Eli On WFAN: Beckham Has Good Head On His Shoulders, Wants To Be Great
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- Eli Manning has had good rapport with receivers throughout his distinguished career, but the Giants' quarterback and rookie Odell Beckham Jr. are taking things to an entirely different level.
Winners of two straight, the Giants (5-9) are attempting to close out a very disappointing season on a high note. Beckham, who was the 12th overall pick in the draft, has taken the NFL by storm this season, registering 71 receptions, 972 yards and nine touchdowns in just 10 games.
Manning told WFAN's Mike Francesa on Monday that he's seen all kinds of things during his 11 years in the NFL, but Beckham's meteoric rise has been as impressive as anything.
"Rarely do you see, since I've been around, a rookie come in and make this type of impact, and be able to have consecutive games with lots of catches and scoring touchdowns and making plays," Manning said.
Beckham has been especially incredible over the last four games, recording 40 catches, 509 yards and six touchdowns. He had a career-high 12 receptions and three touchdowns on Sunday during the 24-13 win over visiting Washington.
"Odell had a big day. He's getting better every week and he's making some outstanding plays," Manning said.
So much for Beckham being this tin man so many feared he would be after he missed all of the preseason and the first month of the regular season with hamstring problems. Despite being just 5-foot-11, Beckham is showing the type of athleticism reserved for prototypical -- and dominant -- NFL receivers.
"He's got a good head on his shoulders," Manning said. "We're not trying to overload him. There a few mental mistakes kind of here and there that come up, but nothing too costly. His big plays overshadow that and his big plays are what make him special. We know we have to find ways to get the ball in his hands.
"I think he definitely does bring a little energy to each day, each practice. He walks around with a little swagger. It's fun to have someone who has that confidence, but he also has the ability to work hard," Manning added.
In a season where the Giants lost top wideout Victor Cruz to a knee injury early on and have received inconsistent performances from the likes of Rueben Randle and Preston Parker, Manning has still put together quite a bounce-back campaign following the 2013 season, arguably the worst of his 11-year career.
A year after throwing a career-high 27 interceptions, Manning has cut that number in half, while tossing 26 TD passes. He needs just 410 yards over the final two games to notch his fourth 4,000-yard season and first since 2011.
The Giants conclude the regular season at St. Louis and then home for Philadelphia.
Manning spoke about several topics during his talk with Francesa. To hear his complete interview, please click on the audio link bellow.
Eli Manning
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