Eli Manning excited for New York/New Jersey Super Bowl
Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants poses with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Giants defeated the Patriots by a score of 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Feb. 5, 2012) Credit: Getty
NEW ORLEANS -- Eli Manning missed his chance to play in a home Super Bowl when the Giants didn’t make the playoffs or advance here for Sunday’s game. He’ll have another chance next year, though.
Super Bowl XLVIII will be held in New York and New Jersey, in case you haven’t heard, and Manning is already looking forward to the possibility of playing in it.
“That’s the good thing about Super Bowls: You want something unique, you want something different, and you don’t want to have it in the same place every year, you don’t want to have it in the same environment every year,” he said at a Gatorade event on Friday. “Obviously, as special as New Orleans is and unique it is, New York has that same, if not better, a better atmosphere. A sports town, great restaurants, great entertainment.
“Obviously the weather will be kind of the big issue but football, I always say, hey, you can play the NFC or AFC Championship Game in cold weather and have snow coming down and that’s just part of it. Why not have a Super Bowl? Originally, championships were decided in cold-weather games, and outside, and in New York, and so this is a chance to bring it back out. Obviously I think everyone will hope for decent weather, I don’t think anyone is hoping for a blizzard to come in. But I think it will be unique and different and something new and good for the game.”
Not everyone agrees. Earlier this week Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco used an offensive term referencing the mentally disabled when asked about the idea of an open-air, cold-weather Super Bowl in February.
“I disagree with a lot of things about that comment, wording and the overall content of it,” Manning said. “I think it will be really good.”
As for the disappointment of being a spectator this week, Manning said having to watch is the hard part and the location of the game has little effect on him.
“I think each year it’s about playing in the Super Bowl, it’s not more important because of the location,” he said. “Obviously next year it’s going to be in New York. You’re going to love to play in it, it will be very special, but I guess it’s bigger than the location. The Super Bowl is, it’s your job and that’s what you’re trying to do each year.”
