Eli Versus Tiki

[Lyrical]

As a Giants fan, I have lost all respect for Tiki. He retires early, and all he can do is badmouth everyone on his ex-team. He is quickly becoming an emo-attention whore. Whether his comments are true or not, there are some things you don't say about supposed friends. He can say that he needs to be analytical as a Sports Analyst, but when you start saying personal stuff about Eli on national TV, it goes too far.


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Tiki Barber, who is never at a loss for words or criticisms, took the opportunity on Sunday night during the NBC halftime show to fire some subtle shots at former teammate Eli Manning.

Barber stated that Manning will "never be" the outspoken and vocal leader the Giants need. He also suggested that Manning often appears uncomfortable on the field and reluctant, almost fearful, to speak up in the locker room.

However, during an interview with 1050 ESPN Radio New York yesterday, Manning openly responded to some of Barber's comments and criticisms.


"I don't always believe everything Tiki says. I feel very comfortable. And I saw the [halftime show] last night and it seemed very rehearsed, kind of like his pregame speeches in a way," Manning said. "I feel confident in what I'm doing in getting the team ready. And if you ask any of the players around here who the leader is of this offense, they're going to say me."
Eli was then asked if he was aggravated with Tiki's comments.


"I'm not gonna lose any sleep over what Tiki says at halftime of a preseason game. Tiki is just making a smooth transition into his role as media and that's just part of their deal," Manning added.
"It seemed very rehearsed, kind of like this pregame speeches." Wow. What more can I say? Way to go, Eli. It's about time someone put Tiki in his place.

Manning added a few more comments today.


"I guess I'm just happy for Tiki that he's making a smooth transition into the media world. It'll be interesting to see if he has anything else to say (about anything) besides the Giants and what his comments will be on that. It's one of those deals; I'm not going to lose any sleep (over) what Tiki has to say. I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season and (how) he's lost the heart. As a quarterback, you're reading your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it's about the 10th week. Well, I could see that a little bit at times. But I'm not going to get concerned and I'm going to go out there and play ball.

"It's just one of those deals. The guy goes to the media and he's got to say stuff. He's been put in a situation where he's got to talk. That's just the way it is. That's the world we live in and you have to deal with it."
Easy E is on a roll! I guess this is what happens when a team finally gets sick and tired of being destroyed by one of their former teammates. And the funny thing is, Barber's actually helping the Giants bond rather than tearing them apart, which seems to be his ultimate goal.

[Akileese]

So, Eli says one thing, but his body language on the field backs up Tiki. Maybe if Tiki hadn't retired, they'd have that leader...

[Twobit Whore]

Eli sucks, he is terrible.. but in the case I think he is right. Tiki was way out of line.

[Faltigoth]

Tiki really just needs to shut the fuck up about his old team and let them be. He pretty much fucked them last year, creating too much distractions when he should have been getting his ass into the end zone.

Eli Manning might suck, and he might even be a shitty leader, but there's no damn reason to air that shit out on national TV. I used to have a lot of respect for Tiki Barber, but I have little tolerance for this shit, especially after seeing what one disruptive asshole player did to my beloved Eagles a few years back. Nothing good ever comes out of this stuff.

[Burkex]

Eli is a pussy. I agree with Tiki. Get some balls and lead yout team.

[Shutup]

Eli is the retard of the Mannings

[Twobit Whore]

I would just be more apt to agree with Tiki if he wasn't being a hypocrite. He was the biggest part of the disruption/failings of the Giants last year.

When you make a scene and your noob QB isn't quite sure how to handle it then you blast him for not handling something he shouldn't have to handle in the first place.. yeah, that's not kosher.

Eli still sucks though. Wonder if he will get a new contract or end up as a backup somewhere after his term is done.

[Burkex]

He should be Payton's back up that could actually work.

Eli was never that great IMO, he sorta did the Geroge W Bush thing and used his family name to get to the top even though he does not belong there, but I give him credit it's a great move if you can do it, it is the idiots that allow him to be there that are at fault.

[Akileese]

Well, I mean, San Diego is the team that looks brilliant out of the whole Eli debacle. They ended up getting Rivers and he's done a great job so far. I agree though, he's not as great as people give think he is, nor will he ever be. He could be a top 10-15 QB eventually, but I don't see him being a top 5 guy. That being said, I doubt he ever becomes a second rate backup.

[sticktastic]

YeahI agree, Tiki was way way out of line. I remember eli's rookie year, and some of his teammates were making comments about how they were concerned about his southern draw in his accent, and how it is sometimes hard to understand audibles at the line (probably one reason the giants have a fuck ton of false starts last few years). That being said tho, Tiki was so much more of a distraction, and for him to come be bitter on TV makes him look childish, perhaps he should try to be best buddies with eli, I mean they both have the same problem, they both have a brother in the league who has always been considered better than them, and both of their brothers have super bowl rings. I could see that working

[Rythonn]

Tiki is the ONLY reason they even made it to the play-offs last year. He is an announcer at a giants game what the fuck is he supposed to talk about? Here this guy says it better. Part of his piece...

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL - Sorry Eli, but Tiki was right

Where do I begin?

Let's jog the mental rolodex for a second here. When were the two significant times Barber talked about the Giants coaching staff? They were after the pathetic performance against John Fox and the Panthers in the opening round of the playoffs two seasons ago. And it was after Manning's gruesome performance against the Jaguars on national television last year, when the quarterback did his best Dave Brown impersonation.

The headlines in New York quickly shifted from "Manning's a Bust" and "Eli Stinks" to "Shut up Tiki!"

Maybe, just maybe, Barber knew exactly what he was doing, shifting the blame away from his young quarterback.

And let's remember that Barber didn't announce his retirement last year. John Branch from The New York Times was shadowing the Barber brothers on a book tour and unearthed that nugget by listening to conversation.

For the record, the Steelers were so distracted by the Jerome Bettis retirement talk in 2005 they won the Super Bowl.

And let's not talk about heart. That is what drove me batty during my radio show yesterday. I would be pressed to question a running back's heart when he shredded the Redskins for over 200 yards in Week 17 to solely carry the Giants to the playoffs. When Tiki made the heart comment last year it was in reference to the grind as an NFL player post-2006. Barber not only dominated Washington, but he was the reason why the Giants beat the Panthers down the stretch and nearly upset the Eagles in the playoffs.

This will make for good copy and conversation for a few weeks. But all that matters is if this "leadership transformation" that I am not buying into suddenly helps Manning perform against the Cowboys in Week 1.

Tiki Barber no longer wears the Giants uniform. He is now part of the media. The Giants players and fans have to get used to it.

I can't wait until he actually says something juicy.

I cant stand that crybaby Eli. Fucking whined when getting drafted and crying again when someone calls him out for sucking balls.

[Geaux]

playing for the school where you dad made his legacy, 4th and 10 with 2 mins to go in the last home game of your college career in a top 10 match up against an old rival.

Eli Manning what do you do?




fall down, geaux to hell ole miss! sorry the season is almost here and im ready!

[kedwyn]

Eli is getting exactly what he deserves for all the bullshit he and his family pulled after the draft. Funny if he went were he was supposed to he would have probably faired much better but instead was a jackass.

Now the Giants payed way to fucking much for this douche who at best is a mediocre QB. Good for them.

If it wasn't for Tiki that team wouldn't have gone half as far as they did. Tiki is calling them as he sees them and people get their panties in a wad when that happens. In this touchy feel good society where you can't talk about taboo things because its not "correct" FUCK YOU! He has as much right to an opinion as everyone else, especially since he was in the think of it and actually knows what the fuck he is talking about unlike everyone else.

[Lyrical]

Coupla things:

1- Stephen A. just called Eli Manning She-li Manning, 'cause he isn't getting the job done.

2- Tiki's book that was released this week says he would still be playing if it weren't for Tom Caughlin (sp?). He says Caughlin robbed him of his love for the game. Tiki is now saying the publisher totally fabricated this story. He will be on Mike and Mike in the morning tomorrow, and it will be interesting to see what he has to say.

Tiki is coming off more and more as a drama queen, imho.

[Goltana_R-Zek]

LOL @ the raging Tiki fans. The guy plain fucking sucked at carrying the ball for how many years? Yay, he turned it around in the end, big 'feel good' story. He can call shit however he likes, but he certainly acts like his shit never stunk for that team. Eli was a huge let down, but tiki? laugh. Strahan was a much better clutch player for the giants than tiki was, sorry to break it to you. Just to make it clear, i'm no Tiki barber hater - he finished strong with the giants.. but he's still badmouthing the start of a career of another player when his wasn't so amazing either.