Giants quotebook

By Times staff
Published January 7, 2008

On Bucs coach Jon Gruden's decision to rest starters the past two weeks: "I'm pretty sure that Coach Gruden is smart and one of the best coaches in the league. He understands when to rest his players and when not. I can't talk about rest. I sat at home the whole training camp. It worked for me, so I'm sure a week off or whatever for these guys it worked for whatever he was trying to accomplish." Michael Strahan, DE

On turning the game around: "It was a great team victory. Everyone stepped up and had a role. All of our running backs, tight ends, receivers, special teams. The defense getting turnovers and keeping us in the game, especially in the first quarter. The offense couldn't get anything started. ... Finally, at the start of the second quarter we finally got something going." Eli Manning, QB

On premature celebration:"I was one of the last people to really cut loose. I kept remembering the 49er game and the same quarterback was out there. I didn't really ever think it was over. Brandon Jacobs and (Ahmad) Bradshaw were waving to the crowd and I was saying, 'What are you doing?'"Amani Toomer, WR. In the 2002 playoffs, the Giants lost 39-38 at San Francisco when current Bucs QB Jeff Garcia led the 49ers to 25 unanswered points.

On Manning: "He's developing as well as any quarterback. He took us back when he had to. He didn't force anything and make a bad play. When he missed a throw, he didn't let it affect him. He was on to the next play. Our offense was really consistent behind him. He showed that there's one way. Everybody says he doesn't have the fire, but there's more than one way to lead a team, and he showed it today, that you don't have to be a rah-rah guy for people to respect you. Our team respects him a lot." Amani Toomer, WR

On Toomer: "Amani made some very solid plays. The ball went to Amani; the ball went to Plaxico (Burress). We did get some very solid plays there. ... The last touchdown on a third down ... was an exceptional play as well."

Tom Coughlin, coach

[Last modified January 6, 2008, 23:41:35]