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Mannings toss around footballs and jokes, too
NEW YORK (AP) - Peyton Manning dropped back to pass and found his receiver wide open.
Ryan McKillip ran the perfect route and made the perfect catch for a touchdown. It hardly mattered the 8-year-old McKillip lives in Dallas and cheers for the Cowboys. He got to catch a pass from the star Colts quarterback."It felt good," the modest McKillip said as he walked back to his family.
Manning and his brother, Giants quarterback Eli, were in Lower Manhattan on Monday as part of a promotional appearance. The two stood on a makeshift football field, tossing passes to youngsters while giving some encouragement, too.
Just before McKillip went out for his pass, Peyton told him how to run the route. Oh, and one other thing, he whispered to McKillip: "Make sure you catch it!"
Peyton had plenty to say to the kids who lined up for their chance to catch a ball. "Show me some moves!" Peyton screamed to one boy. "Spike it!" he shouted to another after a touchdown reception.
And then there were cousins Sean Doherty and Joey Kopacz. Doherty, 9, showed up in a Peyton jersey, while Kopacz, 8, had on the Eli jersey. They posed for photos with the Mannings, though Doherty missed his pass from Peyton.
Doherty said it was "exciting" to meet Peyton. The Mannings hope to make things exciting this season for fans around the NFL.
Peyton comes in off his record-breaking performance in 2004, when he set the league mark for touchdown passes in a season with 49. Eli enters his second year, but first full season as a starter, after being taken No. 1 overall.
The brothers said they never expected to be playing professional football together.
"It's a very special opportunity," Peyton said. "It's something I've never taken for granted. Eli and I were never on a mission to play in the NFL. But we're having a lot of fun."
Peyton was having plenty of fun cracking some jokes, too. When asked how he felt about being in his brother's town, he said, "I'm out of my element here. It's great. He takes me out to eat and picks up dinner."
On his brother just starting his career: "This young stallion here makes me feel old. He's 24, I'm 29. My arm's hanging off the side."
Then he related a story about tossing the ball around back home in New Orleans.
"He waits until the wind picks up and then he throws," Peyton said. "He likes to embarrass me in front of all the people who watch us throw."
Kidding aside, the two brothers know how much pressure will be on them this season. Peyton has to help his team get past the Patriots, while Eli is charged with turning the Giants around.
Eli said he feels more comfortable now that he is going into his second year entrenched as the starter.
"It's easier going through the offseason," he said. "You're the starting quarterback, you take charge, get everybody out there working out. I ask more questions, I'm more vocal. I'm more confident in all areas my second year. We have better communication. I think it's going to help us out."
Eli started the final seven games of the season and showed glimpses of why he was taken so high.
"The way he ended the season was very promising," Giants receiver Amani Toomer said. "Hopefully he can keep building from there."
NEW YORK (AP) - Peyton Manning dropped back to pass and found his receiver wide open.
Ryan McKillip ran the perfect route and made the perfect catch for a touchdown. It hardly mattered the 8-year-old McKillip lives in Dallas and cheers for the Cowboys. He got to catch a pass from the star Colts quarterback."It felt good," the modest McKillip said as he walked back to his family.
Manning and his brother, Giants quarterback Eli, were in Lower Manhattan on Monday as part of a promotional appearance. The two stood on a makeshift football field, tossing passes to youngsters while giving some encouragement, too.
Just before McKillip went out for his pass, Peyton told him how to run the route. Oh, and one other thing, he whispered to McKillip: "Make sure you catch it!"
Peyton had plenty to say to the kids who lined up for their chance to catch a ball. "Show me some moves!" Peyton screamed to one boy. "Spike it!" he shouted to another after a touchdown reception.
And then there were cousins Sean Doherty and Joey Kopacz. Doherty, 9, showed up in a Peyton jersey, while Kopacz, 8, had on the Eli jersey. They posed for photos with the Mannings, though Doherty missed his pass from Peyton.
Doherty said it was "exciting" to meet Peyton. The Mannings hope to make things exciting this season for fans around the NFL.
Peyton comes in off his record-breaking performance in 2004, when he set the league mark for touchdown passes in a season with 49. Eli enters his second year, but first full season as a starter, after being taken No. 1 overall.
The brothers said they never expected to be playing professional football together.
"It's a very special opportunity," Peyton said. "It's something I've never taken for granted. Eli and I were never on a mission to play in the NFL. But we're having a lot of fun."
Peyton was having plenty of fun cracking some jokes, too. When asked how he felt about being in his brother's town, he said, "I'm out of my element here. It's great. He takes me out to eat and picks up dinner."
On his brother just starting his career: "This young stallion here makes me feel old. He's 24, I'm 29. My arm's hanging off the side."
Then he related a story about tossing the ball around back home in New Orleans.
"He waits until the wind picks up and then he throws," Peyton said. "He likes to embarrass me in front of all the people who watch us throw."
Kidding aside, the two brothers know how much pressure will be on them this season. Peyton has to help his team get past the Patriots, while Eli is charged with turning the Giants around.
Eli said he feels more comfortable now that he is going into his second year entrenched as the starter.
"It's easier going through the offseason," he said. "You're the starting quarterback, you take charge, get everybody out there working out. I ask more questions, I'm more vocal. I'm more confident in all areas my second year. We have better communication. I think it's going to help us out."
Eli started the final seven games of the season and showed glimpses of why he was taken so high.
"The way he ended the season was very promising," Giants receiver Amani Toomer said. "Hopefully he can keep building from there."
