Eli Manning will be his usually accessible self this season, his 16th with the Giants. He will speak in front of his locker every Wednesday. He will talk to the media after every game. He will talk the day after most games, and always after a loss.
Manning, though, will not be heard on Mondays on the radio, airwave real estate he occupied on ESPN New York and more recently WFAN since 2005.
Manning now has four young children and no longer wanted to commit to a 5:05 p.m. spot every week, given Monday afternoon is time he does not have to spend at the team facility. Plus, how often can he answer the same questions about his job security and his future? It is believed Mike Francesa’s increasing and vehement criticisms of co-owner John Mara and general manager Dave Gettleman had nothing to do with Manning’s decision.
In the past, Victor Cruz, Antrel Rolle and others were heard on weekly radio spots. That will not happen this season. The only locked-in interviews are Alec Ogletree and Antoine Bethea alternating each week on WFAN with Joe Beningo and Evan Roberts. Other players will be made available for the station’s “Monday Night Live” show. That’s it.
Coach Pat Shurmur will be on with Francesa every Monday at 3 p.m., but there will be no Manning in what will be a quieter radio season for the Giants.