INDIANAPOLIS — Rueben Randle looked up the other day during training camp practice and spotted on the sideline what he admits was an NFL receiver’s all-time snapshot. He saw Plaxico Burress talking with David Tyree talking with Mario Manningham, a three-way conversation that got Randle dreaming.
“You’re going to think about it, it’s just part of the game,’’ Randle told The Post. “You imagine yourself making those plays since you were a kid. It’s all about going out there and getting it done.’’
All fans of the Giants recall with great glee “those plays’’ Randle refers to. Tyree’s leaping catch of a football pinned on his helmet is the signature moment of Super Bowl XLII and, coupled with Eli Manning’s escape-job scramble, will live on as one of the most memorable and improbable plays in NFL history. The remarkable play set up Burress’ game-winning touchdown catch as he toyed with Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs, breaking so wide open the pressure was on Burress not to drop Manning’s perfectly-lofted 13-yard pass for the game-winning points with only 35 seconds left.
Four years later, Manningham got the Giants out of a hole late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVI with one of the most difficult catches a receiver is ever asked to make. While tip-toeing the left sideline and barely evading two Patriots defenders, Manningham made an over-the-shoulder catch while staying in bounds for a 38-yard gain, igniting the final game-winning touchdown drive.
Randle has seen and marveled at all three great grabs.
“I got to go with Tyree as [number] one,’’ Randle said. “That’s just hard for him to hang onto that ball on his helmet like that, I think that’s a one-in-a-million type thing. I’m going to go with Mario two and Plaxico three.
“Mario, that’s one of the tough catches out there, the over the shoulder, how tight the sideline was and for him to be able to stay in and concentrate on catching that ball was pretty spectacular. Definitely a salute.
Plaxico was a great play, was a great route, took advantage of the one-on-one coverage and made a play. It was clutch at that moment in time in the game.’’
Randle led the Giants in 2013 with six touchdown receptions. Of course, as a receiver, he envisions his own Super Bowl highlight catch.
“I don’t know, man, hard for me to say, especially to compete with David Tyree’s,’’ Randle said. “I don’t know if anybody can ever pull that off again. I wouldn’t want it to be that difficult, to be honest with you. I’m not going to ask for it the hardest way. If I can get that one-on-one coverage and beat that man I would definitely ask for that. If the cornerback falls down, more power to him.’’