SaintNik

By Gil Brandt
NFL.com Senior Analyst

Manning mania

The Manning family nickname for Giants quarterback Eli Manning is "Easy." Apparently, he earned the name from being so cool and relaxed about everything. No word if brother Peyton's is "Polite" or if father Archie's is "Awesome."

As college quarterbacks, the Manning family passed for 199 touchdowns over their collective careers. But the Manning men weren't the only winners in the family. The mother of Peyton and Eli and wife of Archie, Olivia, was named the homecoming queen while attending Ole Miss.

When he was in seventh grade, Eli used to put a pillow under his shirt when catching passes from his brothers at home. That's because their zingers used to pound on his chest when he caught them. Eli won't be allowed to wear his pillow in the NFL, but then again he'll be the one throwing the football.

On his first "Meet The Rebels" day at Ole Miss, a day when fans can meet and greet the school's football players, over 2,000 people lined up to get Eli's autograph even though he had yet to play a game in a Rebels uniform.

Eli Manning settling into a groove

New York Giants rookie QB and No. 1 draft pick Eli Manning joined host Rich Eisen on NFL Total Access via Giants cam to chat about how things are going in camp. He was a little rough around the edge at the onset, but Manning is improving every day and has Kurt Warner to lean on. NFL Total Access airs Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET/PT (aired June 22, 2004).
Here is the link:
http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/7442576



PEYTON ON THE UPCOMING SEASON:

Better Than Ever........

The Colts, last season’s AFC South champions and the AFC runners-up, finished third in the NFL offensively last season, first in passing. Manning was named the NFL’s co-Most Valuable Player, and passed for more than 4,000 yards for a fifth consecutive season.

Manning, a four-time Pro Bowl player who will enter his seventh NFL season next season, said during summer school he considered this the deepest, most talented offense in which he has played in the NFL. There are more options are receiver, he said, and the running back talent – with fullback Tom Lopienski potentially figuring in the game plan – is as potent as it has been since 1998.

“It’s another year in the system,� Manning said. “We’re adding some wrinkles. And (offensive coordinator) Tom (Moore)’s using the personnel we have to do some different things. We’ve got a fullback we can use. That’s a good wrinkle for us.

“Tom’s always been about the weapons we have, but I really feel like this year – top to bottom, at the major skill positions – we’re as deep as we ever have been.�

http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=2060