Eli Manning was the face of the New York Giants for nearly two decades. The two-time Super Bowl Champion and MVP hung up the cleats in 2019 after a Hall of Fame-caliber career. Manning went out with a standing ovation as fans said “thank you” and ushered in a new era of Giants football with Daniel Jones. Eli has since created a new, successful career for himself in sports media. The former Giants quarterback recently appeared on Cam Newton’s video podcast Funky Friday and reflected on his playing days.
One of the most fun moments of Eli Manning’s recent interview with Cam Newton came when Newton asked Manning about two-minute drills. Superman Cam tasked Eli with the challenge of building his dream lineup for a two-minute drill, down four points, needing a touchdown. Manning could pick his own personnel and draft any of the skill position players he teamed up with during his playing career.
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Eli Manning’s dream two-minute lineup:
Eli Manning chose to run 11-personnel in this hypothetical scenario (one tight end, one running back, and three receivers). Eli had an embarrassment of riches to choose from, playing with some world-class receivers during his Giants career. His lineup looked as follows:
- WR1: Plaxico Burress
- WR2: Odell Beckham Jr.
- SLWR: Victor Cruz
- TE: Kevin Boss
- RB: Tiki Barber
Giants fans likely drool at the sight of this hypothetical lineup. Manning hand-picked his favorite playmakers from his career in this segment. On this list are some no-brainers, but fans might be surprised by the selections at tight end and running back.
Kevin Boss was a solid player for the Giants, but Jeremy Shockey is a name that could have slotted into the tight end position. Tiki Barber was also a tremendous talent, but Eli Manning was around for Saquon Barkley’s historic 2018 rookie season. Eli could not go wrong with either of those two rushers.
The selection Eli seemed most confident in was slot receiver, Victor Cruz:
“Victor Cruz. We put a lot on his plate. He’s the one who just kind of took… When we gave a guy maybe 2-3 options he took it and would say, ‘hey, I can handle all six of them.'” – Eli Manning via Funky Friday
Eli Manning had a historic career with the New York Giants. Plaxico Burress and Kevin Boss were both members of the Super Bowl XLII champion Giants, so it makes sense that Eli would want them in a two-minute drill. They are proven winners. Victor Cruz was a member of the Super Bowl XLVI team and caught the game’s opening touchdown. Tikie Barber and Odell Beckham Jr. did not win rings with Eli, but they were arguably the two most-talented players he ever shared the rock with. New York Giants fans will be quick to build this lineup in Madden and see how many rings Eli and company can acquire.