Perhaps from the moment the Giants traded for Eli Manning on Draft Day 2004, he and Tom Coughlin have been linked together – vilified when the Giants struggled the last few years, vindicated when Big Blue won the Super Bowl last month.
So as Manning basks in the afterglow of being a Super Bowl MVP, he’s enjoying not just being the toast of the town, but the knowledge that his once-beleaguered coach will be around for a while, reportedly agreeing to a four-year, $20-plus million extension just a year after being on the hot seat.
“We came in the same year; he [traded for] me, and we’ve had our ups and downs,” Manning said at ARENA for the March of Dimes March for Babies kickoff. “One thing a quarterback and a head coach share is you get too much blame after a loss and too much credit after a win. We both understand that.
“But we have a great relationship. We understand each other. I’m excited for him that he’s going to be our coach for a long time, and we’re looking forward to it. It’s a tribute to hard work.”
They’ll be working with a slightly different cast, after losing linebackers Reggie Torbor and Kawika Mitchell and safety Gibril Wilson – and possibly Michael Strahan to retirement.
“After you win a championship, you’re going to lose a few guys; that’s just part of the deal. Other guys have to step up,” Manning said, adding, “I’m happy we have all our offensive guys coming back, at least.”