1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to another edition of Papa's Perspective, part of the 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Giants Huttle Podcast, brought to you by Bob's Discount Furniture, 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: the official furniture store of the New York Giants. So 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: the Giants are playing at the Raiders, and it's not 5 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: like there's a great history between the Giants and Raiders, 6 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: but there was one game that jumped out to me. 7 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 2: And I said, we have to have Tikia. 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: We have to have Tiki barbar on Tiki We welcome 9 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: to the show. In December thirty one, two thousand and five, 10 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: you had a game for the Ages. You guys are 11 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: battling Washington for the division title. They were playing Philadelphia 12 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: the next day on January the first, So you need 13 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: to win this game to wrap up the NFC East 14 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 1: the whole thing. But there's more to the story than 15 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: the game. This was a very emotional season. On October 16 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: twenty fifth, Wellington Marra passed away, and then Bob Tisch 17 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: passed away on November fifteenth, and you were, you know, 18 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: one of the big leaders of that ball club. Talk 19 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 1: about the dynamic of what that whole experience was like. 20 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 2: Well, Bob, it's great to be on. Good to see 21 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 2: you again. It's been a while in person, but I 22 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 2: know we're from Afar that this is just as good 23 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 2: because I love talking about these memories, especially from that 24 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 2: two thousand and five season. Now you'll remember Bob. Coach 25 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 2: Kauflin from the very beginning of training camp stated that 26 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 2: that season was the team of record for Bob and Wellington. 27 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 2: And you know, I don't think a lot of guys 28 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: knew what that meant or or thought deeply about what 29 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 2: that meant, but you're right. I had a close relationship 30 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: with Wellington, and I had a great relationship with Bob 31 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 2: because I lived on the Upper East Side and he 32 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 2: would always come pick me up and we'd go to 33 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 2: events together and political or social, and I developed a 34 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 2: great reverence for who he was and what he meant 35 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: to the city, but also for the team, and I knew, 36 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: we guess we kind of all knew that they would 37 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 2: both maybe pass away that season, and that meant something 38 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: to me. And I had some of my best games 39 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 2: that year, including the Washington game right after Wellington passed away, 40 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: where I went over two hundred yards and took myself 41 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 2: out of the game in the third quarter after I 42 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 2: had scored a touchdown and I gave that TD ball 43 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 2: to Tim McDonald, one of his grandsons, who's now in 44 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 2: the front office with the Giants, and he still has it. 45 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 2: And I remember saying, Timmy, this is all I could 46 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 2: do to celebrate Wellington was to have the day that 47 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 2: I had against Washington, and I gave him that football 48 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 2: and took myself out of the game. The Oakland game 49 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 2: was an interesting one because there was a lot at stake. 50 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 2: We were still fighting for the playoffs and Ron Stone, 51 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 2: old Stony was on that team, and I love Stony. 52 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 2: We used to hang out all the time. I remember 53 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 2: after the game he came up to me and said, dude, 54 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 2: you were running down the sideline. I wanted to come 55 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: off the bench and just tackle you. I wanted to 56 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 2: crush you. You were killing us. But you know I 57 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 2: was used that play. It was a ninety five yard touchdown, 58 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 2: and it's the one you're referring to as an example of 59 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 2: teamwork and what it means to understand everybody and one 60 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: another as as as a team. So Luke Petego jumps 61 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: off side. We're on the we're on the ten. Now 62 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 2: we're on the five. And as a running back, we 63 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 2: always think the same thing. It's like, dude, I can 64 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 2: go to the distance right and let me I'm not 65 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: gonna match Tony door set, which is subsequently been madged 66 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,839 Speaker 2: by Derrick Henry. But I'm not gonna match Tony dor set. 67 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 2: But I can get ninety five yards. Like you think 68 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,239 Speaker 2: that when you're backed up, because everybody knows what play 69 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: you're gonna run. It's it's gonna be a power play 70 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 2: to the strong side. Just get three yards and give 71 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 2: yourself some punting room. That's that's generally the mindset. But 72 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 2: as we walked up to the line of scrimmage on 73 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: that play, the Raiders knew what was coming. They were 74 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 2: screaming it power, power, power, pointing to their left, which 75 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: is our right, because the tight end was lined up 76 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: that side. Full back was pressed that side there on 77 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 2: power power. So they start cheating over right, they start 78 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: cheating just a little bit to their left. But the 79 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 2: problem was is the backside will linebacker was already on 80 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: the line of scrimmage. If he would have been, you know, 81 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 2: three stacked, they would have been fine. But because they 82 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 2: had called a defense that put the backside linebacker on 83 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 2: the line of scrimmage. He effectively was out of the 84 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: play and then when they started cheating, it created this 85 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: massive hole on the backside, and so in my mind, 86 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 2: I'm trying not to look at it. I'm walking up 87 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 2: to the line of scrimmers. I see the will on 88 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 2: the backside of the line of scrimmans. I'm like, dude, 89 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 2: there is a massive hole over there, and I'm just 90 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 2: I don't want to look at it because I don't 91 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 2: want them to get wary of it, because they're cheating. 92 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 2: They're all like power power, They're all cheating, cheating down 93 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: towards the play side. And my eye is on Sean O'Hara. 94 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 2: All I'm looking at is O'Hara, and I'm saying, all right, 95 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 2: I know the guard's pulling backside guard is pulling. I 96 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 2: know that if O'Hara cuts off that detackle, I think 97 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: it was three technique. If he cuts off that three technique, 98 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 2: my foot's going on the ground going backside. That's all 99 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 2: I was looking at. Play starts. I'm heading downhill on 100 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: the right pack, not giving it away. You know, Finney's 101 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: leading front side pulling guard comes around and hair cuts 102 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 2: that guy off and as soon As soon as I 103 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 2: saw him make contact, I stick my foot in the 104 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 2: ground and go behind him. And now I'm in space 105 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 2: because they've all cheated over and so I'm behind all 106 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 2: of them. They're running place playside. I'm backside and I'm 107 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,679 Speaker 2: standing in the middle of the field and the safety 108 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 2: is coming down. I'm like, oh, I mean, I'm twenty nine, 109 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 2: I'm thirty. At this point, I'm like, can I make 110 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 2: this guy miss? Because if I do, I got something 111 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 2: special here. So I just kind of gave him this 112 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 2: slow fake. It was one of the slowest fakes I've 113 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 2: ever done in my life, Like left, right, left, He misses, 114 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 2: and I run through an arm tackle, and all of 115 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 2: a sudden, I'm in the open field. Polexico comes down 116 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 2: and squashes the corner back and I'm like, all right, 117 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: I got the sideline, but I don't have like that 118 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 2: that four to four speed that I had coming out 119 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 2: of college, and so I'm just running. I'm like, all right, 120 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 2: let me get what i can get. Then all of 121 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 2: a sudden, I see Polexico come out of the side 122 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 2: of my eye. I'm like, dude, he just made a 123 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 2: block on the corner. The hell's he going back? Here 124 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 2: already he had turned around and was escorting me, and 125 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 2: then there's another safety coming on the side. Here comes 126 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 2: a money from the other side of the field to 127 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: cut off the other safety, and I basically had an 128 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: escort down the left sideline for a ninety five yard touchdown. 129 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: But I use that play as an example of teamwork, right, 130 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: of understanding that you can do your job. But when 131 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 2: you do your job exceptionally, like Amani did, like Polexico did, 132 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: like Sean o'harri did, that, big things happen. Now people 133 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 2: will look at me and say, oh, ninety five yard touchdown, 134 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 2: But that wasn't on me, man. I was just I 135 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 2: was just running to the open field. I was running 136 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 2: to space. And that's what you know, That's what I 137 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: love most about those last couple of years with the Giants, 138 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 2: in particular that five season, because we just we we 139 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 2: knew each other so well as an offense and as 140 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 2: an offensive line and as a running I mean I 141 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 2: ran for two hundred yards three times that season. That 142 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 2: wasn't by accident. 143 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 1: Black School had a big game. He had a long 144 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: touchdown catch. But you know, with the game still hanging 145 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: in the balance because the final score was thirty to 146 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: twenty one. 147 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:17,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, that was the first That was our first score. 148 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 2: That was early in the game with the. 149 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: Game hanging in the balance, right, I think it right 150 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: at the two minute mark. You guys had a third 151 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: and eight and they fed you the rock and you 152 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: got nine yards and then. 153 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 2: That basically sealed the deal. 154 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: But I guess that kind of speaks to your overall 155 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: point of team, right, I mean, they trusted the run 156 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 1: game with the game on the line, and we need 157 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: eleven guys to execute it. 158 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, we did, and we were so confident, we were 159 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: so assured of our run game that that season, really, 160 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: those last couple of seasons that I was there, it 161 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 2: was it was continuity. There was familiarity. They could, we could, 162 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: we could mess up and still get it right, and 163 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: because of how well we knew each other. And I 164 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 2: think that was something that it's gotten lost in today's NFL. Right, 165 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 2: This this idea of of a of a run game 166 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 2: being able to dominate, not because you know you have 167 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 2: a big, a big player who can take all the 168 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 2: you know, the poundings, but because you understand you understand defenses, 169 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 2: and you understand each other and you know you're right 170 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: and that and that closing moments, we knew that we 171 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 2: didn't need to throw the ball. We knew that we 172 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 2: could get whatever we needed just by Eli turning around 173 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 2: and handing it off. And uh, and we got much 174 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 2: a very important win on on near the end of 175 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 2: the season. It was awesome. 176 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, so you guys clinched the division. Excuse me eleven 177 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: and five now for those obviously, the Giants are gonna 178 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: be playing the Raiders this week in a spanking new 179 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: stadium in Las Vegas. 180 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 2: Uh. 181 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: The Raiders used to play in a place called Oakland, 182 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: the Oakland Alameda Coliseum, which was as bad as stadium 183 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: as you could possibly get, no doubt, still play there. 184 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:05,839 Speaker 1: And I remember after the game having to hustle down 185 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: to do the interview with the coach and all that 186 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: other stuff. 187 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 2: But you know, there's. 188 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:16,439 Speaker 1: Crates in the hallway. The hallways narrow, you're going through it. 189 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 2: Dug out. It's like it's it's epically bad. 190 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, talk, let's talk a little bit about or reminisce 191 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: with us, please Coughlin's speech afterwards, because I'm standing outside 192 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: the locker room and everything is so cramp It's not 193 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: like they could close the doors so that we couldn't hear. 194 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: But the emotion with the Marra family, the Tish family 195 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: and Coughlin's messaging to you guys as you clinched the 196 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 1: division and the way you did it in that environment 197 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: was something I'll never forget. 198 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, me too, Bob. It's hard not to get emotional 199 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 2: about it because very rarely are things storybook like that. 200 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 2: And you know, unfortunately for us, that season ended very 201 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 2: poorly in the in the postseason, Carolina came to our house, 202 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 2: uh and beat us, and what we thought was a 203 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 2: storybook ended in It was just it was just an 204 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 2: ugly finish. But in that moment when we clinched the division, 205 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 2: we know we were going to the playoffs, and uh, 206 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 2: the legacy of Wellington and Bob Tish kind of was 207 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 2: was forefront. And you know, Tom had a way of 208 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 2: speaking very matter of factly, but if you were listening 209 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 2: to what he was saying, you could feel his emotion 210 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 2: like he's never one of those He was never gonna cry, right, 211 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,959 Speaker 2: he never was gonna get overwhelmed by the moment. It's 212 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 2: just it's just it wasn't in his demeanor. His facade 213 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: was solid and it was always going. 214 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 3: To be that way, but you could you could hear 215 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 3: it if you were listening the importance at that moment 216 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 3: winning the division in Oakland had for him and how 217 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 3: he was transferring that to the Merra family, to the 218 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 3: Tish family. 219 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 2: I took it as this uh one of the greatest 220 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 2: moments in our giant history because of what it meant 221 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 2: to the families. You know, forget what happened downstream, but 222 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 2: in that moment, we had accomplished something that we had 223 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 2: set out to do. At the beginning of the season, 224 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 2: As I mentioned, Tom Kauughlin said, we are the team 225 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 2: of record for Wellington Mara and Bob Tish, and we 226 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 2: fulfilled that by winning the division. So's it's my most 227 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 2: memorable season. Those were some of my most memorable games 228 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 2: and it'll always be special. 229 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: Picky, that's pretty awesome stuff. I want to ask you 230 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: one football question in wrapping up, because about you, and 231 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: I know that you know sometimes it could be a 232 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: little bit awkward talking about yourself. But when you take 233 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: a look at running backs, great running backs, and you 234 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: look at the last five years of their career as 235 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: they played into their thirties, arguably no one had a 236 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: better five years at the end of their career at 237 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: a position that normally it's over. Yeah, by the time 238 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 1: we're talking about it, What was the motivation for you 239 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 1: and the inspiration for you to be able to be 240 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: as good as you were in those last five years, 241 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: which are still epic numbers. Yeah, you can compare them 242 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: to anybody's numbers Hall of Famers, anybody. No one's had 243 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: five years like you did at the end of the 244 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: career for a running back. 245 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's two things, Bob. The first is 246 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 2: that early on in my career, those first four or 247 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 2: five years, I didn't do a whole lot, and I 248 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,239 Speaker 2: was a kick returner. I was a third down specialist. 249 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 2: I know, I started as a rookie, but then I 250 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 2: quick I got hurt, I told my PCL and then 251 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 2: I was constantly trying to be replaced. I believe Arnie 252 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 2: of course he was looking for the whether it was 253 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 2: Sean Bennett or Joe Montgomery. We brought in the late 254 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 2: Gary Brown. They were always trying to replace me, and 255 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 2: then we drafted Ron Day in two thousand. So those 256 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 2: first three or four years, I mean I didn't do much. 257 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 2: I don't think I had one thousand yards collectively, much 258 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 2: less in a season until two thousand and so there's 259 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 2: I've always believed that it's a function of carriage, and 260 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 2: I'm by that I mean a function of hits, like 261 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 2: how much pounding your body can take, and that's proportional 262 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,839 Speaker 2: to your size or your musculature, your joint structure, et cetera. 263 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 2: I didn't have wear and tear early on in my career, 264 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 2: and so when I finally figured it out, meaning football wise, 265 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 2: x's and o's, and it married with me getting in 266 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 2: great shape. I started working out with Joe Kareni, who 267 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 2: was a strength and conditioning coach World Strongest Man type lifter. 268 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 2: I got really powerful, up to about two hundred and 269 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 2: twelve pounds of muscle, and I was durable and I 270 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 2: never missed games, and even if I did have a 271 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 2: broken bone, I justus tape it up and let's go. 272 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 2: And so there was a mentality that came with the 273 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 2: toughness that I had built on my body. And so 274 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 2: that intersection of understanding the game and physical maturity hit 275 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 2: at the right time for me, and I was able 276 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 2: to excel as my years went on, mainly because I 277 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,559 Speaker 2: didn't have a lot of wear and tear. But I 278 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 2: think the other thing was it was the right coaching 279 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 2: staff for me. Now, a lot of people, you know, 280 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 2: hated Tom Coughlin's ways because he was so particular, like 281 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 2: be there five minutes early. It's meetings at seven point thirty, 282 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 2: but if you're not there at seven twenty five, you're late. 283 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 2: But it was those details and understanding the little things, 284 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 2: including with my fumbling issue that I was able to 285 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: correct with Gerald Ingram. It was those like little details 286 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 2: that made the biggest difference in my career because I 287 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 2: could see it like I could I could I could 288 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 2: get up to the line of scrimmage and I could 289 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 2: see what was going to happen or was supposed to happen, 290 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 2: so that I was prepared for. So I think the details, 291 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 2: combined with the physicality of my physical development, as well 292 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 2: as the lack of wear and tear, allowed me to 293 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 2: excel all the way up unto the end. I mean 294 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 2: it was I tell people this story. When I knew 295 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 2: I was going to retire in two thousand and six, 296 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 2: we played the Eagles were down in Philly, and I Jeremi, 297 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 2: I try to just beat the crap out of me 298 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 2: and I couldn't walk for like three days, at least 299 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 2: not comfortably. I remember telling Jim Finn's like, Fanny, I'm done, 300 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 2: and he's looking at me, like, what are you talking about? 301 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 2: We gotta go like twelve games ago. What are you 302 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 2: talking about? I said, Fanny, I want to have a 303 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 2: great season, but I can't do this anymore. And I did. 304 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 2: And it got a little controversial, you know, just because 305 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 2: my retirement leaked. But I was ready for to go 306 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 2: on to the next thing. But I also realized that 307 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 2: I had a responsibility, a duty to be great at 308 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 2: what my task was. And I had always told coach Coughlin, 309 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 2: you know what you're going to get from me on Sunday. 310 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 2: It doesn't it doesn't matter what the week looks like, 311 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 2: it doesn't matter who the opponent is. You know, you 312 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 2: can count on me on Sundays. And my teammates knew that, 313 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 2: and I took a lot of pride in that. Well. 314 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: Two thousand and five was an epic season. First team 315 00:15:56,520 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: All Pro Pro Bowl December thirty first two thousand and five, 316 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: beating the Raiders in Oakland and obviously the team of 317 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: record with the passing of both mister Mahra and mister 318 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: Tish within the span of a month. And Tiki, you 319 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: are such a key component in all of that with 320 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: leadership and obviously play on the field. And I want 321 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: to thank you so much from the bottom of my 322 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: heart for taking us down memory lane to I know, 323 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: one of the most important games or meaningful and memorable 324 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: games in your illustrious career. 325 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you, Bob. 326 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 2: I appreciate you having me. Let's go teak it. 327 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's Tiki Barber joining us on this edition of 328 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: The Pops Perspective, part of the Giants Huddle podcast, brought 329 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: to you by Bob's Discount Furniture, the official furniture store 330 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: of the New York Giants.