QB Eli Manning -- December 30, 2019
Q: What’s your reaction to the firing today?
A: Coach Shurmur and I had a great relationship. I think he is a great coach, I think he is a wonderful man and (I’m) just disappointed. I think you always feel responsible when a coach gets fired. It’s obviously because as players we didn’t do our part. We didn’t play well enough, we didn’t win enough games. I feel for him and all the coaches. They worked hard and did a lot of hard work and a lot of good things. Obviously, just didn’t win enough games for them to stay on and move forward, so (I’m) disappointed.
Q: Talk about your emotions coming into this locker room after what could have been your final game as a Giant?
A: Obviously, it’s kind of tough to know how you are going to feel on this day. I think it takes a little time for it to truly sink in. I have so many fond memories and that’s the great thing about football. You can reflect on the good things and you can choose what to remember and what to forget. I’m going to choose to remember the wins and the fellowship here with my teammates and coaches. From the past season and from the 16 seasons prior. Too many great memories and laughs and wins and celebrations to worry about the tough parts.
Q: Have you made a decision officially on what you are going to do?
A: No, I haven’t. I am going to think about it. Just dwell on it and talk to my family and figure out what’s best for me and us and what I want to do going forward.
Q: Do you have a time table on when you want to make that decision?
A: I don’t. No plans, just sit on it and hopefully have that answer on what I want to do and what my next steps are. I don’t want it to linger around, I want to try to make that as soon as possible. I’ll think upon it a bunch these next days and weeks and try to figure out what I want to do.
Q: How serious of an option is retirement? Is that one of the options?
A: Everything is an option. That’s the first decision, whether I want to continue to play or not. Then go from there.
Q: Do you think you have some quality football left in you?
A: That’s what I’ll decide and try to figure that out. I think I can still play but I’ll figure everything out.
Q: You have always said you can’t see yourself in another uniform. If a team said you can compete for a starting job, is that something you would have to consider?
A: That will come into the consideration. That’s what I will be thinking about these next couple of days.
Q: What’s your message to Daniel Jones?
A: I thought Daniel did a lot of really good things this year. It’s hard coming in as a rookie and playing. I think he had some unbelievable games. Obviously he had some tough games. I think in the future it will be good for him. I remember after my rookie year it was terrible and it wasn’t very good. Then the next year we go 11-5 and win the division. I think he will be so much more comfortable going into next season. I know there will be a new coach and maybe he will be learning new things. He’ll have that presence and have that experience and he will be better for it.
Q: I know you didn’t enjoy being a backup but if the Giants wanted you to come back in that role, would you consider it?
A: I doubt it. Backing up is not real fun.
Q: After 16 seasons, what are you most proud of?
A: It’s easy to say the championships and I think those are special memories. I think just the work every day, came in committed to getting better and finding ways to win games and to improve myself and improve my teammates. I’m proud of the friendships and being a good teammate to all the guys that came in here. Trying to help out anybody who needed help and work. I think the commitment was there and sometimes you got the result, sometimes you didn’t. I think I always gave myself, this team, and this organization everything I had.
Q: Would you every consider coaching?
A: I don’t think so. I felt like I was kind of a coach this year and I didn’t enjoy it that much. I guess I take it back, I am coaching my third-grade basketball team with my daughter. I’m the assistant but I take it pretty serious and I’m enjoying that. I’ll consider some coaching jobs.
Spot on.
When you look at sports figures for kids to look up to, he is right there at the top.