For 16 years as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback, Eli Manning’s point of view was always in demand as a new season approached. Even though Manning is entering his fifth season of retirement, his perspective is always welcomed.
Manning recently caught up with The Athletic and shared his thoughts on rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, quarterback Daniel Jones and his Pro Football Hall of Fame prospects:
I know you were at some training camp practices. What were your first impressions of Malik Nabers?
I’ve been impressed with Nabers. He seems like a guy who’s very explosive. Find ways to get the ball in his hands, give him shots, go up and catch it. He’s one of those guys you don’t have to be real picky on the routes that you have to run with him. Throw him a slant, throw him a bubble, throw him a screen, throw him a hitch — he can make stuff happen. Take shots downfield. Just move him around, find different ways to be creative to get some one-on-ones with him.
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There’s an obvious parallel there with another first-round receiver from LSU. Do you see the Odell Beckham Jr. comparison?
It’ll be interesting. You hope. I hope that for the Giants and for Daniel (Jones) to have that guy where you can throw him a slant, and he can take it 80 (yards). Find different ways to put him in a lot of different situations and different routes to get open. I hope it works out that way.
Whether it was Beckham or Plaxico Burress earlier in your career, how much does having that true “No. 1” receiver impact an offense?
It makes a big difference. It’s a guy where if it’s one-on-one, it’s third-and-4, and they’re playing man-to-man, you can trust that guy. He’s going to go win. And if they change things up or start doubling him, it’s going to create great opportunities for other receivers to get open. Maybe get (Jalin) Hyatt more one-on-ones. Maybe it makes teams play more two-high and more shell, and you get better boxes to run. It can change up a game plan for the defensive side when you have a true No. 1 who’s explosive and can take over a game.
I know Beckham missed most of the offseason as a rookie, but how do you build up that chemistry with a guy who is different — in a good way — than other receivers?
It’s just getting them in practice. Trying to throw as many situations at them. You’ve got to learn what this guy can do. What’s his range? That’s part of practice. You’ve got to throw some balls up that maybe it’s not a great decision, but I’ve gotta test this guy. I want to see if he’s going to come back for it. Can I back-shoulder him? Does he have an extra gear on deep balls? A lot of that is testing him. Changing plays, audibling plays, throwing differing concepts at him — can he understand all of this to make sure he’s ready for game day?
I always have to check in with you for the state of Daniel Jones. He’s almost in the same place he was two years ago. What’s your advice to him after “Hard Knocks” and everything that happened during the offseason?
Just go play football. He’s focused. He’s worked hard to get healthy, to get where he is. He’s looked great in training camp running around, moving around. I think he feels confident about that, which is important. You’ve got to go in there feeling very confident about your health, and you can do all the things that he’s done — being able to run, being able to move in the pocket. Just go out there and try to win football games. I know he’s excited for this opportunity.
Everyone freaked out about the first quarter of the second preseason game. How important was preseason performance to you as a player?
I don’t think my preseason numbers were very good. I’ve never looked. I don’t remember throwing too many preseason touchdowns. If I did, I don’t remember any of them, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it.
How big of an adjustment is it for a QB when you have a new play caller?
I think the fact that it’s the same offense and the same scheme and the same wording, it’s just about having great communication with the play caller about certain situations. Getting on the same page. Plays that Daniel likes, plays that (coach Brian) Daboll really likes. Just making sure they’re calling them at the right time, they both see things the same way. If you’re calling it in certain situations, what do you want to do if you call that and we get this defense? Do you want to check it? Do you want to save it for later? Just getting on the same page with all those things.
For most of your career, your head coach didn’t call plays. Was it different when you had head coaches call plays later in your career?
It can be. When the head coach is not in the meeting room as much, not going through all the film and looking at different ideas and having all the answers, sometimes there’s one more step. You have to ask your quarterback coach, and he has to ask the coordinator and then it goes to the head coach. It sometimes creates some extra steps, but Daboll has been around it. He knows it, so hopefully they can make that a smooth transition.
You’re going to be eligible for the Hall of Fame in a few months. What are your thoughts on that process starting for you?
The good thing is I can’t control the process. Everything they’re looking into has already been done five years ago. I can’t throw any more passes. I can’t throw any more interceptions, either. I’ll just enjoy it, I guess. If I get invited in, it would be a great honor.
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Which player (or coach) from every NFL team will be next to make the Hall of Fame?
The thing that’s funny about you is you’ve always been a polarizing figure even though you don’t have a polarizing personality. Is it weird that you’re going to be hotly debated in that voting room and people have very strong takes on both ends of your legacy? What’s it like to be in the middle of that?
I try to avoid it. I’m not going to be selling myself for this. I can laugh and understand people have their takes. I can understand both sides of the argument.
(Photo: Mindy Small / Getty Images)
