August 22, 200719 yr I don't have the link right now but they are starting to get into a media battle knocking each other.
August 22, 200719 yr But here's a link.... http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-manning-barber&prov=ap&type=lgns
August 22, 200719 yr I wouldn't say they are "at it". Tiki said some unkind words about Eli on NBC and Eli responded.
August 22, 200719 yr Tiki about Eli... "I think he’s been very good as a quarterback. He’s had great yardage in some games. He’s been a leader in some games. He has made some mistakes -- some interceptions, some bad mechanical things. But I think the biggest question about Eli right now and the one that everybody’s asking -- and it gets convoluted a little bit in the media -- is: Can he be a leader of men? Can he make these guys play for him when the chips go down?" Cont'd... "He hasn’t shown it. 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." And more.... "He has a great demeanor. And that’s good in some respects. Last year about Week 12 I turned over the offensive motivational speech to Eli and he was gung-ho to do it, but he was uncomfortable doing it. I think a lot of it had to do with vets being around -- myself, Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress. He didn’t feel like his voice was going to be strong enough and it showed. Sometimes it was almost comical the way that he would say things." *Collinsworth then said he and Tiki played a game of “Who would you trade Eli for?” and came up with 10 quarterbacks in the NFL they would rather have -- including Rivers and Roethlisberger. Tiki interrupted to praise Big Ben* More from Tiki..."What was talked about a lot, in fact, when Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl was how the Giants easily could’ve taken Ben Roethlisberger It’s his leadership ability, by the way -- Ben Roethlisberger. It’s not the tons of yardage he put up. It was his leadership ability that made him win the Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers."
August 22, 200719 yr Tiki said it was "Comical" watching Eli struggle... You are completely wrong. That is not what Tiki said at all.
August 22, 200719 yr Author http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-manning-barber&prov=ap&type=lgns
August 22, 200719 yr Manning responds... “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." “It’s just one of those deals. I’m not going to lose any sleep about what Tiki has to say. 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 (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. 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.” Told that he sounded a little angry or frustrated, Manning said, “It’s just one of those deals. The guy goes to the media and he’s got to say stuff. He’s been put in a situation where he’s got to talk. That’s just the way it is. That’s the world we live in and you’ve got to deal with it.” Asked later if it felt good to unload on Tiki, Manning didn’t back down. “I don’t like to show up anybody,” Manning said. “That’s just the way I am. That’s just the way I’ll always be, probably.”
August 22, 200719 yr Author I thought Tikki was a little more classy than that but I was glad to see Eli stand his ground. I agree with Manning that Tikki didn't handle things very well last season. I guess I agree with both of them to an extent.
August 22, 200719 yr Amani Toomer chimes in... “I thought Tiki and Eli were pretty good friends,” WR Amani 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.” Asked if he’s worried that Barber’s criticisms will be a running theme this season, Toomer said there’s something else to worry about after his former teammate has already taken on Tom Coughlin and Manning. “Who’s next?” Toomer asked. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/
August 22, 200719 yr On Tiki's radio show tonight... “I’m glad he’s sticking up for himself,” Tiki said. “I’ll tell you this, it was not said maliciously,” Tiki said. “I tell things as I see them. Point in fact, Dick Ebersol of NBC sports hired me to be honest, fair and opinionated. That’s all I’m going to be.” Barber also seemed surprised by the reaction (or overreaction) to his comments. “I just saw it on ESPN News and I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Tiki said. “Five sentences on a half-hour halftime show and now all of a sudden I’m going to be back page news? You’ve got to love New York.”
August 22, 200719 yr You are completely wrong. That is not what Tiki said at all. I wouldn't say "completely"... "Barber had said that Manning's attempt to lead an offensive meeting in the 12th week of the last season was "comical" at times."
August 22, 200719 yr I wouldn't say "completely"... "Barber had said that Manning's attempt to lead an offensive meeting in the 12th week of the last season was "comical" at times." He was talking about Eli's speech...not Eli's play.
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