NFL teams
Sam Alipour, ESPN The Magazine 15y

Media Blitz: A few minutes with Coach Eli Manning

NFL, New York Giants

From what we can remember, our high school days were glorious. The buddies, the ladies, the awful, fresh-off-the-family-printer fake ID that, oddly, fooled everyone. And, of course, the games under those Friday night lights. Sadly, those days are gone, unless you're living in some lame Zac Efron movie -- or you're among the lucky few to participate in "Replay."

On Sunday, April 26, members of the 1993 Easton Area Red Rovers and Phillipsburg Stateliners (PA) football teams, deemed the greatest prep gridiron rivalry by USA Today, will replay their classic tie game in a full-contact, four-quarter reunion unlike any other. It's called "Replay," and it comes from the folks at Gatorade. (Webisodes covering their training process, and soon the game, are available at missionG.com. Check out episode one below.) Two of the brand's endorsers, Eli and Peyton Manning, will serve as honorary coaches for Phillipsburg and Easton, respectively.

We caught up with Coach Eli to talk about the game, his own high school days and his Giants, and tried to gauge whether this Manning is cut out to be a coach. One thing's for sure: Eli has coach-speak down pat.

The Mag: Coach, can these old guys handle the rigors of the game all these years later?
Manning: I think so. They've been training for eight weeks. No doubt they'll be sore the next day, having taken that pounding. Especially the linemen. But they're pumped. They're jacked about the opportunity. And keep in mind, that's Peyton's same year. It'd be like him getting his buddies together again. Peyton's not an old man. Yet.

Take your time machine back to the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. What would you like another crack at?
I'd love the opportunity to get back with my buddies, practice hard for two hours, but then grab something to eat, reconnect, hang on the weekends. I enjoyed high school so much. A lot of my buddies are still my best friends. We did things right. We weren't the most talented team, but we worked hard. We used to do our own offseason program, working out and doing routes. We weren't a powerhouse -- never won a state championship. But we had a lot of laughs and tears at that last game.

With all due respect, Coach, you left out a pretty key element to high school: where the girls at, dude?
Hey, I had a good-looking girlfriend in high school. (Laughs) I had a good mix of the dating thing and spending time with the guys. I don't have too many regrets. I'm not the kind of guy who looks back and regrets.

Still, I'll keep trying to get one out of you. If you had one do-over for your NFL career. What is it?
Maybe the Philly game from last year. There's a throw or two I'd like to have back, a few third-down plays we didn't convert, some things I'd like to change here or there. The playoff games mainly. Like my second year, that game with Carolina.

Let's talk Giants, Coach. Where do you think the defending Super Bowl champs went wrong last year?
Well, we're watching film and looking at things. We all need to improve. I need to improve on decision making and accuracy, get a better feel for certain plays and where to go based on the coverage. Look, we were a good team for most of the season, played great football, but we didn't finish the season the right way. We just need to work on focus, determination and finishing the season right.

And what would you tell Eli Manning to work on?
A few things. A lot of it is footwork, movement in the pocket, timing on the route. If I have to move around, make sure my arm gets high and I can still throw accurately while I avoid the rush and buy some extra time. A lot of it is in the film room. What's the reason? Why is this occurring? Walk through it in your head, and then take it outside and start changing your footwork. Make it natural, get faster and commit it to muscle memory.

How would you have handled the Plaxico Burress situation?
The Giants had to do what they had to do. They'd given him opportunities and chances, and he just kind of outdid his welcome here. We appreciate Plaxico for his seasons here -- the way he played and helping us win a championship. For that, I will, and the Giants will, always be grateful. But it was just time to go. Too many distractions, too much going on. It's a shame. I talked to him before he was released and caught up. Haven't been able to get him on the phone since (his release). I've been reaching out. But I'm sure I'll get a chance to talk to him real soon.

He missed some time last season and, clearly, you weren't the team you were the year prior. Can your current crop of receivers get it done?
I really like our receiving corps, because these guys work hard. They study. They're great guys who wanna play well. Steve Smith has done great stuff catching balls for us. (Domenik) Hixon's been catching touchdowns. We have (David) Tyree back, and (Sinorice) Moss. Kevin Boss is a tight end, but he's in the mix. He's caught a lot of TDs and he's getting better every year. These young guys are working hard. I know the Giants are in the search of a guy in the draft, and maybe a No. 1 receiver via free agency or trade. But I'm sure it'll work out.

You're on the clock, coach. Who do you take with the 29th pick?
They may go for a receiver or LB. Not sure who's available at that point. There isn't one receiver I looked at. Players can say we like a guy because he's tall, but we're not looking at the video like our GM and coaches. They watch so much film, every route, block, play, whether he's dogging it, talking to coaches and equipment guys, seeing how hard he works.

I guess being a coach isn't so sweet after all, eh?
Naw, it's a tough job. The hours are awful. It's a grind. Coaching high school might be easier, but being an NFL coach is a difficult, time consuming job. I have a lot of respect for what they do.

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