Eli sees good times ahead
ELI Manning doesn’t agree the Giants wasted his prime partially because, even at age 37, he believes he’s still in it.
“I still think I have some peak years left,” a confident Manning said at the Guiding Eyes for the Blind annual Golf Classic at Mount Kisco Country Club. “So we can make it right.”
Manning’s ex-teammate Shaun O’Hara had said Saturday at the Landon Collins Celebrity Softball game that the Giants “wasted the last few years of Eli’s career. They wasted his prime … it’s been hard to watch.”
Justin Tuck, another prominent former teammate, agreed with O’Hara. Manning was appreciative for the support but took the high road.
“No, I don’t look at it that way,” the franchise quarterback said. “I appreciate those guys say- ing it. They’re teammates and I obviously won championships with both of them, so I think those guys are always loyal. But that’s not the way I look at it … I don’t look at it that way. I appreciate everything the Giants have done, and I’m excited about being there this year and taking advantage of this year.”
Manning’s belief in himself, though, is only mirroring the nearuniversal support he is receiving from management and the fan base despite his poor play last season that showed signs of decline in his game. The love for Manning was on full display at last week’s Town Hall at the Beacon Theatre, when Manning received the only standing ovation of the entire night from a fan base fatigued by a 3-13 season but still wearing their No. 10 jerseys proudly.
“I think there’s some excitement for this year, which is good,” Manning said of his reaction to that standing ovation. “Obviously we’ve had some changes and new players and draft picks and free agent (pickups). I think hopefully guys remember two years ago, ‘Hey, we won 11 games.’ Last year obviously we went through a tough streak, but hey, that’s football, it can change very quickly from year-to-year from good to bad or bad to good. It’s good to see the fans are excited, and I’m excited to be back and want to give them something to keep cheering for.”
Manning made clear he is enjoying coach Pat Shurmur’s new offense, too. He stressed the “common sense” simplicity and freedom of Shurmur’s offense and coaching style that are aiding a smooth transition.
“I feel good with the offense. I really do,” Manning said. “It makes sense. I can visualize it right when the coach starts calling it. And kind of from the get-go, for whatever reason — I don’t know if it’s having been through two offenses or … it just has kind of common sense to it. So I’m enjoying it. I’m learning from it. I’ve enjoyed (offensive coordinator/QB) Coach (Mike) Shula and Coach Shurmur and picking their brains on certain calls and plays, and it’s been exciting and I think it’s going well.”
Manning said Shurmur “just has a way of trying to keep things very simple and not make it difficult and just kind of keeping football kind of simple in terms of making calls.”
The Minnesota Vikings’ offense excelled last season with Shurmur as offensive coordinator and QB Case Keenum throwing to wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, tight end Kyle Rudolph, and running backs Dalvin Cook (early before his injury), Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray. And Manning said that encourages the Giants.
“Their offense did a good job last year and I think there’s some similarities in some of the skill position guys that they had on their team that we have,” Manning said. “I’m excited about the possibilities of being able to move the ball, being able to run the football and hit some big plays.”
“Evan Engram’s playing well, Sterling Shepard, some of the new receivers, the offensive line’s doing some good things, and Saquon,” Manning said. “So there’s still a lot of weapons, and then you throw Odell in there, and it should be better.”