Eli Manning ended his retirement press conference on Friday with a well thought out line that personified what it is like to don Giant Blue.
“Wellington Mara always said, ‘Once a Giant, Always a Giant.’ For me, it’s ‘Only a Giant.”
Manning gave his all for this city and now the city is going to give back to him by lighting up the Empire State Building in Giant colors alongside a No. 10 on Saturday night.
In his retirement speech at the Giants’ facility on Friday Manning hit on all cylinders as if he were playing in a high-stakes playoff game in Green Bay or San Francisco or against the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
“To the Giants fans, you are definitely unique, but I love you for that. I’m walking away today feeling like a New Yorker. Well, at least a Northeasterner and that says a lot about a guy from New Orleans who went to Ole Miss.
“Since I’ve only been here, I’m biased when I say that the New York Giants are the greatest organization in the NFL and how they treat players, coaches and personnel. The team’s driving commitment: to win football games. It’s a rarity, but here, “Team” always comes first.
“It’s been an honor to be a part of this family and I hope that I’ve represented the organization in the way that you wanted me to from my first day to my last.”
Granted, it was time for Manning to go, but years from now, Giant fans and Eli haters are going t realize that he was something special — a one-of-a-kind player and person you just don’t see anymore.
