bubba9497 Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 GIANT DISAPPOINTMENT By PAUL SCHWARTZ http://www.nypost.com/sports/giants/20112.htm May 4, 2004 -- The veteran quarterback asked by the Giants to tutor Eli Manning through his inevitable rookie growing pains will not be Neil O'Donnell. He was the Giants' first choice to fill that delicate role, but yesterday he informed GM Ernie Accorsi that he has no plans to return to the field. "It was a tough decision," O'Donnell said, "because it was home." O'Donnell, a native of Madison, N.J., who turns 38 on July 3, made a decision based on his family life (wife and three children) and the fact that he has turned his attention to other matters. He will work this season for News Channel 5 in Nashville as a reporter covering the Titans and has other media-related prospects. "It just came down to the fact what was best for my family; it's not just about Neil O'Donnell right now after 14 years," he said. "My family sacrificed enough with daddy taking naps Saturday afternoon every weekend." O'Donnell thought he was retired last summer after the Titans released him. He was brought back late in the season, however, after injuries depleted Tennessee's quarterback situation. O'Donnell went out a winner when he started, threw for 232 yards and tossed two touchdown passes in a season-ending 33-13 victory over the Buccaneers. "I had another chance to come back and play; I cherished it," said O'Donnell, who left the door open for a return if it meant getting a shot at a Super Bowl ring. "I just felt that was a great way to end it all." And then, last Saturday, two hours after the Giants traded for Manning, O'Donnell got a call from his hometown team. He was intrigued and, after a conversation with Tom Coughlin, decided to take this past weekend to make up his mind. "He's a great guy," Accorsi said. "He said, 'I want to go out on my own terms.' I admire him for it; you don't see much of that now. He would have been ideal, but I respect his decision." O'Donnell could have accepted the backup role. "I understand the franchise is going to be built around Eli, I'm not that naive," O'Donnell said. "It was go into training camp, Eli would get most of the snaps - 60, 70 percent of the snaps in preseason - and if he was ready to play opening day, he would play. If he wasn't ready to play, I would play." It's likely the Giants will now wait a bit to sign their veteran quarterback. If Rich Gannon is released by the Raiders - Kerry Collins could replace him in Oakland - the Giants would be interested, if Gannon will accept a backup role. Kurt Warner is also an option, but a more remote one. Vinny Testaverde will be cut by the Jets on June 1, but the speculation is he'll sign with Bill Parcells in Dallas. Damon Huard, who turns 31 on July 9 and has spent most of his career on the bench for the Dolphins and Patriots, is a younger option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktball74 Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Too funny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXREDSKINS44 Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Good!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Glory Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 I love it. The Giants getting screwed at every turn. It's great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaganaut Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Eli is going to get tudored by the blitz, not by another quarterback. He will face the same fate as Patrick Ramsey did last year with five times the expectations. The spotlight was on Spurrier last year not Ramsey. Manning won't have that luxury. Boo birds are waiting Eli. We want you to be a bust so don't disappoint us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadladam Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief skin Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Giants are going to feed him to the wolves, hahahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Too bad Brunnell wasn't a free agent this offseason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Full Monty Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 You'd think they'd have enough sense to have signed a backup before drafting Manning and cutting Collins sooner. Either way, I figure, they were going to draft a QB, Eli, Ben, or even Rivers. That Gallery stuff was smoke, I never bought into it, not with how the Giants and Collins had cut off talks about an extension WAY beore the draft. I think they just assumed O'Donnell would jump at the chance to hold a clipboard for Eli. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrfriedm Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Eli is going to get :hammer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooper Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 I hear Gibran Hamdan will be available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins11 Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Originally posted by Henry Too bad Brunnell wasn't a free agent this offseason. Would Brunell have played for his old coach again? I thought their relationship was rocky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The X-Factor Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 I guess you can offically cross the Giants off the list of NFC East contenders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citigent Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 maybe they will try to outbid the cowboys for testaverde? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjKam1 Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 This deserves a Nelson's "ha ha" from the simpsons, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECU-ALUM Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 It appears that it is going to be a long season for the "G-Men". :point2sky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H@iL2Gibb$ Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Jeff Blake and Kordell Stewart are still available Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bird_1972 Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Vinny may be an option. Some of the local papers were suggesting (a LONG time ago, I might add) that he was interested in remaining in the NY area. The Gints would be a good fit for him. He may be a better mentor than he is an actual QB (see: Pennington). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJWatson3 Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Originally posted by DjKam1 This deserves a Nelson's "ha ha" from the simpsons, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 He won't be grooming Manning, looks like the best bets are Kurt Warnder, Damon Huard, etc..... according to 980 WTEM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrapeApe Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 I hear the skins also traded for portis [sorry always wanted to do that to someone] http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60124 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 hey maybe the Giants can sign Jeff George to get them through 2004 :laugh: :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Originally posted by AJWatson3 AJ you just made my dog go crazy with that laugh :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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