Manningham is HIGH to be a Giant

Mario Manningham is high happy to be a New York Giant. The former University of Michigan wide receiver with a third round supplemental pick, 95th overall and only five picks from the end of the round. Manningham had been projected as a first-round pick before character issues, ie. smoking a lot of weed, and a slow time at the NFL combine hurt his stock.

Here is a Q and A from earlier today from Jim Carty of the Ann Arbor News:

Q: What was your feeling when you were drafted?
A: I was just happy knowing that it is the New York Giants, the Super Bowl champs. You can't ask for anything better than that.

Q: Did you have hopes of going much earlier than you did?
A: I mean the draft is crazy every year. You just have to relax and when your name gets called you just have to be ready.

Q: Can you talk about your off-field situation and how it may have affected your draft stock?
A: The past is the past. It happened. I mean, hey. I'm just excited to play. I mean, the off the field issues, that's really not nothing, I mean whatever every one's talking about or whatever. I mean, I'm just ready to play. I'm not really thinking about the past. I mean, the past is the past. I'm ready to just come in and make our team better.

Q: Were you aware of how many rookies contributed for the Giants last season?
A: No, I am not.

Q: All eight picks played; do you think you can make that kind of impact?
A: I think I can come in and make my team better and help my team win.

Q: What do you remember about your visit with the Giants at Giants Stadium?
A: Like I was telling Coach Sullivan, I love it. When I came up there he was just explaining to us how the system was. He showed us around real nice. I like the facility and the players seem to be nice.

Q: Which players did you talk to?
A: I don't remember the players' names, we just went down to the locker room and everyone was just talking, everyone was just cool in the weight room. It was like a different bond from other teams that I went to. New York is all about business.

Q: Did you welcome the chance to tell your side of the story to the Giants about your off the field issues?
A: I talked to the Giants when I was at the combine and I talked to them when I went to visit them. I let them know what was going on and stuff. Evidently they believed in me just like I believe in me and they went and picked me.

Q: How much do you think your past problems hurt your draft status as the draft went on?
A: Like I told you, you never know what can happen because some players that they had going early, they didn't go early, and some players they had going late didn't go late. I am just thankful to get drafted. I am just thankful to be in the position that I am in, playing for the Super Bowl champions and trying to make a return there next year.