Amani Toomer Game Reviews

Amani Toomer will represent the New York Giants at the NFL Players Gridiron Gala, which will be held on Tuesday, April 18th in Washington, D.C. The NFL Players Gridiron Gala, which features the JB Awards, is an annual awards presentation that honors players for community service.

Amani Toomer was one of 10 players selected by award-winning sportscaster James Brown to receive the award. Recipients were nominated by their teammates at the end of last season for their commitment to achieve excellence off the field through building better communities and stronger families.

Several other honorees will receive JB Awards, including Wellington Mara and Bob Tisch, who will be cited posthumously for their executive leadership.

I know you’re disappointed that the playoffs ended early but overall how do you think the team played over the course of the season?

Amani: I think we played pretty well but I think we got hot at the wrong time. Basically, I think that’s what happened.

What do you see as the future prospects for this team?

Amani: Well, I don’t really know. I think the coaching staff learned a lot about their players this year and they’ll make the appropriate decisions based on what they saw. But I don’t know what they will be.

Eli had excellent passing yardage this season. Do you look for similar improvement next season?

Amani: Oh, no question. I think he has such a high upside that he’ll continue to progress and improve.

The second half of the season you were getting more balls. Do you expect to have a greater role in the offense next season?

Amani: I don’t know what’s going to happen next season to be honest with you. As I said, I think the coaches learned a lot about their guys last season. I came off that year I had two years ago when I struggled. I hope this past season I demonstrated that I can get the job done.

Are you satisfied with your chemistry with Eli or are you looking for more improvement next season?

Amani: I think we can definitely improve but I also think that the trust factor is definitely there. I think he trusts me and I know I trust him. In terms of going across the middle or going anywhere, I have a good rapport with him. But you can always still improve.

Do you plan to do any traveling before the next off-season strength and conditioning program begins?

Amani: I have been doing some; I visited a friend recently and I expect to visit my folks and my brother. That’s probably it.

Although the Giants fell short of the ultimate goal, they made progress.

Lots of progress.

And in truth it was expecting too much of a fledgling quarterback only in his first full season to lead a team to the Super Bowl. That the Giants won the NFC East and got into the playoffs is a testament to the future.

A future led by an improving quarterback who even at this early date has shown flashes of greatness.

A future filled with talented, scrappy, players who will fight and claw for 60 minutes, a characteristic of this Tom Coughlin-led team.

Once again it was injuries at one or two key positions that took the Giants down. Nearing season’s end the linebacker corps was hit.

And hit again.

As the playoffs approached only one linebacker was left standing and he began the season as a back-up. Newly signed linebackers were placed on injured reserve before the ink dried on their contracts.

Still the 2005 season presaged a stronger, better New York Giants.

But the question is whether that ultimate success will come quickly enough for those veterans who have long been the heart and soul of the team. Amani Toomer, Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan are all in their 30’s and have played for the Giants their entire careers, a rarity in today’s NFL.

They want that ring.

They earned that ring.

And the answer is yes; they should yet get that ring.

Each of the last two years the team has signed key players, either through the draft or free-agency. All are productive and each has made the team stronger.

Another draft along with one or two free agent signings should fill in the remaining gaps. Eli Manning, in his third season, will become the quarterback he was drafted to be.

And it will happen.

Maybe as soon as next year.

Amani Toomer: With 20 seconds left in the first half, Burress ran a skinny post while Toomer ran a deeper post. As usually the case with Burress, Manning threw the pass high so that only Burress could catch it. However, the pass was a little too high and it bounced off Burress' hands. Not to worry as the veteran Toomer continued with his route and caught the deflection for the touchdown grab, expertly managing not to let his knee drop to the turf before he could get the ball into the end zone. This is a textbook example of a veteran not giving up on the play and seeing it all the way through…In the first possession of the third quarter, it was Toomer again who made a big play. Faced with a third-and-two, he ran a nice out-pattern by faking inside and then bursting to the outside for a five-yard grab and a first down.

In the pass receiving department, it is interesting to note that the ball is starting to go more and more in Amani Toomer's direction. Toomer (5 catches for 69 yards and one touchdown) made a huge play when he caught an intermediate pass over the middle from Manning early in the fourth quarter, fought through two tacklers while appearing to keep to his feet, and then broke into the open for a 31-yard score that gave the Giants a 10-point lead. Toomer looked sharp over the middle early in the game such as his 15-yard reception on 3rd-and-12.

With so many people filling in last Saturday at tackle and linebacker, were you expecting a close score?

Amani: Yes, I was expecting a closer game. I have every confidence in the guys who were in there so that wasn’t the reason but I did think it would be a little closer. I hoped it wouldn’t be too close but they’re a good team and I knew they would come in and play hard.

Your touchdown reception was amazing. How did you manage to keep your knee from touching the ground and then right yourself and take it in?

Amani: I don’t really know how any of it happened. You know, I just caught it and started running and just took it in. I don’t know exactly how I did it. I wanted to keep my feet and it didn’t feel like my knee ever touched the ground. You know sometimes you will things to happen – and I just wanted it to happen so badly.

Your ankle was turned completely under you and it didn’t seem possible to keep from going down. Do you feel all the yoga you do enabled you to right yourself?

Amani: Well, I hope so. I’d really like to think so. All the yoga I do is a lot of hard work but I think it has definitely paid off. It has helped me a lot not just on that occasion but in the years past as well.

Tiki had a great day also. He said in his press conference that he told Ward to pick up his feet and keep pressing. He said you told him you were eavesdropping and did the same. Is that true?

Amani: Yeah, I did. I definitely listen to what he says about running. I told him I always listen to what he says. It’s kind of amazing when you watch some of the stuff he does.

Tiki credited the receivers and mentioned you by name for enabling some of his long runs.

Amani: He’s had a lot of success and it’s hard to block for Tiki because you never know where he’s going to pop up. You have to know it’s just a matter of time before he does and you can never really relax.

The Redskins kept their playoff drive alive by beating Dallas. Are you expecting another playoff-type atmosphere?

Amani: No question. We have to play hard to keep our hopes alive. We haven’t secured anything yet so there’s still a possibility we wouldn’t make the playoffs. We have to really keep focused this week. They are a different team than we played earlier and that’s how we’re looking at it. We’re definitely not taking them lightly at all.

Amani Toomer: Continuing to find the ball coming his way more and more of late, Toomer is coming through with lots of big plays, none much bigger than his huge second-half scoring play that went for 31 yards. How he managed to keep his knee from touching the ground on this catch-and-run, contorting his leg like a circus act, is beyond us. However, he did and in the process broke several tackles as he burst into the end zone for a huge score. Toomer came up big early for his team as well, latching onto Manning's first throw of the game for 13 yards, and then, on the same drive, converting a third-and-10 with a 15-yard hook-up with Manning. Toomer also drew a defensive holding on that first drive for another first down conversion and managed to get deep early; although the deep ball fell well short, Toomer did well to make sure the poor throw was not intercepted.

That was a cliffhanger Sunday. Do you get nervous when the game goes into overtime?

Amani: No, not really. I just wish the overtime rules were different.

Do you prefer the college system for overtime play?

Amani: I think both the NFL and the college systems are kind of flawed. I prefer the NFL system but I don’t think it should be sudden death. I’d like each team to have a possession, more like a real game’s possession. You get the ball and if you score, you score. I’d like to see the team that wins the coin toss have their chance and if they get a field goal, they would still have to kick off again. Then the other team gets a chance to score. Then the game’s over.

Eli said one interception was because he overthrew you. On that play you and Shockey were both in the same general area. Was the play designed that way?

Amani: No, they grabbed Shockey and held him up. I was supposed to come underneath him but it just didn’t work out that way. I still would have been open even the way it worked out.

Tiki was used more as a receiver against the Eagles. Was that by design or did it just work out that way?

Amani: Well, it usually just works out that way. I mean I don’t think we go into the game with that specific thing in mind. It’s just the way the game plays out at times.

Late in the fourth quarter, teams often go to a soft, prevent defense. Is that an advantage to you as a receiver?

Amani: It’s an advantage because, of course, they’re worried about getting beat deep so they usually are willing to give up the short stuff. So, it is an easy situation for a receiver because they’re not worried about letting you have the short stuff. It’s easy to get open and get some yards.

Kansas City is desperate, needing to win out to get a possible wild card. Are you expecting a hard, physical game much like the Eagles game?

Amani: Oh, definitely I am. We haven’t guaranteed anything ourselves yet so I am expecting a playoff atmosphere.

Arrowhead has a reputation of being a hard place for a visiting team to win. Is it a significant advantage to have them at home?

Amani: I think so. I’ve been to Arrowhead and I know how difficult it is to play there. Hopefully, we’ll have that same advantage at home. We’ve played them out at Arrowhead and I’d just rather play at home anytime.

How huge a win was this?

Amani: I think it was really big. It defined our season because now we’re in the division lead. Dallas is a good team so it’s really significant to be in first place by defeating them. We’ve put ourselves in a good situation and now we have to hold on to that lead.

How much of a comfort zone does it give the offense when the defense is playing so well?

Amani: I think it gives us a big comfort zone. The defense did a really great job and if they can keep up that level of play and we pick up our end, I think we can be very good.

How big a factor was the crowd noise in your estimation?

Amani: I only hear it before the game starts. Other players said that the fans were wonderful Sunday. They always are supportive but I always tune everything out so I can’t say I really heard anything once the game began.

The Eagles appear to be down for the count. Do you expect they will still get up for a Giants-Eagles game?

Amani: Yeah, I think it will be a different game than the one they played Monday night because we’re a division rival. Seattle isn’t in their division so I think they didn’t really have the same kind of passion that they’re going to have against us. I know they will play with passion against us. I’m sure of that.

Do you think the Giants will have to run the table to ensure they win the division?

Amani: Yeah, I do think we’re going to have to run the table. We’re going to have to play pretty well the last four games.

Congratulations on being the first Giant in franchise history to catch 500 passes. Having achieved so many franchise records, do you still get excited?

Amani: Thanks a lot. Yes, I was excited actually. Reaching 500 is significant for anyone but being the first Giant to get there was what meant the most to me. I think 600, 700 and 800 will be even better!

The team also reached a major milestone against Philadelphia, joining Green Bay and Chicago as the only teams in the NFL with 600 victories.

Amani: Yeah, it was a day for milestones. That really is a big accomplishment for any team.

You’re starting to get more balls. Is it because Eli is noticing that you’re consistently open?

Amani: I don’t know if it’s that. I’ve switched positions and play more on the inside now alongside Plaxico. I think that might be getting me some extra looks.

You seem to be in a rut. Is there something in your contract that says you get six balls per game?

Amani: I don’t think so. I hope not. I think it’s just one of those weird things that happen sometimes.

On Monday there was an allegation that your TD catch and one of Shockey’s should not have been called catches. NFL.com issued a statement that they never said such a thing and, in fact, felt yours was a catch in bounds. In addition, the head of the referees was on Total Access and repeated several times what a great catch yours was. What do you think happened there?

Amani: You know, I really don’t know. I didn’t really follow it but a couple of teammates told me all about it. It’s water under the bridge now. We lost the game so I don’t understand what all that was about.

Do you consider this week’s game vs. Dallas a critical, must win game?

Amani: Yeah, it’s the biggest game we’ve played in so far this year. The rest of the season depends on this game. If we win out we could probably go to the playoffs without it but it would make our playoff situation a lot worse. The whole team is focused on this game and the coach has made it very clear how important this game is. Everybody knows Dallas vs. the New York Giants is important in itself even without the playoff implications.

Do you consider it a significant advantage that Dallas has had since Thanksgiving to rest, heal and prepare for the Giants?

Amani: I don’t know. Football is funny that way. Sometimes after having time off you end up getting rusty. So, sometimes I think it’s better to stay with the same routine, the same schedule. You really never know if it will be an advantage.

Amani Toomer: Toomer is really is starting to make his presence felt. Late in the first half, he ran an 18-yard out-route on the left sideline. Underneath Toomer was Shockey, who was running a seven-yard out-route. This drew the corner up just enough to leave Toomer wide open on the left sideline.

Ever since coming down with the game-winner against the Broncos, Toomer has come into his own. He has been sure-handed and Manning has begun to make him an integral part of the offensive attack.

Integral is the word as the Giants desperately needed a score late in the game. Manning went back to pass and found Toomer in the back of the end zone. His ability to get both feet in bounds should have led to a Giant win.

Amani Toomer: Toomer had a solid day of production with six catches for 56 yards which included his 500th career reception as a Giant. With Lito Sheppard shutting down Burress, Toomer more than held his own on the other side of the field against Sheldon Brown. His key catch came on fourth and one late in the second quarter.

After going to Brandon Jacobs on three straight tries, the Giants opted to go for the touchdown on fourth-and-one. Toomer did a masterful job of selling the run before breaking into his route and getting to the back of the end zone, where he found himself all alone to make the leaping grab.

Toomer continues to work well on the underneath routes and pick up the hard yards necessary to move the chains forward.

Did you know Mr. Tisch?

Amani: No, I really didn’t know him well but I certainly want to extend my condolences to his family and friends.

Minnesota was a game the Giants should have won, especially with the way the defense played most of the game. With the division being so tight, do you have any concern that this loss will come back to bite you later?

Amani: Yeah, it could bite us later. I think it just makes everything for the rest of the season mean that much more, every game. Now we don’t have any games that we can just let go. Every one is critical.

After Sunday’s game, Reggie Torbor said anything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Would you agree that it was just one of those games?

Amani: I don’t think everything went wrong. I do think a lot of stuff that went wrong has a low percentage for reoccurrence. But that’s football; that’s why you play the game. The great teams that I’ve been on as opposed to the good teams that I’ve been on find a way to win that type of game.

You had a good game. Does that matter to you when the game is a loss?

Amani: No, not really. It’s really hard when you lose because you put so much time and effort into each game and then in a game like this you come up with nothing. It’s a team that we really should have beaten. We dominated them in all but a couple ways and that’s what decided the game. This one was really hard to lose. This one is going to burn for a while. It’s a tough way to lose a game.

You and Tiki are neck and neck for 500 catches. You need one and he needs two. Next week you should both get there.

Amani: You never know but I certainly hope we’ll both get there next Sunday.

Looking ahead to Philadelphia, in the last 20 years, 18 years have ended in sweeps with each team having nine sweeps. The teams only split the series twice, in 1990 and 2002. Does that history make it more urgent to win this one?

Amani: I don’t think that has much relevance at all though it’s hard to believe that there have been so many sweeps. Only two splits in 20 years? That’s really hard to understand. I think what may happen is that one team may have a lot of injuries in any given year and that might make the difference.

It has been reported than McNabb will be out for Sunday’s game against the Giants. Do you see this as a break for the Giants?

Amani: Not really. When Donovan is in there, you know what you’re going to get. When he’s out, you don’t know what you’re going to get. Sometimes that can be harder than facing a quarterback you know and respect.

In his post-game press conference, Eli just said that he thought your last catch was a great catch.

Amani: Was that really not in? I thought that was in. I landed in the end zone so I thought I was in but I don’t know. What are you going to do? It doesn’t really matter because we got in anyway.

Did you enjoy this visit home more than the last one?

Amani: Yeah, I liked this one a lot better, a whole lot better. This time we held on. Of course, the circumstances and even the players are completely different now. There aren’t actually many guys left from that game. There’s me, Tiki, Shockey, maybe a half dozen guys left from that team.

Do you think the team is more well rounded now, with better options?

Amani: I do think we’re more well rounded. Today, for instance, I think Shockey had a great game.

Do you think the team underrated the 49ers defense a little bit?

Amani: No, we didn’t underrate them. This is a team that we knew would be tough to play, particularly at home, because you don’t know where the pressure is coming from and we knew they played tough in San Francisco. This wasn’t a game where we overlooked those guys. We saw what they did to Tampa Bay. They played hard and we were lucky to come out with a good win. But we spread the ball around pretty well and hopefully we can keep going.

Seven catches to go (to reach 500 receptions). Would you prefer to reach that goal at home?

Amani: Yeah, seven catches. I would prefer to reach 500 at home but it really doesn’t matter. I can get them anywhere. But getting them at home would be great. Next week would be really good.

Did you have a lot of friends and family here for this game?

Amani: I did. My brother came back and my parents are here. I didn’t get a chance to visit because we just got in last night. I call everyone a lot but it’s tough being away from the West coast. I had twenty tickets for friends from school.

Aren’t you afraid you’ll get spoiled having so many Mondays off?

Amani: Yeah, let’s hope we do. That would be very nice.

Do you think the reason the team played such an inspired game last Sunday was because of all the emotions in play due to the death of Wellington Mara?

Amani: I think so. He was such a great and important part of our team and we missed him so much this year. Then he passed and we wanted to play hard as a tribute to him. That’s what he would have wanted us to do.

Was it very important for the team to win this game to honor Mr. Mara’s memory?

Amani: Definitely, we wanted to honor his memory. And we knew how important it was to him to play against the Redskins because that was one of our oldest rivalries. We wanted to send a message to the league and to gain first place in the division, just as he would have wanted.

You have said you try to keep your emotions in check when you play. Did you find it difficult to do that in this game?

Amani: A little bit. Everyone was very excited before the game but cooler heads prevailed and we ended up executing pretty well.

Tiki had a great game and your blocking was responsible for springing him for some of his runs. Did Tiki say anything to you about how well you blocked for him?

Amani: Tiki had an outstanding game. He thanked me on the sideline about my blocking after some of his long runs.

The catch where you dragged a couple of Redskins defenders was very Mark Bavaro-esque. Have you seen film of the game in which he dragged five 49er defenders about 15 yards?

Amani: Yeah, I did see that and I was actually a 49er fan growing up so I remember that play well. At the time it was a hard thing to watch.

Did you hear that Jesse Palmer was signed by the 49ers today?

Amani: I did and I’m really happy for him. He definitely deserves a shot at playing in this league and now he’s got one in San Francisco. I think it will be great for him.

Is playing in the Bay area against the team you rooted for as a child more meaningful to you than other games?

Amani: Definitely. Any time you get a chance to play back home, it’s special. I’ve only gotten to play there four times in my whole career so I will really be up for it.

In 2002, Toomer had a sensational statistical season, catching 82 passes for 1,343 yards and eight touchdowns, but he didn’t make the Pro Bowl. “Yes, I kind of thought I should have,” he said. But with two games left in that season the voting came out and Toomer’s name wasn’t there.

“Mr. Mara came to me and said, ‘You made my Pro Bowl,’ and that’s all I needed. I was happy the next day. I told people, ‘Hey, I made the Pro Bowl this year.’ It made me feel great. And the next week I had the best game of my career. I caught 10 catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns [against Indianapolis].”

Today I join the New York Giants and the entire NFL community in mourning the passing of Wellington Mara.

Wellington Mara, the Giants' President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, was one of the most beloved and respected figures in professional sports and his contributions to our sport were legion.

I want to extend my condolences to the Mara family. He will be missed by everyone who encountered him and I believe his legend will live on. He's in a better place now and I'm glad that all of us were able to do our parts to bring some joy to his last hours with our victory over Denver.

Rest in peace, Mr. Mara.

You really know how to save the best for last, don’t you, Amani?

Amani: Yeah, I guess I do. It was my favorite catch of the day, that’s for sure.

Did you have a sense that history would repeat itself because after the game you said,” I had a feeling the whole drive that I was going to do something special.” (In 1998 Denver came to N.Y. undefeated after 13 games and the Giants defeated them when Amani caught a touchdown pass in the final 48 seconds of regulation play).

Amani: Right, I said that and I just had a sense all week that something good was going to happen but I didn’t know what it was. I still don’t know what it was. My body wasn’t feeling that great, nothing serious, just the normal dings, but I couldn’t figure it out. But for some reason I just felt like something good was going to happen this week, especially the last couple of days of the week, on Thursday and Friday. Then, when I got to the stadium, I really began to feel like that. At the game it got stronger, especially in the huddle.

Have you ever had a premonition before?

Amani: I don’t know if I’d call it that. I don’t think it was a premonition, just a feeling. Especially in the huddle, the feeling was strong.

Were the hardest hits you took in the game the ones you got from teammates congratulating you?

Amani: Yeah, they were but those don’t hurt too much. When you win a game you don’t even notice those things. I was just so excited, I felt like a little kid again out there after the touchdown.

Were you Eli’s primary read on that touchdown play?

Amani: That’s really hard to answer because sometimes it depends on what the defense takes away. I don’t remember if I was the first read on that play, more of a safety valve across the back. I don’t think I was the first read.

How would you compare the chemistry of this years offense as opposed to last year?

Amani: I would say the chemistry is a lot better. I think it’s better this year because Eli has time to really sit back there because our offensive line is doing so well, you know. The line has been doing a great job and that allows the skill positions to really play their game. Everything is working together.

Amani on touchdown reception:

I heard the play come in and I was just excited. I had a great chance to catch the ball. I had a feeling the whole drive that I was going to do something special. It was beautiful. We were just scrapping out there. We were watching the clock and playing football. We didn’t say anything, we were just playing. We are a team that will come back at you. This was a great comeback, probably one of the best that I have been involved in.

Jeremy Shockey on Amani's touchdown catch:

We call him the “goat.” Playing with him a couple of years and seeing how successful he has been in his career; there’s no person on this team that deserves it more than Amani Toomer. He’s been a complete team player and an outstanding teammate to play with. He made great plays all through the game and really won the game for us. He’s the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ in Giant receiving. He’s an exceptional player and it’s a pleasure to play with him.

Excerpt from Tiki Barber on comeback:

It was phenomenal. This is what you practice for and you hope you execute it right. In the huddle we were telling everyone to stay calm. You have to be perfect. Elijah was phenomenal. He kept our composure in the huddle. He made the throws when he had to. He made the plays to keep them off balance. We had a good mix. We needed to make plays and Amani came up big. The last two drives were phenomenal. That was a clinic on how you run a two-minute drill.

Excerpt from Michael Strahan:

Oh man, that was one of the best comebacks. It reminds me of coming back against those guys when they were undefeated. And the same man was at the end of that catch, Amani Toomer.

Amani Toomer caught a season- and team-high eight passes, including the game-winning two-yarder. Toomer scored a dramatic touchdown to beat the Broncos the last time they visited the Giants. On Dec. 13, 1998, Toomer’s 37-yard catch of a Kent Graham pass with 48 seconds remaining defeated the 13-0 Broncos, 20-16.

*Toomer’s eight receptions boosted his career total to 488 and moved him into first place on the Giants’ career list. Tiki Barber, who had held the top spot, had six catches in the game and has 487 in his career.

*Toomer’s touchdown catch was the 39th in his career. He is fourth on the Giants’ career list, behind Rote (48), Joe Morrison (47) and Frank Gifford (43).

The undulating hills of Northern California were home to Amani. Dotted with copses of trees and low-lying shrubs, they were the ideal playground for an athletic, adventurous child. Green and lush in winter and sere in summer months, the ever-changing scene only added to a child’s sense of adventure.

The Toomer home overlooks a state preserve of 740 acres and Amani headed straight for the hills when school and homework were finished.

“We never got into any trouble. We just played and hiked,” Amani said. “We ran around and we went on a lot of hikes in the hills. It was about a mile hike to where the merry-go-round was and we could get a slushee there so that was a big deal. It was always, ‘Let’s take a hike and get a slushee’”.

Parents always try to create a safe, happy environment for their children but no parent could have anticipated the profound effect the hills of California would have on Amani.

“Growing up in that environment probably caused me to become interested in providing playgrounds for other kids,” Amani said. “I became really interested when I heard that in New York City and the Metropolitan area kids don’t have a place to play. They don’t have anything to do in the afternoon. And that made me think about what I thought were the keys to my success because I always busy playing sports and going off to practices and things. It kept me away from a lot of the pitfalls that kids get into. I was really thankful for it and I think everybody should have that same opportunity to do productive things. It doesn’t matter whether it’s art, music or whatever.

There’s a lot of learning that takes place outside the classroom.”

And Amani is doing his best to make that learning a positive experience for the children of New York.

“He’s a competitor and he wants to win and I think that if teams are going to try to shift their coverage and double-up Plaxico, that will even create more opportunities for Amani. But, he’s playing good football right now and we’re real excited about the things he’s doing on Sunday.

“I wasn’t worried (about him getting down). I think, as I said earlier, Amani wants to win. He’s been here a long time. He’s had a lot of great success and in order for us to win, we’re going to need Amani to be in position to make plays for us and I think he will do that and he will continue to do those things. Once he gets opportunities, I think he will come down with the ball like he did on that big play on fourth down against the Rams.”

It was fourth down and a yard was needed for the first down. The Giants were on the St. Louis Rams’ 1-yard line. In an almost identical situation last week in San Diego, head coach Tom Coughlin went for the field goal…

So yesterday, in possession of a 10-7 lead in the first quarter, he took the fourth down gamble. Eschewing the field goal, he sent in a pass play, with wide receiver Amani Toomer driving to his left and then driving to the in-bounds stripe. Eli Manning made a perfect throw, one that only Amani could catch.

“It was a great throw,” Toomer said. “He is playing great, definitely coming along. You could see it. Everybody could see it. Now we have to just keep on going forward.”

Toomer reached out for the ball. Remember, only he could have caught it, now cornerback Travis Fisher, who had gotten turned around and was now staring at the back of Toomer’s jersey.

He caught it. He played it like a choreographed dance number, making sure both feet were in bounds. He was ballet at its best, precision at its most perfect.

Amani Toomer. He finished with three receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown, and this particular play was a big one.

Faced with a fourth and a long one late in the first quarter, the Giants opted to go for the touchdown. It was a questionable decision that Coach Coughlin later said came solely “from the gut.” Toomer did not disappoint as he worked his way to the corner of the end zone and out leaped Michael Hawthorne for the score – Toomer’s first since December 2003.

Your catch and drag on the touchdown was a thing of beauty. Yesterday offensive coordinator John Hufnagel said, “If I thought there was a pivotal play in the game against St. Louis, it was his (Amani’s) touchdown catch. That was just a tremendous catch.” Do you agree that was the pivotal play in the game?

Amani: I don’t know if it was THE pivotal play in the game but it definitely was a big play. It was fourth down and we were trying to make a statement that we came to play. It makes a statement early in the game when you can score and put a lot of points up. I had an opportunity to make a play and Eli threw the ball where I was in position to catch it. That’s all you can ask for as a receiver.

Was it a relief to get the touchdown behind you?

Amani: You know I didn’t actually think about it that much at the time because I was more caught up in the game.

Your teammates practically mobbed you after the touchdown to offer their congratulations. Was that a special moment for you?

Amani: Yes, it was because everyone was aware what the last year was like for me. For them to show their support for me like that made me feel really good. It was pretty cool. I was just very happy to see my teammates support me like that and I hope to support them the same way.

After the big loss to the Chargers, how important do you think it was to win decisively against the Rams?

Amani: Well, the Rams have a team that we knew we would have to score a lot of points against because we knew their offense could put up a lot of points in a short time. We knew going into the game that we were going to need a big game on offense and I think we came through pretty well.

Does it help any that the Chargers beat the Super Bowl Patriots equally decisively?

Amani: No, not really because we felt that we could have put a better effort out there against the Chargers. They had five times in the red zone and they scored five of five. We had five times in the red zone and we scored two of five. And that may have made the difference in the game.

In a post game interview, Plaxico said that he does some one-on-one work with Eli just as Peyton has always done with Marvin Harrison. Do you also get the opportunity to work one-on-one with Eli?

Amani: No, but it’s something that I definitely have to do. I did it before the first game and I need to get back to doing it because maybe it would make him feel more comfortable throwing to me.

Eli’s learning curve has been pretty dramatic so far. Are you enjoying watching his progress?

Amani: Yes, I definitely am. I’m very excited about the future with Eli just as everyone on the Giants is excited about him.

Last year some of the veterans expressed their reservations about starting a rookie quarterback. Has that feeling pretty much dissipated now?

Amani: Oh yeah. He has definitely earned his stripes. He went through some hard times and came out of it pretty well. I think everyone is very happy for him.

Will you watch the Eagles-Dallas game this week or will you get your fill of Dallas in your film study?

Amani: Oh, yes, I’ll definitely watch it. You know I’m a fan and I enjoy watching all the games and this year I’m enjoying them even more than I have in the past. But it’s hard for me to just watch a game and not analyze everything. I’m always looking at strategies and looking at blitzes and how they set up when they come on the blitz and things like that.

Is this the loudest stadium you’ve ever played in?

Amani: No, it wasn’t that bad. It really wasn’t that bad. Minnesota is a lot noisier.

Overall, how well do you think Eli managed this game in an environment that was very hostile to him?

Amani: > Well, I think he did very well. I think he made a lot of good throws and threw a number of balls that could have changed the game. I think he did very well.

You had some key catches in the game. Does it matter to you how well you do as an individual when the game is a loss?

Amani: No, not really. You always want to try and do your best and you want to make a contribution to the game. But the individual stuff doesn’t really matter. It was just a tough game.

Eli is starting to look for you more.

Amani: Yeah, I’m pretty excited about that. I think he’s really spreading the ball out really well now and I think his maturation process as a quarterback really took a step forward tonight.

How many looks do you expect to get in a game?

Amani:> I have no idea. It varies from game to game.

With one end zone painted Saints and the bunting with the fleur de lis, did this seem any different to you than a regular home game?

Amani: No,not really. It was pretty much the same. They did the best they could but it was just a tough situation for everybody. But we did sell a lot of tickets by having the game in New York and the drive was pretty cool and very successful from what I’ve heard.

Coach Coughlin said that, despite being 2-0, there’s still room for improvement. What do you think needs to happen for it all to come together on offense?

Amani: Oh yeah, there’s a lot of room for improvement. We haven’t really gotten it all together yet. I think our passing game is getting better but it’s still a work in progress. But we’re making progress there. The timing between the receivers and the quarterback definitely still needs to get better. We have good drives and then all of a sudden we have a lull and we need to be more consistent on offense.

On defense I don’t know what they have to do but I’m sure they would tell you there are things they need to do better too.

With each passing week, do you feel Eli is managing the game better?

Amani: Yeah, I think he is. You can just feel the comfort level increasing and the confidence just oozing out. He’s just kind of making everybody feel a lot more comfortable with his confidence.

Though you only had two catches, the sideline one was a beauty. Joe Horn, miked-up for the game, told a teammate that it was a great catch and added that he practices that all the time. Do you feel this was a pivotal catch in the game as it caused the Saints to use two time outs?

Amani: Well, yeah, I think it was because it did use up two time outs and it also kept our drive going. We ended up getting a field goal out of it but, more importantly, it took time off the clock

After your receptions you tapped the top of your helmet with each hand. What was that about?

Amani: It was just some little personal thing that I do just to get myself going.

Will we see more of it then?

Amani: Yeah probably. Hopefully.

Amani Toomer: Toomer got his first catch of the season against the Saints. He was matched up much of the evening against cornerback Mike McKenzie, the former Packer who is a very good cover corner.

>Early in the third quarter with the Saints still in the game, Toomer made a very big catch. Faced with a third-and-six, Manning found Toomer on the right sideline. The pass was perfect and Toomer did a great job keeping his feet in bounds. The play even became bigger when the Saints used a time out and then challenged the play thus losing another time out. This first down plus the loss of two time outs really put the nail in the Saints coffin.

How important was this win, both because it was the anniversary of 9/11 and because the 04 season was so disappointing?

Amani: I don’t know. I think it was important just because it was the first game of the year. And I also think the fact that it was 9/11 had an emotional value for the players and the fans. We were all concerned with coming out and winning this first game. I don’t think the team felt there was any carryover from last year so I don’t think the 04 results factored into our thinking.

On the first pass thrown to you, Eli said it was his fault that he didn’t get the ball to you and Coach Coughlin confirmed that in his press conference Monday. What was supposed to happen on that play as the media is reporting it in various ways?

Amani: I was supposed to go to the other side but we somehow got it mixed up so Plaxico and I went to the wrong sides.

Coach Coughlin said he wasn’t aware of your 98 game streak. Was Eli?

Amani: I don’t know if Eli was aware of it. Probably not. I just think not to catch one ball was very disappointing especially after it happened in a couple of the pre-season games. It was disappointing to me, being in the position that I’m in but all I can do is go out and try to make sure it doesn’t happen again. A lot of what happens is out of my control but I have to keep running the routes and if it comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, I’ll have done the best I can to be in position to get the balls. My emphasis has to be on running the routes.

In the same press conference Coach Coughlin said, “There were – we had multiple situations in there where the ball was headed in Amani’s direction or he was the priority and it just didn’t get done.”

Amani: This was just Eli’s eighth start as a quarterback and I certainly can’t blame him or anyone else. It was just a disappointing day. Winning was the most important objective but you always want to contribute.

In a case like this, do you feel isolated or like you’re not part of the win?

Amani: You do definitely feel isolated but after the game a lot of my teammates came up to me and talked to me about it. That made me feel good and that they understood and it made me feel I was part of the whole thing.

You have back-to-back night games coming up. Do you have a preference for when the game is played?

Amani: No, It really doesn’t matter to me at all.

Amani Toomer, the New York Giants’ record setting wide receiver, is no stranger to proving himself.

Again.

And again.

Drafted by the New York Giants with the 34th pick in 1996, Amani’s rookie year ended early when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against division rival, Washington. As he rehabilitated his knee and watched his team from the bench, Coach Dan Reeves made it clear to Amani that, while he believed Amani had unlimited potential, he also felt Amani didn’t apply himself sufficiently.

“I don’t think he believed I took the game seriously or worked at it hard enough,” Amani recalls. “Coach Reeves was an old-school NFL coach and initially it was difficult for me to adjust.”

Reeves then left the Giants to coach the Atlanta Falcons. Enter Jim Fassel, who cast a jaundiced eye in Toomer’s direction and told him he wasn’t living up to his potential.

At the crossroads of his career, Amani decided he would become a better player and in so doing “do the things I always thought I could do… I made the decision that everything I was going to do in football would be because I wanted to do it. My experiences working out in the off-season and my experiences traveling around the world have all enabled me to concentrate better on what I'm doing… I always felt I could produce for this team. I just thought it was a matter of time and in the NFL time isn’t something you always get. I’m grateful to the organization for staying with me and giving me the time to develop.”

Now, following a season in which a severe hamstring injury resulted in the Giants’ franchise wide receiver never catching one touchdown pass, Amani finds himself at yet another crossroad.

Asked if he feels he has yet to prove himself to the new coaching staff, Amani replied, “I think I probably do have to prove myself to this coaching staff. More importantly, I think I have to prove to myself what I can do. I just felt that I didn’t represent myself well last year in terms of what I could do but I felt that we had a chance at the playoffs and I wanted to stick it out. I thought that if we got into the playoffs it would make the whole season better.”

The last time Amani felt so challenged he raised the bar for all future Giants’ receivers.

Look for him to do it again.

Excerpts from Inside Football’s training camp reports:

7/30:Amani Toomer has been seeing time at both split end and flanker. We're not sure if Burress’ injury has anything to do with that or if the coaches just want their players to be as versatile as possible. Still, this bears watching to see where Toomer ultimately settles in. He, by the way, is back at full strength.

8/4: He (Manning) hit Amani Toomer in stride and Toomer ran a gorgeous route on the play, earning kudos from the coaching staff on his return back to the huddle.

8/5: Amani Toomer continues to have a strong camp. He's just running really crisp routes and is doing all the little things a receiver needs to do to be successful, such as using his body to shield a defender from the ball.

8/8: He (Manning) threw a completion to Amani on a deep crossing pattern, which was completed on the far sideline for a 25-yard gain and also executed a crisp crossing pattern to Toomer 15 yards down field… Amani Toomer continues to have a very good camp, as has been noted by Coach Coughlin. Perhaps the challenge of a new position or just the pleasure of regained health has revitalized him. An end zone catch by Toomer from Manning had rookie Corey Webster in coverage, though Toomer didn't even appear to notice his presence… Amani Toomer continues to shine by making some highlight reel receptions.

8/9:Among the receivers, Amani continues to have an outstanding camp making several more highlight catches in today's session and was again singled out for praise by Coach Coughlin. He made one particularly gaudy catch on a 20 yard in cut, going high above Deloach to make the reception.

8/10: Amani Toomer practiced full time but didn't get many touches. Late in the practice Toomer made an off balance, great effort catch on the sideline with his momentum carrying him to the bleachers to the delight of fans sitting there.
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E-GIANTS SPECIAL REPORT PRESEASON GAME 2 By DAVE KLEIN

So you'll see the first team in the opening quarter, and you'll see Coughlin as he tests the strong Panthers' defense by instructing quarterback Eli Manning to throw deep and throw short and throw continuously. He'll go to split end Plaxico Burress (can we just call him Plax from now on?) and slot/flanker Amani Toomer, who is finally healthy and who has had a monster camp.
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Amani on his touchdown reception following Giants-Panthers game:

It was just a play that we have been working on. Eli put the ball out there real nice. I ran it right off the safety. It looked alot easier than what it was. We missed a lot during practice and we finally got it. Our defense did a great job and when our offense isn’t clicking like we want it to, defense picks it up. So that is just how we win around here.
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Eli Manning’s post game comment on Amani’s touchdown reception:

“The corners covered to the front side and we just ran a play action. The safety bit on it and Amani ran a great route off the safety and got in the endzone and made a good catch. I didn’t make a great throw on that ball on that so he made a good catch and got in the endzone. It’s a play we have been running for a while, and it was finally nice to hit one…I didn’t throw it great on the touchdown. I didn’t get enough on it quite, but I got enough to get it there. I was lucky Amani had the guy by a few steps so I could under-throw it a little bit.”

Don’t get rid of those number 81 Amani Toomer jerseys just yet. Yeah, he’s coming off one of his worst seasons ever, but the record-setting Giants receiver still has plenty left in the tank.

Mark my words, by the end of the 2005 campaign, we’ll all be talking about Toomer exactly like we used to – as one of, if not the, key cog in a successful Giants offense. Yes, he looked washed up last season, a step slow, and was having trouble getting open. Of course, we all know the guy with 41 career touchdowns wasn’t able to get in the end zone even once in 2004. But you take away a receiver’s wheels, line him up with no other offensive threat in sight and you’re bound to see him struggle.

Watching and talking to Toomer in Albany this summer you just get the feeling the former second-round pick still has more to give – a lot more. No, he’s not going to boast, brag or make any guarantees – that’s not Toomer’s style. But watching how he carries himself, both on and off the practice fields, is a key indicator that I’d take Toomer early in my fantasy draft, if I participated in those types of things.

" He’s made a lot of outstanding plays this camp,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “He’s made a lot of those catches, in terms of recognizing some level of difficulty in them, in this camp. He appears to be in real good shape, and has the endurance going for him again.”

Not to mention the challenge of manning a new receiver spot – one that Toomer hadn’t played in years. When Big Blue signed Plaxico Burress it immediately brought up an interesting question – with two split ends, who would be moved to flanker? The answer came early and swiftly – Toomer would have to move. While he said he wasn’t upset with the move, he clearly wasn’t thrilled with it either.

“I was excited about trying something different, but I also didn’t know the reason why – and I still don’t,” Toomer said. “But I don’t concern myself with that. It was interesting. I didn’t know how to take it. I ended up trying to shake it off as much as possible, and just take it as I’m still on the field. I didn’t get a chance to question it.”

Toomer said there are some distinct differences between the split end (‘X’) and his new flanker (‘Z’) spot. He mentioned lining up off the ball a yard or so as something that definitely takes getting used to, as does running routes with the tight end inside of him. However, he’s already embracing the advantages of his new place in the Giants offense.

“It’s actually a little easier getting off the line of scrimmage,” he said.

The position change to flanker, in all honesty, might be a better fit for Toomer, who’s excellent at crossing patterns, slants, underneath routes, and getting open in traffic. It also gives him a new outlet to prove his critics wrong.

“I don’t know if there’s a little extra edge,” Toomer said about being moved. “I just want to prove to myself that last year was a fluke. If you play long enough, you’re going to have good years and you’re going to have bad years. You just have to roll with them and come back as strong as possible.

“I don’t think he was down last year,” Tiki Barber stated. “He really doesn’t care what people think about him, he’s such an independent-minded person. I think he was frustrated that he wasn’t at his peak form.”

Toomer, never one to read the papers much, admitted he heard the negative talk last year

“You hear whispers of that type of thing, but that’s what reporters write about,” he said. “I look at Curtis Martin. He was over the hill years ago, and he’s just coming off a (1,697-yard) season. If he’s over the hill, I want to be over the hill too.”

Turning 31 three days before the season opener, Toomer is far from over the hill. He looks lighter and said he changed his diet this offseason and lost a couple pounds. The key, however, is that he’s injury-free.

“I think he’s healthy this year, which is important,” Barber said. “I think he’ll tell you he underachieved last year, because he struggled with that hamstring for eight weeks. But he changed positions this year, and you can see he’s excited with the challenge.”

So in addition to being healthy, Toomer now has something to prove, a new challenge so to speak.

“I don’t think he has a chip on his shoulder,” Eli Manning said. “I just think he wants to come out and have a big season. He stayed healthy and had a good attitude through the camps. It’s good to see him healthy and running well.”

With Burress, Jeremy Shockey, Tim Carter, not to mention the improved offensive line, Barber and super-rookie Brandon Jacobs, it’s hard to see where Toomer fits in. Quite the opposite, actually. All those weapons are going to open things up for the supposedly washed up Toomer, who’s going to be laughing all the way to the end zone.

“He’s had a great camp so far and he’s going to be a big part of this offense,” Manning continued. “He’s going to have a big season for us.”

The humble Toomer’s just ready to play some football.

“For me to worry about ‘why did I move over,’ would be a waste of energy because I moved,” Toomer said. “Regardless of whether I liked it or not, I moved and now I have to deal with it and keep on going. I just want to continue having fun. Whenever you’re out there on the field, you have a chance.”


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