Eli was asked about Jeter. He told how Jeter had encouraged him when things were not going well in the beginning of his career. Then he said he used Jeter as a model of how to behave in NY. And finally he asked "Which one of you voted against him for the Hall of Fame?".
Eli continued to be a class act yesterday. But I thought we saw him a bit more unplugged than we had during his playing career. Calling out the fans in his own way. Calling out the writers, particularly with that dig on Jeter.
But seeing the sheer amount of people that showed up to send him off was amazing. The others who couldn't make it but left messages. The people from around the NFL - legends - who commented. Favre and Rodgers may have had more skill than Eli, but they weren't more well liked. I honestly wonder if the Packers are going to bother with a send off for Rodgers when he is done, or whether any one will care when he retires. He is such a jack wagon, and a lot of people know it. Eli cried when the Giants let Coughlin go, because he thought he was to blame. Rodgers took another shot at McCarthy when he was hired by the Cowboys.
No, I'm not bringing those guys up in an attempt to prop up Eli. Eli doesn't need that. It's automatic with him. His skills may have eroded the past couple years, but he handled pretty much every adverse situation with ultimate class. And that counts for a lot.
There will be a continued debate of whether he is a HOFer, at least for the next couple of days until SB coverage really gets underway. Sorry to break it to the naysayers, but he's going to Canton.
I know there were extenuating circumstances (he engineered his way to the Vikings after he left the Packers), but the Packers took five years to retire Favre's number. He last played in 2010, but the Packers did not really honor him until much later.
In any event, I am not saying he is disliked. But I don't think a lot of people like Favre all that much. I have not exactly polled people on the subject, though, so I really don't know.
In terms of the "dig", I know he was joking around. I thought Manning's speech yesterday was tremendous. And his quote at the end of it was iconic. "Wellington Mara said once a Giant, always a Giant. For me, it's only a Giant." Simply awesome to hear.
As for the Packers waiting for 5 years until they retired Farve's number...giving that he played for two other teams after he left the 'Pack, it was appropriate to wait a few years before retiring his number.
My guess would be Rodgers and he was still but hurt from getting his ass handed to him last week
No one seems to have picked up in his first joke and dig at MetLife Stadium - which we pretty much all agree is a billion dollar pile of crap - when he spoke about his last game starting at home versus the Dolphins. It's the kickoff to his entire speech.
"... My favorite part of the stadium : the tunnel."
Too subtle for most folks and apparently 100% of the press to pick up in it.
Yo, Eli, your favorite part of the stadium is the tunnel?"
IMO he sets a tone right there. As serious and emotional as the event was for him, he opened with a joke/dig!
No one seems to have picked up in his first joke and dig at MetLife Stadium - which we pretty much all agree is a billion dollar pile of crap - when he spoke about his last game starting at home versus the Dolphins. It's the kickoff to his entire speech.
"... My favorite part of the stadium : the tunnel."
Too subtle for most folks and apparently 100% of the press to pick up in it.
Yo, Eli, your favorite part of the stadium is the tunnel?"
IMO he sets a tone right there. As serious and emotional as the event was for him, he opened with a joke/dig!
No doubt many times the semi-privacy of the tunnel afforded relief, at least.