RoanokeFan
02-28-2012, 11:33 AM
SUPER MARIO UPS THE ODDS ON HIS RETURN (http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2012/02/super-mario-ups-the-odds-on-his-return)
"The odds of Mario Manningham returning to the Giants just got a little
better.
The Super Bowl hero insisted that he never said he’s <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2012/02/manningham-75-percent-sure-hes-gone">“75
percent” sure he won’t be back with the Giants</a> next season. Instead, in <a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/?podcast_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.podtrac.com%2Fpts%2F redirect.mp3%2Fnyc.podcast.play.it%2Fmedia%2Fd0%2F d0%2Fd0%2FdZ%2FdY%2FdD%2FdL%2FZYDL_3.MP3%3Fauthtok %3D5561706397568649070_SHWMNZCQuZwED7YUuQiirlcS4o& podcast_name=Mario+Manningham&podcast_artist=Boome r+Esiason+and+Craig+Carton&station_id=62&tag=pages &dcid=CBS.NY">an
interview on WFAN on Tuesday morning</a>, he put the odds at
“50-50”.
But the 25-year-old receiver also told WFAN hosts Craig Carton
and Boomer Esiason that he’s gotten the impression from the Giants that “I don’t
think they’re ready to do anything.” That could be an ominous sign for
Manningham with the opening of free agency just two weeks away.
“We’re
not sure what’s going on right now,” Maninningham said “We’re just going to take
it slow and see what’s going on, let the smoke clear a little bit. You just
never know where I’m going to end up at.”
The hot rumor has been that
Manningham, whom one league source said is hoping to get a deal worth $6-7
million per season, is a lock to land in Tampa Bay where the Bucs have a
reported $50 million in salary cap space and former Giants receivers coach Mike
Sullivan as their new offensive coordinator. Manningham dismissed that rumor as
“just words”.
“You know how the media do it,” Manningham said “I haven’t
heard anything like that until the other day. People don’t really know what’s
going on. They don’t know where I really want to go.”
So where does
Manningham want to go when he becomes a free agent on March 13?
“I want
to stay here,” he said. “But if it’s not here, I’m sure it’s somewhere
else.”
Staying with the Giants might be impossible, especially if
Manningham really does want to be paid like a starting receiver. The Giants are
currently over the projected 2012 salary cap, which most NFL insiders believe
will be about $120 million (though there is already one report saying it could
be even less). The Giants have 21 unrestricted free agents, so giving anyone a
deal that big could be tough.
And Manningham -- who started the
game-winning drive of Super Bowl XLVI with a brilliant, 38-yard catch along the
sidelines -- didn’t sound like he was willing to take significantly less to stay
with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2008.
“Um … I’m not
sure yet,” Manningham said. “I have to see what’s going on with the rest of the
receivers. I’m not sure, man. I’m not sure.”
That reality is why it made
sense when he was quoted in the <a href="http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/25/manningham-gets-key-to-city/?newswatch">Youngstown
(Ohio) Vindicator</a> on Saturday saying he thought there was a “75 percent”
chance he wouldn’t return to the Giants next season. Speaking at an event at his
old high school, where he was being honored and presented with the key to his
home city, also indicated his role in the offense would be a factor in where he
signed.
“I just want the ball more,” he said. “That’s all.”
With
the Giants last season, Manningham caught 39 passes for 523 yards in 12 games,
but he has clearly fallen behind both Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz in the
offensive pecking order. In fact, when asked on WFAN whether it was more likely
the Giants would re-sign him or give a new contract to Cruz, Manningham said
“They’ll probably go with Vic.”</p>
And where would that leave Manningham?</p>
"I just want to go wherever God leads me. That’s all," Manninghame said. "He
won’t make a bad decision. I just want to go to somebody good that I can compete
for the Super Bowl again."
</p>
"The odds of Mario Manningham returning to the Giants just got a little
better.
The Super Bowl hero insisted that he never said he’s <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2012/02/manningham-75-percent-sure-hes-gone">“75
percent” sure he won’t be back with the Giants</a> next season. Instead, in <a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/?podcast_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.podtrac.com%2Fpts%2F redirect.mp3%2Fnyc.podcast.play.it%2Fmedia%2Fd0%2F d0%2Fd0%2FdZ%2FdY%2FdD%2FdL%2FZYDL_3.MP3%3Fauthtok %3D5561706397568649070_SHWMNZCQuZwED7YUuQiirlcS4o& podcast_name=Mario+Manningham&podcast_artist=Boome r+Esiason+and+Craig+Carton&station_id=62&tag=pages &dcid=CBS.NY">an
interview on WFAN on Tuesday morning</a>, he put the odds at
“50-50”.
But the 25-year-old receiver also told WFAN hosts Craig Carton
and Boomer Esiason that he’s gotten the impression from the Giants that “I don’t
think they’re ready to do anything.” That could be an ominous sign for
Manningham with the opening of free agency just two weeks away.
“We’re
not sure what’s going on right now,” Maninningham said “We’re just going to take
it slow and see what’s going on, let the smoke clear a little bit. You just
never know where I’m going to end up at.”
The hot rumor has been that
Manningham, whom one league source said is hoping to get a deal worth $6-7
million per season, is a lock to land in Tampa Bay where the Bucs have a
reported $50 million in salary cap space and former Giants receivers coach Mike
Sullivan as their new offensive coordinator. Manningham dismissed that rumor as
“just words”.
“You know how the media do it,” Manningham said “I haven’t
heard anything like that until the other day. People don’t really know what’s
going on. They don’t know where I really want to go.”
So where does
Manningham want to go when he becomes a free agent on March 13?
“I want
to stay here,” he said. “But if it’s not here, I’m sure it’s somewhere
else.”
Staying with the Giants might be impossible, especially if
Manningham really does want to be paid like a starting receiver. The Giants are
currently over the projected 2012 salary cap, which most NFL insiders believe
will be about $120 million (though there is already one report saying it could
be even less). The Giants have 21 unrestricted free agents, so giving anyone a
deal that big could be tough.
And Manningham -- who started the
game-winning drive of Super Bowl XLVI with a brilliant, 38-yard catch along the
sidelines -- didn’t sound like he was willing to take significantly less to stay
with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2008.
“Um … I’m not
sure yet,” Manningham said. “I have to see what’s going on with the rest of the
receivers. I’m not sure, man. I’m not sure.”
That reality is why it made
sense when he was quoted in the <a href="http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/25/manningham-gets-key-to-city/?newswatch">Youngstown
(Ohio) Vindicator</a> on Saturday saying he thought there was a “75 percent”
chance he wouldn’t return to the Giants next season. Speaking at an event at his
old high school, where he was being honored and presented with the key to his
home city, also indicated his role in the offense would be a factor in where he
signed.
“I just want the ball more,” he said. “That’s all.”
With
the Giants last season, Manningham caught 39 passes for 523 yards in 12 games,
but he has clearly fallen behind both Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz in the
offensive pecking order. In fact, when asked on WFAN whether it was more likely
the Giants would re-sign him or give a new contract to Cruz, Manningham said
“They’ll probably go with Vic.”</p>
And where would that leave Manningham?</p>
"I just want to go wherever God leads me. That’s all," Manninghame said. "He
won’t make a bad decision. I just want to go to somebody good that I can compete
for the Super Bowl again."
</p>