DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Manning/Barber have a feud....

I really don't get all this, if Tiki wanted something to say to Eli, why didn't he say it to him when he was still playing? You shouldn'y dish it out if your not willing to take it, Tiki.
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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Tiki Barber wanted a more intense, fiery Eli Manning. The New York Giants quarterback gave Tiki what he wanted in a loud ripping voice on Tuesday.

Two days after being criticized on national television by Barber for a lack of strong leadership, Manning ripped his former teammate and current NBC football analyst for distracting the team last season with his early retirement announcement and his criticism of coach Tom Coughlin.

"I guess I'm just happy for Tiki that he's making a smooth transition into the TV world," Manning said. "You know, I'll be interested to see if he has anything to say (about a team) besides the Giants, and what his comments will be on that."

Normally reserved and never one to criticize a coach or teammate, Manning seemed to enjoy going after Barber, the Giants' all-time leading rusher who retired after last season at age 31 to pursue a television career.



Speaking during the halftime show of the Sunday Night Football game between the Giants and Baltimore Ravens, Barber had said that Manning's attempt to lead an offensive meeting in the 12th week of the last season was "comical" at times.

Manning didn't find the comment funny.

"It's just one of those deals. I'm not going to lose any sleep about what Tiki has to say," Manning said. "I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season, and he's lost the heart (to play).

"As a quarterback you're reading that your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it's about the 10th week," Manning said. "I can see that a little bit at times. But I'm not going to get concerned. I'm going to go out there and play ball."

Barber was not immediately available for comment.

Giants teammates came to Manning's defense on Tuesday.

Wide receiver Amani Toomer, who played his entire career with Barber, was stunned.

"I thought Tiki and Eli were pretty good friends," Toomer said. "It's kind of strange to have him say something like that and to make a point of it like that. Maybe he had somebody else in his ear kind of coaxing him into saying stuff, because I don't believe he really believes that. I don't know why he'd say something like that."

Center Shaun O'Hara said that Manning is progressing as a leader, especially for a fourth-year player.

"I don't have any problems with Eli's leadership and the way he does it," O'Hara said. "He's doing it his way. I think players appreciate that. It's a shame everybody wants Eli to be somebody they think he should be instead of just letting him be himself."

O'Hara noted that Manning might be under the microscope more than most young quarterbacks because he is the brother of Peyton Manning.

"For me, you can be Johnny Rah-Rah, but if you're not doing your job, if you're not pulling your weight, it doesn't matter what you say," O'Hara said. "Being loud, that doesn't make you a great leader."

Tackle David Diehl said Manning showed his leadership Sunday night, getting the offensive lined up right when the Ravens threw a couple of new looks at them on defense.

Giants new quarterback coach Chris Palmer added that Manning does everything a coach wants.

"Everybody leads in a different way," Palmer said. "If you buy any business books, there are 101 ways to lead. He'll lead in his own particular fashion."

While Barber praised Manning at times for his play, he also questioned whether he could be a leader of men and make plays when the chips were down.

"His personality hasn't been so that he can step up, make a strong statement and have people believe that it's coming from his heart," Barber said on the show.

Barber then told the story about Manning being uncomfortable talking to the offense in Week 12.


"He didn't feel like his voice was going to be strong enough and it showed," Barber said. "Sometimes it was almost comical the way that he would say things."

While Barber rushed for 1,662 yards last season, the second highest single-season total in Giants history, he also was a distraction in an 8-8 season that saw the Giants make the playoffs.

He went on record in early October saying that the 2006 season would probably be his last. He also created problems for Coughlin when he criticized him for pulling away from the running game too soon in a loss to Jacksonville in November.

It was the second time he went after his head coach.

After a playoff loss to Carolina in 2005, Barber said Coughlin was outcoached by Panther coach John Fox, a former Giants assistant.

Story

Why are you trying to turn this into a race issue?

I was wondering that too.

I see nothing that would even suggest that in this article.

I always thought Tiki was a little girl.

This is not an issue of race, this is an issue of manhood.

Tiki Barber got any Super Bowl Rings,...?? If so, then keep your mouth shut Tiki and HELP Eli get one too.

Otherwise, retire and go on to your next career.

Tiki might also be ticked that the Giants spent all of that effort and drama and gave up draft picks to get Manning when they could have had Rivers with no drama... Rivers would have been happy in NY.. it was Manning who wasn't going to be happy in San Diego...... It was a deal the Giants didn't have to make.

Shocking with all of this going on. Tiki announcing he is retiring early was really not a good move. Now he is shooting at his former teammate. He really looks like the idiot with his words..

Barber's a chump for saying stuff like that, he should have kept it in-house.
Probably trying to draw attention to himself and whatever network he works for.

Tiki has no "in-house".. he had an "in-house" last year with the Giants.. he had the opportunity to take this to them then... he chooses to wait until he has had his glorious retirement parade around the NFL... THEN he starts dissing his former teammates... I've got to say, I always liked Tiki and his brother, but this wasn't a good move.

Small point, but when I say in-house I mean "between teammates", past or present. He should not have said stuff like that about an ex-teammate, especially since he never went public with it before.

point taken...

Jload is going to take Eli's job if he doesn't step it up this year. New York will eat him up over this. Tiki should learn to keep his mouth shut. It's like Vegas, when it comes to the lockeroom. It stays there.

Giants new quarterback coach Chris Palmer added that Manning does everything a coach wants.


Think he might help ELI realize his potential???

Couple of over paid cry babies....Eli could learn a lesson or two from his brother, work, keep your mouth shut...Tiki..arnt you retired..

MAN GLAD I'M NOT A GIANTS FAN..THAT TEAM IS SPINNING DOWNWARDS....FAST

Eh, I respect Tiki more than Eli.

Giants have used Tiki as their weapon for a long time, and IMO he's been underappreciated. The guy is the man and does everything for that team. He's always been an overachiever. He has been the most significant weapon on their offense

Rather, IMO Eli, Shockey, Burress those guys are major underachievers IMO. So yeah I'm sticking with Tiki the same way I took Strahan's side in the Giant's arguments. If you watch them play they sick.

Neither of those guys has a Superbowl Ring. But is that their fault, no. Cause they certainely were two of the only things the Giants had going for them. Amani Toomer in the same way.

I really don't care what Shaun O'Hara or Eli or Chris Palmer have to say. I'm sticking with Tiki, he has every right to say whatever he wants. And so what if he says "he didn't love the game anymore", it isn't like he slacked in those final games. He continued to work his butt off and be a bright spot for that team. I can't say the same about Eli Manning.

Now notice Amani Toomer took no side...... may be he agrees with Tiki but doesn't want to hurt the squad (I like him)