As soon as the Giants won Super Bowl XLVI, they understood they would receive the honor of playing in the first game of the 2012 season, which traditionally has kicked off the Thursday before the opening weekend.
This season, though, the Giants will play in the opener on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 8:30 p.m. at MetLife Stadium, one day earlier than usual to avoid a conflict with President Obama’s speech to the Democratic National Convention on the night of Sept. 6.
Given the NFL likes, if possible, to create a matchup of the two most recent Super Bowl champions, it’s a good bet the Packers visit the Meadowlands for the Wednesday night opener in what would be a rematch of the Giants’ stirring 37-20 playoff victory at Lambeau Field. The Packers are scheduled to play a road game against the Giants, who sometime this spring will pay a visit to Obama at the White House. Other intriguing possibilities for Opening Night are the Steelers and Saints, with the Cowboys always an option for television purposes.
A Wednesday night NFL game is extremely rare; the last time one was played was Sept. 22, 1948, when the Rams beat the Lions 44-7.
The tradition of having the Super Bowl winner play in the opener began in 2004 and since then the defending champs are unbeaten in the season openers.
A few days after receiver Mario Manningham, back in his Ohio hometown, said he was “75 percent’’ sure he would not be returning to the Giants he increased the likelihood he will stay put.
“It’s a 50-50 percent chance, we’re not sure what’s going on right now,’’ Manningham said Tuesday morning on WFAN. “We’re just going to take it slow and see what’s going on, let the smoke clear a little bit. Just never know where I’m going to end up at.’’
Despite the 75-percent quote circulating in more than one Ohio publication, Manningham said, “You know how rumors get spread, I didn’t say anything like that.’’
Preliminary talks did not lead to anything close to a contract agreement, and Manningham will become an unrestricted free agent March 13. He said he wants to remain with the team that made him a third-round pick in 2008 and the team that earlier this month won Super Bowl XLVI thanks in large part to his incredible 38-yard reception on the game-winning touchdown drive.
“Yeah, that’s what I want to do, stay here,’’ Manningham said. “Why not?’’
Well, there might be several million reasons why not. Victor Cruz supplanted Manningham in the starting lineup last season and the Giants are not going to break the bank for their No. 3 receiver, even one as talented as Manningham. Asked if he would accept less money to stay, Manningham said, “I’m not sure yet. I have to see what’s going on with the rest of the receivers.’’
Asked if it is more likely the Giants will give Cruz a new contract — he’s scheduled to make $490,000 in 2012 — or come up with a big deal for himself, Manningham said, “ They’ll probably go with Vic.’’
There has been speculation Tampa Bay could be a landing spot for Manningham, given the Buccaneers can use a breakaway receiver and Mike Sullivan is the Bucs’ new offensive coordinator. Sullivan was Manningham’s receivers coach with the Giants for two years before serving as the Giants’ quarterbacks coach.
“People don’t really know what’s going on,’’ Manningham said. “They don’t know where I really want to go.’’