Giants legends team up with Omaze, Robin Hood to help New Yorkers impacted by COVID-19
A couple of Giants legends have joined up with Omaze, the online fundraising platform that offers once in a lifetime opportunities to support causes around the world, and Robin Hood, the organization that fights poverty in New York City, to offer one fan an experience of a lifetime.
Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, Phil Simms and Justin Tuck will come to one lucky winner's backyard to play a game of touch football. All of the funds raised from the Omaze campaign, along with all the proceeds raised during Rise Up New York!, will benefit New Yorkers impacted by COVID-19 through Robin Hood.
The winner of the experience and three of their friends will have an opportunity to play with the four players, be coached by team owners, John Mara and Steve Tisch, and officiated by legendary sportscasters Mike Tirico and Bob Costas. The winner will also get to take a photo with the four Giant's Super Bowl trophies and celebrate after the game over a catered dinner. But most importantly, the winner will receive their very own Super Bowl ring. More information on the campaign, including how to enter for the chance to win, can be found at: omaze.com/giants.
*If you live outside the tri-state area or don't have a backyard, the game will be played at the team's practice facility. Your flights and hotel will be covered.
Tom Brady glad he's facing Peyton Manning, not Eli, on the golf course
Four sports icons are joining forces to put together an entertaining afternoon for fans while raising money for a great cause this Memorial Day Weekend.
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will face off in a round of golf on May 24 to raise money for coronavirus relief efforts. Woods and Manning will battle Mickelson and Brady in an 18-hole showdown at the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe South, Florida.
The four sports figures have been joking about the matchup in the weeks leading up to the event. Most recently, Brady joined ESPN's Stupodity podcast and was asked about facing the former Colts and Broncos QB on the golf course. The new Buccaneers quarterback joked that he's relieved he's facing Peyton instead of younger brother Eli.
Joe Judge impressed with players during virtual offseason program
The Giants were originally supposed to have players in East Rutherford last month for the start of the team's offseason program, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the offseason program has gone virtual.
Instead of players and coaches meeting face to face, the team has been relegated to conversing over the phone and through video conferences. While this may not be the most ideal circumstances for a first-year head coach, Joe Judge is impressed with the work being put in by his players.
"I'm very pleased in how they come every day prepared," Judge said on a video conference with reporters. "I'm pleased with how they come every day with a lot of urgency. We're getting great feedback and communication through the meetings with the players themselves. As far as building camaraderie with them, probably the best part of the day is when you can click on the Zoom and everyone has their screens unmuted and you just hear the guys talking. That's probably the best part. It took about a week for everybody to get comfortable enough to do that.
"I think they kind of realize as coaches, we're laughing listening to them talk and then they got a little bit more comfortable and really started breaking it down. It's fun seeing all of the personalities really emerge and the connections. Today was the first day we had the rookies in the meetings with the vets, so you could tell right away, a couple guys saw some new faces and you heard a couple others, 'Rookies in here today.' I'm sure they'll be asking them for a joke by tomorrow."
Between the coaching staff, free agent additions and the rookie class, there are a lot of new faces on the team this year. Judge has said several times over the last few months how important it will be for everyone to start forming connections during the offseason. While the current situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing all of the bonding to be done electronically, the head coach told reporters they are making good progress on that front.
"I'll tell you what, we found different ways throughout the meeting times to work together," he said. "I found time to grab certain players out of the meetings. I'm going to work my way through the team as we go throughout the rest of spring, making sure I get face time with each one of these guys. Leading up to this, I spent some time talking to these guys on the phone really just checking on them and their family. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of these guys in person when we were still in the building. They were still around working out."
