Give New York Giants legend Eli Manning credit for calling his shot.
As shared by Michael Blinn of the New York Post, a Philadelphia-area billboard is welcoming the two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback to the “City of Brotherly Love” ahead of Saturday’s prime-time playoff game between the Giants and Philadelphia Eagles held at Lincoln Financial Field.
“Welcome back to Philly, Eli,” reads the message that includes a pair of eagles — or birds.
This particular saga began in Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season when the retired signal-caller spoke on the “Manningcast” for a “Monday Night Football” contest between the Eagles and Dallas Cowboys about the type of environment he’d encounter during road games in Philadelphia.
“You go to Philly, you’re getting the double bird right away from a 9-year-old kid,” Manning jokingly (or seriously) explained. “And they’re saying things about my mom and (brother Peyton Manning). I can’t tell you what they said about mom.”
During ESPN2’s alternate broadcast of this past Monday’s wild-card playoff game between the Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Eli Manning admitted he was breaking a previous vow and attending Saturday’s Giants-Eagles showdown.
“I said when I retired I’d never go back to a football game in Philly,” Eli told Peyton. “But I think I have to break that promise. I can’t wait to see the amount of double birds I get. Could break a record.”
Manning isn’t the only person associated with the Giants to generate laughs this week via comments made about Philadelphia fans. Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence went viral on Tuesday when he announced he won’t let his mom attend Saturday’s matchup because “she’ll go back at” unruly rival supporters.
Manning, Lawrence, and the Giants will hope to have the last laugh on Saturday evening. For now, though, score one in favor of the Philadelphia faithful.
