New York Giants legend Eli Manning was adept when it came to steering clear of controversy on and off the field. He always took the high road, never said a word out of line, and rarely let the public know his feelings or proclivities about personal subjects such as religion and politics.
That can’t be said for the current Giants quarterback, Jaxson Dart, who recently created a tempest in a teacup by introducing President Donald Trump at a political rally in Rockland County. Some of Dart’s teammates, fans, and the media took umbrage at Dart’s decision to do that.
Manning isn’t one of them, however. He and his famous brother, Peyton, have always played things right down the middle, avoiding controversial subjects and keeping their opinions private.
“I think actually, athletes should be allowed to do it if they feel strongly about politics or supporting someone,” Eli said in an interview on CNBC. “That’s fine. You just understand there’s going to be teammates, fans, people that are going to think differently about that.
“Hopefully, it creates impactful conversations and hopefully a bond, an understanding of how certain people think, why they might disagree with someone doing that. And so, you know, hopefully it doesn’t create friction and a divide amongst the team. Hopefully, it creates great conversation and brings the team together.”
Manning was asked if keeping politics away from his public image was something he consciously avoided.
“Yes, I think so. I think it was just something that, hey, it wasn’t something I was super passionate about in the first place. So it’s just easier to stay out of it and just to avoid any controversy,” he said. “And probably I wasn’t prepared to talk about it. I wasn’t, you know, didn’t know enough on both sides to pick one way or the other. So just said, hey, I’m going to — I’ll sit and listen, try to learn more, but I’ll probably stay out of this field for a little bit.”
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants legend Eli Manning weighs in on Jaxson Dart-Donald Trump drama
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By John Fennelly, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
