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Post-Game Transcript: Quarterback Eli Manning

Eric from BBI : Admin : 12/31/2017 5:39 pm
Quarterback Eli Manning

December 31, 2017

Q: How did it feel hearing fans chant your name as you walked off the field?

A: It felt good just to get the win. After a tough year and a lot of tough games, to get the win and with the situation – we’ve got a lot of new guys playing today. Receivers, I’ve been working with them for a few weeks, but they made some plays. It wasn’t the prettiest game I’ve ever had, but to get this win, feel good for Coach Spags, for all the coaches. It’s not just been tough on players, this is tough on the coaches and the fans and everybody. So, it might not mean a whole lot when you look at it to get the third win, but it does mean something to the players. Guys have been working hard, they’ve been competing, they’ve been giving great effort all year and just to get a win and feel good in the locker room and have some cheers and have some hugs and kind of end this tough year on a good note is special.

Q: How do you think some of the receivers who were recently added to the roster responded to some of their first NFL games ever?

A: Yeah, I thought Hunter [Sharp], obviously got a touchdown, ran a great route, got a touchdown right there, so made some nice plays for us. [Marquise] Bundy, I don’t think we got him a catch, we tried to get it to him a few times. So, he’s still a young guy, got some learning to do. But I thought Travis [Rudolph] made some plays. We didn’t do a whole lot in the second half, but our offensive line started firing it off, I thought played well. There was some popping going on up front, so that was good to see. We ran the ball very well, it started with the second play on a huge run by Orleans [Darkwa].

Q: What did General Manager Dave Gettleman say to you outside the locker room?

A: He just said congratulations and we’ll talk soon.

Q: You haven’t had a chance to have a longer conversation with Gettleman yet?

A: No, I have not. So, I’m sure we’ll talk – I’m not sure when soon is, but we’ll talk soon.

Q: Are you aware that Gettleman said on Friday that his intention is to have you back as the starter next season?

A: Yeah, I mean I heard what he said Friday. So, again, I just wanted to finish the season and then I knew we’d talk sometime and figure out what direction he wants to go in and hopefully I’m part of that plan.

Q: Is it reassuring to hear something like that from Gettleman?

A: Well, I think we’ve just got to see what happens. So, again, when we talk – I always think the talks in person are more important than what’s said in the media. So, we’ll have a discussion and I look forward to that.

Q: When you walked off the field and waved to the fans, was that an acknowledgement of the uncertainty about your future?

A: No, I always do that at the fans. My family was up there, so I’m usually waving at them and waving at the crowd that was here today, that were calling my name, or chanting, that were here supporting us. So, you always appreciate the fans and especially the fans in a tough year and in this situation. Cold and not playing for much, to show up for this game and cheering the way they did and hanging in there, I appreciate that.

Q: Did you hear the fans chanting your name in the fourth quarter?

A: Yeah, I did, I heard them. And, again, I appreciate all the fans, their support this whole year. It’s been overwhelming and for them to support me, support the team the way they have, it’s been special.

Q: Now that the season is over, how difficult has it been for you?

A: Yeah, it’s probably been my toughest year of football, I would say. Obviously with the losses, with the injuries, with a benching and coming back and uncertainty and everything going on. But really, the losses more than anything probably. It’s tough, it’s tough to prepare every week and to put all the effort into it and to not get the outcomes you want. Especially some heartbreakers that we lost early on in the season and then we kind of started losing some of our personnel. So, it’s been tough, but hopefully we learn from it and grow from it.

Q: Is it still your preference to be the Giants’ starting quarterback Week 1 of next season?

A: Yeah, 100 percent. I don’t want to go play football anywhere else. This is where I want to play, this is my family, the New York Giants. So, hopefully they feel the same way and we can make that work out.

Q: Are you curious to see if the team selects a quarterback with the number two overall pick in the upcoming draft?

A: We’ll see. Obviously, we’ve got a while until April, so we’ll know a lot more by then.

Q: How strange was it to start the season with Odell Beckham, Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard as the starting wide receivers and then finish the season with who you had today?

A: Yeah, it’s tough. You spend all offseason, all summer, training camps, working on your timing, working on your rhythm, working on certain routes and then all the guys that you’ve kind of worked those many hours with [got injured]. Now, you’re throwing some routes to guys you haven’t thrown yet. Maybe you threw a certain route in practice to Bundy and now you’ve got Hunter running into the game. So, you hope they run it the way you think they are, but there’s always a little hesitation, or a little kind of holding it an extra second just to make sure they’re going to be in the right spot. So, it’s hard to be in rhythm and on time with a lot of things, but I thought they hung in there, they did a good job, knew their assignments and were able to make a couple plays for us.

WE can make that work out.  
KeoweeFan : 12/31/2017 6:26 pm : link
I've done negotiating in my past, and that sounds to me like an opening statement that says compromise is very possible.
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