Eli Manning handles Hall of Fame snub with typical class

Jokes that he helped Jared Allen get in

The segment of New York Giants fans who believe Eli Manning should have been a first ballot selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame was reacted with indignation to his Class of 2025 snub.

Manning? He has handled it the way he has always handled things. With class, and a touch of humor.

“I’m excited for those guys that got in. All of them are so deserving. … Happy for them. Texted a few of them, the guys that I knew and just congratulated them,” Manning told NFL Network’s Jamie Erdahl Friday on ‘Good Morning Football’. “I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be my night, and I understand that. I’m totally at peace. It’s not gonna change my outlook on my career and how I feel about it.”

He also joked that he was partially responsible for Jared Allen being selected.

“I feel like I was part of the moment because Jared Allen got in and he sacked me so many times I feel like I helped him get in,” Manning said. “So, I feel like you have to be happy about that.”

‘You have to be realistic’

Former Newsday NFL columnist Bob Glauber was the Hall of Fame committee member who presented the case for Manning when the committee met to discuss the 15 semifinalists. Glauber discussed what happened Friday on the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast.

“I felt pretty optimistic going in as the presenter, if I nail the speech, if I nail the follow-up I think he’s got a shot,” Glauber said. “I said exactly what I had to say. I read the speech exactly how I wanted to read it, with the correct energy and intonation and I felt good after.”

Glauber said that it didn’t take long to understand it wasn’t going to be enough.

“I kind of quickly realized there was some push back,” Glauber said. “It was a very vigorous discussion. It was emotional, it was pretty intense at times, and it was honest … I kind of understood that it was going to be very difficult.”

Glauber agreed with the idea that it could be several more years before Manning becomes a Hall of Famer.

“I believe that Eli Manning is a Hall of Fame player and I believe that he will get into the Hall of Fame. I just don’t know when that will be,” Glauber said. “You have to be realistic about this.”