PFT: Eli calls out Tiki

[WoodysGirl]

POSTED 3:12 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 3:59 p.m. EDT, August 21, 2007
CAT FIGHT IN NEW YORK
Giants quarterback Eli Manning, previously believed to have the personality of a mop bucket, apparently is changing.

And former teammate Tiki Barber could be the guy who brings it out of him.

During his Sunday night debut on NBC's football coverage, Tiki correctly questioned Eli's leadership skills, explaining that Eli was awkward and uncomfortable while addressing a room full of veterans such as Barber, Michael Strahan, and Jeremy Shockey.

Well, Eli has responded. It's not quite fire-and-brimstone material but, for Eli Milquetoast, it's a start:

"I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season and [how] he's lost the heart," Manning said, according to Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger. As a quarterback, you're reading your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it's about the 10th week. Well, I could see that a little bit at times."

Rrrrrowwww.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdQl5fkh8-c​

Why do we have a feeling that this one will continue? Oh, yeah -- it's because Tiki doesn't know when to shut the hell up.​

 

[Clove]

POSTED 3:12 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 3:59 p.m. EDT, August 21, 2007

CAT FIGHT IN NEW YORK
Giants quarterback Eli Manning, previously believed to have the personality of a mop bucket, apparently is changing.​

And former teammate Tiki Barber could be the guy who brings it out of him.​

During his Sunday night debut on NBC's football coverage, Tiki correctly questioned Eli's leadership skills, explaining that Eli was awkward and uncomfortable while addressing a room full of veterans such as Barber, Michael Strahan, and Jeremy Shockey.​

Well, Eli has responded. It's not quite fire-and-brimstone material but, for Eli Milquetoast, it's a start:​

"I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season and [how] he's lost the heart," Manning said, according to Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger. As a quarterback, you're reading your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it's about the 10th week. Well, I could see that a little bit at times."​

Rrrrrowwww.​

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdQl5fkh8-c​

Why do we have a feeling that this one will continue? Oh, yeah -- it's because Tiki doesn't know when to shut the hell up.​

Yeah, we need these guys to be in shambles, I hope Eli is bothered and can't play because of all this.

 

[Juke99]

Eli finally takes a stand.

This is his year to take control and leadership of the team.

My nickel says he's not up to the task at hand. I don't think he's a very good QB.

 

[Hostile]

This will play well in his locker room, but will it transfer to the field?

 

[Go Big D!]

More of this story...


Manning responds to Barber's criticism
Associated Press, Updated 20 minutes ago

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Tiki Barber wanted a more intense, fiery Eli Manning. The New York Giants quarterback gave Tiki what he wanted in a loud ripping voice on Tuesday.

Two days after being criticized on national television by Barber for a lack of strong leadership, Manning ripped his former teammate and current NBC football analyst for distracting the team last season with his early retirement announcement and his criticism of coach Tom Coughlin.
"I guess I'm just happy for Tiki that he's making a smooth transition into the TV world," Manning said. "You know, I'll be interested to see if he has anything to say (about a team) besides the Giants, and what his comments will be on that."


Normally reserved and never one to criticize a coach or teammate, Manning seemed to enjoy going after Barber, the Giants' all-time leading rusher who retired after last season at age 31 to pursue a television career.

Speaking during the halftime show of the Sunday Night Football game between the Giants and Baltimore Ravens, Barber had said that Manning's attempt to lead an offensive meeting in the 12th week of the last season was "comical" at times.

Manning didn't find the comment funny.

"It's just one of those deals. I'm not going to lose any sleep about what Tiki has to say," Manning said. "I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season, and he's lost the heart (to play).

"As a quarterback you're reading that your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it's about the 10th week," Manning said. "I can see that a little bit at times. But I'm not going to get concerned. I'm going to go out there and play ball."

Barber was not immediately available for comment.

Giants teammates came to Manning's defense on Tuesday.

Wide receiver Amani Toomer, who played his entire career with Barber, was stunned.

"I thought Tiki and Eli were pretty good friends," Toomer said. "It's kind of strange to have him say something like that and to make a point of it like that. Maybe he had somebody else in his ear kind of coaxing him into saying stuff, because I don't believe he really believes that. I don't know why he'd say something like that."

Center Shaun O'Hara said that Manning is progressing as a leader, especially for a fourth-year player.

"I don't have any problems with Eli's leadership and the way he does it," O'Hara said. "He's doing it his way. I think players appreciate that. It's a shame everybody wants Eli to be somebody they think he should be instead of just letting him be himself."

O'Hara noted that Manning might be under the microscope more than most young quarterbacks because he is the brother of Peyton Manning.

"For me, you can be Johnny Rah-Rah, but if you're not doing your job, if you're not pulling your weight, it doesn't matter what you say," O'Hara said. "Being loud, that doesn't make you a great leader."

Tackle David Diehl said Manning showed his leadership Sunday night, getting the offensive lined up right when the Ravens threw a couple of new looks at them on defense.

Giants new quarterback coach Chris Palmer added that Manning does everything a coach wants.

"Everybody leads in a different way," Palmer said. "If you buy any business books, there are 101 ways to lead. He'll lead in his own particular fashion."

While Barber praised Manning at times for his play, he also questioned whether he could be a leader of men and make plays when the chips were down.

"His personality hasn't been so that he can step up, make a strong statement and have people believe that it's coming from his heart," Barber said on the show.

Barber then told the story about Manning being uncomfortable talking to the offense in Week 12.

"He didn't feel like his voice was going to be strong enough and it showed," Barber said. "Sometimes it was almost comical the way that he would say things."

While Barber rushed for 1,662 yards last season, the second highest single-season total in Giants history, he also was a distraction in an 8-8 season that saw the Giants make the playoffs.

He went on record in early October saying that the 2006 season would probably be his last. He also created problems for Coughlin when he criticized him for pulling away from the running game too soon in a loss to Jacksonville in November.

It was the second time he went after his head coach.

After a playoff loss to Carolina in 2005, Barber said Coughlin was outcoached by Panther coach John Fox, a former Giants assistant

 

[theebs]

I have been saying this for awhile now, at least to those who know me personally, that I think barber leaving that team was a good thing for them and if strahan were to leave that would be good too.

I cant imagine how difficult it must be for manning to be a leader and take control when you have whiny pretentious players like strahan and barber constantly running to the media over every little event.

the fact that barber would say this stuff about manning makes me believe this even more. I think they will not run the ball as well, obviously barber is extremely talented but they will be a better team. The team doesnt have to sit around waiting for barber to give his evaluations of everyone to the media and be the dominant figure.

I really can not stand barber and never could have.

 

[5Stars]

This will play well in his locker room, but will it transfer to the field?

I think Eli's slide began when daddy came to his rescue and told him not to play with the Chargers. If he would have just gone where he was drafted and not go through the "daddy told me so" stuff, I bet he would have had a better reputation than he has now, and probably more successful had he just went to the Chargers.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

"I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season and [how] he's lost the heart," Manning said, according to Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger. As a quarterback, you're reading your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it's about the 10th week. Well, I could see that a little bit at times."
​

This SHOULD end it.... but it wont!!!

 

[TunaFan33]

Eli finally takes a stand.

This is his year to take control and leadership of the team.

My nickel says he's not up to the task at hand. I don't think he's a very good QB.

He might have learned a few things from his brother Peyton's Super Bowl run last year-who knows?

From what I've read on the Giants MB, they seem to be very pleased with him this preseason(not just performance wise, but alot of the intangibles too).

IMHO-Tiki did the Giants alot more damage than TO did to SF/Philly-his loss may very well benefit them this year.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

So Michael Irvin was right when he said Tiki's announcement in the middle of the season hurt the team?

I wonder if all those who criticized Mike for that statement will take it back now that Eli said it did effect the team?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

So Michael Irvin was right when he said Tiki's announcement in the middle of the season hurt the team?

I wonder if all those who criticized Mike for that statement will take it back now that Eli said it did effect the team?

How on earth could someone think that would not negatively effect the team?

When one of your key players starts saying that hes giving up and becomes an attention trollop it can only be a bad thing.

 

[TunaFan33]

How on earth could someone think that would not negatively effect the team?

When one of your key players starts saying that hes giving up and becomes an attention trollop it can only be a bad thing.

If anything, it's too little, too late. The Giants leaders SHOULD have confronted Tiki about this LAST year.

 

[Pabst]

So, little Eli complains after Tiki leaves the locker room for good?

Wow, yea, that backbone of his is growing really well.

 

[Frozen700]

Tiki is just 1 sad, gay fella....never liked him....i always wanted to just punch the ---- out of him...seriously...i really dislike that fake fool

 

[CATCH17]

When I was watching Tiki during halftime my jaw dropped to the floor when he said that.

I love how he called out Manning.

Just imagine if Manning gets hurt or something and their backup comes in and performs better than Eli has?

 

[mitchell2254]

So, little Eli complains after Tiki leaves the locker room for good?

Wow, yea, that backbone of his is growing really well.

Don't make alot of sense man. Tiki never said anything about Eli til after he left the locker room for good. So, how could you say that about Eli?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

So, little Eli complains after Tiki leaves the locker room for good?

Wow, yea, that backbone of his is growing really well.

He countered.
And what he countered with was probably more detrimental to the team.

Big difference.

 

[DragonCowboy]

Tiki always got on my nerves too.

Always whining and crying about something.

 

[Pabst]

If Eli thought it was such a big distraction last year, he should have manned-up and done something about it... last year. Not wait til he gets his feelings hurt and then bring it up through the media to sound righteous.

Leaders don't mouth off at a problem after the fact, much less a year after the fact. They sit down and deal with it, man to man, when it happens. Of course, that's just my opinion.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

you go Eli!