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Of course Eli Manning didn’t make a big deal of it afterward because that’s not his way. But the player who has been a team captain and is emerging as the team leader made sure yesterday his voice was heard.
The Giants quarterback rarely gets up and speaks to the entire roster, but as the team gathered for organizational meetings to prepare for Super Bowl XLVI, Manning wanted to make sure everyone’s mind was in the right place.
“We got an excellent message from Eli. … It was very well needed,’’ Antrel Rolle said.
The condensed version: Get everything out of the way this week because we’re going to Indianapolis to take care of business against the Patriots.
“Just a little bit how to prepare for this, handle your business with tickets, get that stuff done,’’ Manning said. “Just the mindset of this week, we have to have great preparation, prepare this week like you’re playing the game this week because once you get out to Indianapolis, you got to take a bus ride to practice [and] your whole schedule gets thrown off. ‘’
Manning, like his head coach, Tom Coughlin, craves routine and nothing about the Super Bowl fits that description. He stressed everything changes once the Giants get to Indianapolis on Monday, all the more reason to try to stick with what’s worked up until now.
“You want to try your best, if there’s certain things you do during a normal week, if you get a massage on certain days or you get a treatment or an extra workout in you want to try to continue to do those things, try to stay in that same rhythm,’’ Manning said.
It sounds more dry and direct than inspiring, but Manning always downplays his messages. Rolle did not.
“It’s great to hear someone speak with that kind of leadership,’’ Rolle said. “You know Eli doesn’t say much and when he says it, he means it and you know it’s coming from the heart. We’re going out there to take care of business, everything else, that’s for the spectators, that’s for your family and your friends.
“It was a broad message that needed to be said and a message that was heard loud and clear. This is about business, let’s go get it done, no matter what the cost. ‘’
The Giants hit the field tomorrow for their first practice designed specifically for the Patriots, and Manning estimates 95 percent of the game plan is already in.
“There might be a few additions [next] week,” Manning said. “The more film you look at, you might change a few things, but really from the standpoint of the players and the coaches, our preparation will be done this week.”
There’s much for the Giants to study, especially their 24-20 victory over the Patriots in Foxborough on Nov. 6.
“Obviously we hope next week we can do the same, but it’s going to be a totally different game than what it was when we played up there,’’ Justin Tuck said. “Both teams are playing better. I think it’s going to be one of those epic Super Bowls, and it might come down to the team that has the ball last.’’
After 19 games, the Giants are remarkably healthy and have plenty of time to heal further after Sunday’s torturous 20-17 overtime victory over the 49ers in the NFC Championship. Manning was sacked six times and hit 12 other times, but said he is feeling fine.
“I feel good, got a good workout in,’’ Manning said. “Will be ready to go once we start practice.’’
Tuck said the Giants are playing so well that he wishes he would get to knock heads with the Patriots this Sunday. He’ll have to wait.
“I’ll be honest with you, I’m not too antsy,’’ Rolle said. “This last stretch has been an exhausting one, a lot of hard work, putting everything to the side for these five games. It took a lot of mental space as well as just physical pounding and doing whatever it took to get to this point. Once we’re here, we’re not gonna stop now. I’m going to enjoy this little time off and once we come back to work [tomorrow] our team will be ready and full speed.’’