainly Odell Beckham Jr., and Sterling Shepard were among those who received invitations from Manning. In conjunction with his brother Peyton, the Mannings began this get-together in 2013, one year after Peyton signed with the Broncos. He brought his Denver receivers and Eli brought his Giants receivers. They worked out separately on the field, but then the two groups got together for dinner and other social activities. The players pay their own way to Durham, N.C., and then the Mannings took care of the rest of the expenses. In the first year, Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Louis Murphy were there for the Giants and Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker came from the Broncos. At the farewell dinner after the workouts were over, Peyton pulled a prank on Decker by handing him an envelope that contained an itemized bill of $3,217.50 for his share of the charges from the Duke athletic department. Manning handed a blank envelope to everybody else. Decker was beside himself − he was still working on his rookie contract and had to pay for his upcoming wedding − and looked over to Thomas, who was playing along. Eli and his receivers were also in on it. Decker then looked over at Peyton, who just shrugged. “I didn’t want to say anything and be rude,” Decker said.
Peyton let Decker worry for a while before letting him off the hook.
“It probably lasted five minutes, but if felt like an eternity,” Decker said.
As a first-year participant, Marshall can expect Eli to attempt to trick him with a practical joke. Manning is one of the great practical jokers in the league. I suggested he check with Decker, his teammate and close friend with the Jets for two years, before heading off to Duke to prepare himself to avoid falling into the same trap.
The Mannings pick Duke because its coach, David Cutcliffe, was Peyton’s offensive coordinator at Tennessee and Eli’s head coach at Mississippi. They have all remained very close.
The Giants begin their offseason workout program on April 17. Marshall will be the big outside receiver Manning has lacked since Plaxico Burress. But his No. 2 job will be to help mentor Beckham, one of the top 2-3 most talented receivers in the league, but who also needs to grow up.
Marshall already said he would have cast a veto vote on the pre-playoff boat trip in Miami if he was on the Giants last season. But the OBJ issues go deeper. Beckham needs somebody he can confide in and give him perspective and Marshall has been through enough in his life and his career that he can provide guidance that he can be a big brother.
“I met Odell a few years ago and started to form a friendship,” Marshall said in a group interview. “We have a great rapport already, so me coming here is pretty organic and natural. He’s awesome. I love him. I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum, I’ve bene a problem and I’ve also been a solution. I have a wealth of experience. We got to remember that Odell is what, 23 or 24 years old, and we all have our own journey. He’s the ultimate competitor. I want him to stay exactly where he is at. Sometimes it’s easy for us as wide receivers and football players to cross that line. But he’ll grow. Next year, he’s not going to be perfect. And the year after that, he’s not going to be perfect. Shoot, I’m 33. Every year I get better and better. I’m never perfect. I just want him to stay on track that he’s one and continue to mature.”
He’s also excited to be reunited with ex-Jets QB Geno Smith. “I think that was really good for Geno to sign there,” he said.
Marshall is held in high regard by the NFL. He was invited to speak to the owners Monday about helping to bridge the gap between the players and owners. He has a very good working relationship with Roger Goodell. Last year, the NFL started “My Cause. My Cleats,” program, which allowed players to wear cleats to promote their causes during week 13 games. Marshall was honored the league picked him to speak to the owners.
Next week, it’s back to football as he attends chemistry class. Maybe Beckham and Shepard can show up by boat.