Tag: Sterling Shepard

Giants’ Eli Manning dropped rare F-bomb in fiery pregame speech

In an extremely rare moment, New York Giants QB Eli Manning delivered a fiery pregame speech on Sunday and it included an F-bomb.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is known for a lot of things, but fiery pregame speeches and vulgar language are not among them.

However, prior to taking the field in Week 15 against the Miami Dolphins, Manning left his comfort zone a bit and delivered some pregame remarks that not only lit a fire under his teammates, but resonated throughout the locker room ultimately leading to a victory.

“What really got us going was his pregame speech,” center Jon Halapio told the New York Post. “He was just fired up, man. Just knowing this might be his last home game starting, collectively we wanted to send him out right. It was easier to do it after he gave us that pregame speech.

“Last thing he said was, ‘[expletive] it!”

Say, what? Manning dropped the F-bomb?

You’re [expletive] right he did.

“It was great,” safety Michael Thomas said. “It was one of the rallying cries, for him to break it on that, oh yeah, that set the tone for the day.”

Wide receiver Sterling Shepard almost grinned ear-to-ear when talking about Manning’s speech. “It was great,” he said.

Still, Manning doesn’t believe that’s what won the game. In fact, he doesn’t believe pregame speeches ever win a game, but he just felt like speaking up in that moment.

“You know, I don’t think a pregame speech has ever won a football game before. I still don’t think it has. I just said a little something to get them ready,” Manning told reporters after the game. “I appreciate the hard work they’ve been putting in all year. Offense, defense, everybody, they’ve been competing and they work hard. You see it in practice, and you’re just excited to give them this feeling afterwards.”

Whether Manning’s speech helped win the game or not, the Giants ultimately walked away victorious and Eli got to leave MetLife Stadium to some of the loudest cheers ever heard in the Meadowlands.

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Eli Manning’s Giants teammates react to his magical exit: ‘Goose bumps’

Eli Manning’s New York Giants teammates were in awe of his Week 15 exit and admit they had never seen something so emotionally-charged.

When the New York Giants made the call to remove Eli Manning late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s victory over the Miami Dolphins, there was a ground-shaking thunderous applause for the two-time Super Bowl MVP.

Even though the game still had some time left, the moment left Manning’s teammates frozen in time; in awe of what they were witnessing.

“Special,” running back Saquon Barkley said bluntly of the moment. “I kept saying, ‘I’m getting chills over here.’ I kept saying I might give him a thug tear. For those who don’t know what that means, that means one tear. Even though I’ve only been playing with him for only two years, that meant a lot to me. I know he means a lot to everyone here in this organization.

“Like I said, he’s a special player and a special person. For him to go out with a standing ovation like that, that is the way to go out – and that is the way he deserves to go out. It says a lot about the type of person he is.”

Barkley wasn’t the only Giant who had to choke back some tears. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who hauled in nine receptions for 111 yards, also couldn’t escape the magic of the moment.

“He’s done so much. David Tyree and I were talking about it on the sideline. He was saying Eli has a piece of all of us and it’s just a special day. We were able to get this win for him and send him out on the right note and it’s a blessing,” Shepard said. “To have that standing ovation, it gave everybody chills. It definitely gave me chills. I’m just so happy for him, proud of him and how he has handled this season and how he’s handled his career.”

Shepard says he took the moment to express his love and appreciation to Manning.

“Just I love you, man. He’s taught me a lot. I came in here as a young pup and he’s raised me right. I owe him a lot and I’m thankful to have him as my QB. He’s one of the smartest guys that I have ever been around on the field. It’s a blessing to be able to play with him,” Shepard added.

Veteran safety Michael Thomas, who has been around some of the all-time greats, says the moment didn’t catch him by surprise, but he felt it nonetheless.

“I wasn’t surprised, but it was definitely pleasant to hear. It was definitely something that we rallied behind and we got fired up about. Guys said let’s call it like it is, we are playing for him. We are playing for Eli today. Let’s send him off right. He’s a legend, let’s send him off the right way,” Thomas said.

“I’ve never been a part of something like that. It was cool to see. It gave me chills, it gave me goosebumps. That man is a legend and we respect him. I’m glad we were able to get a win for him.”

Another big fan of Manning, rookie wide receiver Darius Slayton, took things a step further, repeatedly calling Eli a “great” and a “Hall of Famer.”

“I got goose bumps. It was legendary. You know, he’s a legend. He’s going to go down as a Hall of Famer. I’m happy for him,” Slayton said.

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Giants defeat Dolphins, 36-20: Instant analysis

Instant analysis of the New York Giants 36-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins in what may have been Eli Manning’s final game.

The Miami Dolphins played most of this season as team designed to lose after trading away several star players and stocking up on draft picks. They lost their first seven games and then began playing more competitive football the next six weeks.

That ended on Sunday at MetLife Stadium against the 2-11 New York Giants. The Dolphins showed just why they had been playing over their skis the past several weeks by logging in a clunker against a Giants team that had lost a franchise record nine games in a row.

Eli Manning, who most likely started his last game as a Giant on Sunday, led the Giants to a 36-20 victory over Miami on 20-of-28 passing for 283 yards with two touchdowns and three picks.

Following a flat first half which saw the Giants down, 10-7, after Manning threw two troubling interceptions, Big Blue came out in the second half and drove 70 yards in five plays to take a 14-10 lead on a five yard touchdown pass to Darius Slayton.

The Giants widened their lead in the second half to 16-13 when Sam Beal caught Dolphins running back Patrick Laird in the end zone for the Giants’ fist safety in 40 games.

Big Blue took the ensuing kick and struck quickly, going 40 yards in three plays culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by Saquon Barkley. The drive was highlighted by this completion to Sterling Shepard to the one-yard line.

The defense played it’s best half the season in the second half, shutting down the Dolphins until the garbage time touchdown they scored right before the two-minute warning.

Notes

  • If this ends up being Manning’s last start as a Giant, he’ll end with a 117-117 record, which will end all debates regarding putting a quarterback with a losing record in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
  • Barkley gained 112 yards on the ground, his first 100-yard game since Week 2. His two touchdowns were his first rushing scores since Week 7. The 24 carries are the most he’s had all season and the first time this season he’s had over 20 rushing attempts in a game.
  • Slayton became the first player since 2006 (Marques Colston) drafted in the fifth round or later to register 8 or more receiving touchdowns in their rookie season.
  • Rookie cornerback DeAndre Baker left the game temporarily in the third quarter with a knee injury but returned shortly after.

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Giants drop Dolphins: Winners, losers and those in between

The New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins in what may be Eli Manning’s final game. Here’s a look at the winners and losers.

In what may be Eli Manning’s final start as a member of the New York Giants, the team came up big and managed to get him a victory — Manning’s first win in over a calendar year and the team’s first win since Week 4.

It was ugly early on, but then the Giants began to roll and never looked back. There were some issues here and there, but all things considered, it was the team’s most well-rounded game all season.

Here’s a quick look at the winners and losers from Week 14:

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Winners

David Mayo: On a team — and specifically a defense — that does very little right, Mayo has been a pleasant and unexpected surprise. Yes, he’s been up-and-down at times and even had a few hiccups on Sunday, but overall he’s a very sound player who steps up and makes big plays at crucial times. It’s a shame his teammates actually drag down his play.

Saquon Barkley: Finally. Finally. Finally. Barkley had not had a 100-yard game since Week 2 and had not reached the endzone since Week 7. Both of those streaks ended with what was arguably Barkley’s best performance of the season. He finished the day with 112 yards on 24 carries, 31 yards on four receptions and two touchdowns.

Darius Slayton: Slayton didn’t put up huge numbers, but he came up big in a few big plays in key spots. He finished the game with two receptions for 31 yards and his eighth touchdown of the season.

Riley Dixon: Worth. Every. Penny.

Others: Dalvin Tomlinson, Leonard Williams, Michael Thomas

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Giants, Eli Manning snap historic losing streak, defeat Dolphins, 36-20

The New York Giants snapped their franchise-worst losing streak, getting Eli Manning a victory in what may be his final ever game.

The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins were hardly billed as must-watch football leading up to their Week 15 battle at MetLife Stadium, and they fully lived up down to those expectations on Sunday.

The first quarter was relatively tame, uneventful and, admittedly, downright boring at times. Neither offense could really get anything going, while sloppy play dominated throughout.

The Dolphins did have an opportunity to go up early, but kicker Jason Sanders was unable to connect on a 49-yard field goal in windy conditions.

Things picked up a bit in the second quarter as each team got their offense moving and the defenses began to get more physical. Still, the play was hardly anything to write home about.

Miami got on the board first, recovering from a failed fourth-down conversion on their previous series to drive the ball an impressive 89 yards on nine plays, capping things off with a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to wide receiver DeVante Parker.

The Giants immediately answered back in a big way, driving the ball 75 yards on just three plays, concluding with a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Eli Manning to wide receiver Golden Tate, who did an excellent job fighting through a pass interference and staying with a ball that was bobbled.

After forcing the Dolphins to a quick punt, the Giants had an opportunity to execute a two-minute drive, but Manning inexplicably threw an interception into the waiting arms of linebacker Vince Biegel.

The Dolphins wouldn’t let that opportunity go to waste, connecting on a 24-yard field goal with just :44 remaining in the first half.

New York did little with what time remained, gaining short yardage on consecutive plays before Manning tossed a long pass incomplete along the sideline and then tossed another pick out of desperation, leaving the Giants with a 10-7 halftime deficit.

Opening the second half, the Giants came out on fire, taking the opening kickoff and driving the ball 70 yards and six incredibly effective plays, including a five-yard touchdown pass from Manning to rookie wide receiver Darius Slayton to give Big Blue a 14-10 lead.

On the ensuing series, linebacker Alec Ogletree and defensive lineman Leonard Williams went head-to-head with Fitzpatrick, who was attempting a third-down scramble for a first down, but the ball was punched loose and recovered by the Giants.

Not to be outdone, Manning promptly tossed his third interception of the day, immediately giving Miami the ball back and taking near-guaranteed points off the board.

Unlike the Giants, the Dolphins were able to capitalize on the turnover, connecting on a 47-yard Sanders field goal after 22 yards on five plays.

The Giants offense would again sputter after getting the ball back, but their special teams and defense apparently came to play. And following a beautiful booming punt by Riley Dixon and a series of penalties that downed the ball inside the one-yard-line, cornerback Sam Beal came up with a huge play, bringing running back Patrick Laird down in the endzone for a safety.

With yet another opportunity and solid field position following the post-safety drop-kick, the Giants offense would not be denied again. It took just three plays to drive 40 yards, highlighted by a 24-yard pass and catch from Manning to wide receiver Sterling Shepard, before running back Saquon Barkley plunged in for a touchdown from one-yard out, giving Big Blue a 23-13 lead.

After forcing Miami to a quick three-and-out, the Giants had the ball back and were in a position to put the game away — a precarious position for the team at other times in recent season. This time, however? The pedal went to the metal.

Turning the offense up to 100, Manning & Co. drove 66 yards on eight plays and made it look remarkably easier — easier than it’s been all season. That was additionally evident as Barkley casually walked in from 10 yards out to put the Giants up 30-13 in the fourth quarter.

After exchanging a series of punts and having the Dolphins turn the ball over on downs, the Giants put the icing on the cake with a five-play, 55-yard drive that culminated with a one-yard touchdown run courtesy of Buck Allen. However, kicker Aldrick Rosas missed the PAT, leaving the score at 36-13.

With under 2:00 remaining, Miami got back on the board with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Fitzpatrick to Parker, but by that time, it was too late to rally.

The game essentially came to a close with Eli Manning being removed from the field to a rousing standing ovation and chants of, “Eli Manning! Eli Manning!”

With the win, the Giants improve to 3-11 on the season. They will travel to D.C. to take on the Washington Redskins in Week 16.

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5 reasons Giants could defeat Dolphins in Week 15

The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins square off in Week 15, and here are five reasons Big Blue could come away with the win.

The New York Giants have the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in a matchup between two of the NFL’s “have-nots.”

The Giants are favored by 3.5 points in this game and we think they are in a great spot to win this week. Here are five reasons why…

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants don’t have much luck these days

Which means they won’t get the No. 1 overall pick. It’s just the way things have been falling for them the past few years.This game, should they win, basically takes them out of the running for the top pick because a) they’ll be two games up on Cincinnati (who is 1-12 and plays New England this week) and b) by beating the 3-10 Dolphins, they’ll be tied with them and will lose the tiebreaker.

For the record, the Giants have only drafted first twice. In 1951, they selected SMU end Kyle Rote and in 1965 they took Tucker Frederickson, a running back from Auburn. They have selected No. 2 three times (Skippy Minisi, 1948; Lawrence Taylor, 1981 and Saquon Barkley, 2018). They have selected third only twice: John Hicks in 1974 and Carl Banks in 1984.

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Giants cleared by joint NFL-NFLPA panel in Sterling Shepard concussion inquiry

A joint NFL-NFLPA panel have cleared the New York Giants in a Sterling Shepard concussion inquiry dating back to Week 1.

An investigation into the handling of the Week 1 concussion incident involving New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard by a joint NFL-NFLPA panel revealed the team did not violate the league’s concussion policy.

Shepard was concussed by a helmet-to-helmet hit during the Giants’ Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys but did not leave the field despite showing signs of being disoriented. It was obvious to the untrained eye that Shepard was hurt but he chose to stay on the field when the Giants attempted to substitute for him, waving off his replacement.

From the New York Post:

Nearly three months ago, after returning from a one-game absence, Shepard admitted he tried (and succeeded) to deceive the NFL’s on-site independent concussion spotters — certified athletic trainers — with eyes on the sideline and in the press box, and the Giants training staff. They are supposed to signal to officials to have a player removed if a concussion is suspected.

“It’s been looked into quite thoroughly,” NFL chief medical examiner Dr. Allen Sills said at the NFL’s quarterly meeting of Shepard’s incident. “We continue to work together very closely with the Players Association on players self-reporting concussions.

Shepard was re-checked after the Dallas game and was placed in the league’s concussion protocol. He missed the Giants’ Week 2 game against Buffalo but returned for the Giants’ Week 3 game in Tampa. Shepard then sustained a second concussion in a Week 5 game against Minnesota which sidelined him for the following five weeks.

“Guys play through them (concussions) sometimes,” Shepard told The Post. “This is the sport of football, the sport that we play. It happens. You know that [risk] going out there on the field.”

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Giants’ Sterling Shepard never thought he’d catch another Eli Manning pass

New York Giants WR Sterling Shepard admits he thought he’d never catch another pass from QB Eli Manning.

Like most of the football world, New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard was stunned when learning that Eli Manning, not Daniel Jones, would start on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jones, of course, is sidelined due to a high ankle sprain he suffered in a Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, ushering in a potential farewell tour for Manning.

Ironically, Manning will likely have his full compliment of playmakers against Philly, as Shepard previously returned from a concussion, while wide receiver Golden Tate (concussion) and tight end Evan Engram (foot) are each expected back on the field this week as well.

And what did they see from Manning in his first practice as QB1 since September? The same old Eli.

Despite reports that Manning’s 2019 resulted in a “demoralized” locker room, his teammates were nothing but complimentary on Wednesday.

“It’ll be pretty cool to play with Eli again,” Shepard added. “Eli is the ultimate pro. It’s ‘next man up’ mentality.”

It would be fitting for Manning and Shepard to connect for a few big plays on Monday night, potentially earning Eli his first win a year to the day of his last victory.

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Giants fall to Packers: Winners, losers and those in between

The New York Giants fell to 2-10 with a 31-13 loss to the Packers in Week 13, and here’s a look at the winners and losers from that game.

The New York Giants fell to the Green Bay Packers, 31-13, on a snowy Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium, extending their losing streak to eight consecutive games and officially eliminating them from the playoffs.

The game itself wasn’t as lopsided as many anticipated initially, but it got a little out of hand later on in the fourth quarter. And while that does represent some progress, as head coach Pat Shurmur would say, you don’t get any prizes for trying hard.

Here’s a look at some winners and losers from Week 13:

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Winners

Sterling Shepard: Because of the weather, Shepard wasn’t targeted as many times as he would have been under sunny skies, but he made sure to remind Giants Nation how valuable he can be when he’s on the field. He hauled in three receptions for 40 yards and one beautiful touchdown, and was open several other times throughout the game, but the Giants were simply unable to get him the ball. He did have one drop, but that shouldn’t define his performance.

Darius Slayton: Slayton is rapidly becoming a consistent weekly force and Sunday was no different. Ironically, he actually played better than his stats would indicate as one of his long receptions was called back due to a penalty. He finished the game with six receptions for 44 yards.

Janoris Jenkins: Jenkins entered the Week 13 game feeling quite confident and all but guaranteeing he wouldn’t give up a touchdown, and true to his word, he did not. In fact, Jenkins didn’t give up a single reception to a receiver in which he was covering one-on-one, and even had a pass defensed that prevented a score.

Others: Buck Allen, Aldrick Rosas, Kaden Smith

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Giants officially eliminated from playoffs in loss to Packers

The New York Giants fell to the Packers in Week 13, which officially eliminated them from the playoffs and extended their losing streak.

The New York Giants predictably fell to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, extending their losing streak to eight games — the second-longest such streak in team history — and watching as any lingering NFC playoff hopes went out the window.

The game was a mess from the onset with freezing rain coating the field just prior to kickoff and then snow taking over for the duration.

While the Giants started off cold, going three-and-out on their first offensive series, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were anything but.

Green Bay kicked things off with a seven-play, 72-yard drive that culminated with an eight-yard pass from Rodgers to wide receiver Davante Adams, but that was just the tip of the proverbial (or literal based on the weather) iceberg.

The Packers would score on three of their four offensive series in the first half. After the initial Adams touchdown, they drove 66 yards on five plays on their second possession, punching the ball into the endzone with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to wide receiver Allen Lazard.

Their third series would result in a 47-yard field goal courtesy of Mason Crosby, but they would come up blank on their fourth possession late in the second half, being forced to punt for the first time all day.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants found some footing on their second offensive series, driving 71 yards on 11 plays and capping things off with an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Daniel Jones to wide receiver Sterling Shepard.

Big Blue would also add a later field goal off the leg of Aldrick Rosas, which was a positive he and the team desperately needed, but that was sandwiched in between a Jones interception — his first in 111 pass attempts.

At halftime, the Giants trailed the Packers 17-10.

The second half did not start off as electric as the first half with the Giants and Packers exchanging punts to open things up. It wasn’t until midway through the third quarter that more points were put on the board, once again courtesy of Aldrick Rosas, who trimmed Green Bay’s lead to 17-13 with a 45-yard field goal to cap off a 10-play, 52-yard drive.

But the Packers were quick to answer right back, driving 75 yards on 14 plays culminating with Rodgers’ third touchdown pass of the game, once again to Adams. The drive featured a slew of penalties and a fourth-down conversion for Green Bay.

The Giants had a chance to cut back into that Green Bay lead, but Jones tossed his second interception of the game and the Packers took complete advantage, essentially putting the game on ice with a one-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to tight end Mercedes Lewis, pushing the score to 31-13 with just over 7:00 remaining.

Two plays later, Jones would make another error in judgement, throwing a ball into coverage and having it picked off for the third time on the day.

Good night, ladies and gentlemen.

The two teams went back-and-forth a bit after that, but there would not be another score or moment of substance.

With the loss, the Giants fall to 2-10 on the season and and head into a Monday night game against the Eagles in Philadelphia in Week 14.

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