Eli Says
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...beckham-has-to-learn-how-to-handle-the-media/
Giants quarterback
Eli Manning said Friday that he’s thrown more than passes in wide receiver
Odell Beckham’s direction.
During an appearance on WFAN, Manning was asked about Beckham’s complaints about teasing he gets from his teammates. Among other things, Beckham shared his feeling that “it
takes a lot of strength for me to be able to come here every day and not practice” while hearing “little jokes” about his injuries or his rapid rise to fame.
Manning said he’s been part of the ribbing, which he said is about “trying to keep things loose” rather than any animosity toward Beckham from his teammates. The quarterback said he thought it was a good thing that Beckham is frustrated while dealing with another hamstring problem and the assorted jabs from the Giants this year, but suggested he find a better way to deal with it than blowing off the media the way he did on Thursday.
“He wants to be
out there practicing, he’s got to watch and he’s got to talk to the media and he’s got to deal with the hamstring question over and over,” Manning said, via the
New York Post. “He’s still young. He’s a young player, and his success has come on him quickly. He’s got to learn how to handle the media. Sometimes, hey, if things go wrong, you’re not practicing, you just got to sit there and take it and learn from it and move on from it. I don’t think he’s mad. I think it’s more he probably just doesn’t feel like talking a whole lot to the media when he’s not practicing, he’s not doing anything. It’s frustrating. I think he wants to get better. It’s tough sitting on the sideline and watching everybody practice.”
Manning’s a good example for Beckham and other players to follow when it comes to dealing with the media. He may not always be the most exciting interview, but he’s done what’s asked of him on that front in good times and bad times for him and for the team. We’d imagine Beckham will do the same once camp starts, unless he wants this to be a running storyline in his second NFL season.