Mario Manningham forever will have a place in the hearts and minds of Giants fans, as without his scintillating 38-yard, over-the-shoulder catch of a pinpoint Eli Manning pass in the closing minutes of Super Bowl XLVI, there would not have been a comeback victory over the Patriots in Indianapolis.
Could a reunion be forthcoming? Manningham after two unproductive and injury-filled seasons with the 49ers is coming back Monday to speak with the Giants, and he definitely wants to return.
Manningham is only 27, but he has done very little since he made that spectacular catch. He soon after signed a two-year, $7.3 million contract with the 49ers. Manningham in 12 games in 2012 caught 42 passes for 449 yards and only one touchdown before needing left knee surgery to repair a torn ACL and PCL. He made it back for only six games in 2013 and caught nine passes for 85 yards before he went back on injured reserve. He hasn’t attracted much interest on the open market.
The Giants continued to revamp their defense, signing two more players, cornerback Walter Thurmond III and safety Quintin Demps, and along the way unquestionably improved their anemic return game.
Thurmond, 26, figures to challenge for a starting job alongside Prince Amukamara, and his acquisition likely means the Giants will not be re-signing unrestricted free agent Terrell Thomas. Of course, the cornerback position remains a fluid situation, with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie having come Sunday for a visit that will continue into Monday for a physical, a sign things could be heating up.
Thurmond, who agreed to a one-year deal for $3.5 million, arrives from the best defense in the NFL and gives the Giants a slice of Seattle’s heralded Legion of Boom secondary. He was mostly a slot cornerback for the Seahawks.
Demps, 28, is not only a solid safety in coverage (four interceptions in 2013) but he’s a dangerous kickoff returner — something the Giants desperately need, as even if David Wilson can return from neck surgery, he probably won’t be returning many, or any, kickoffs. Demps last season for the Chiefs averaged 30.1 yards on kickoff returns, the third-highest average in the league, and had a 95-yard touchdown.
“I’m a fan of the game and I’m pretty sure we all know they could use some help in that area,” Demps said. “That’s kind of why they signed me.’’
Still on the defensive prowl, the Giants on Monday will meet with Cowboys defensive end Anthony Spencer.