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Thursday, January 18
McDaniel makes impact with Giants
By Wayne Drehs
ESPN.com
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Step into the New York Giants locker room and it's easy to overlook cornerback Emmanuel McDaniel.
Hidden amongst the giant bodies of linemen Luke Petitgout and Dusty Zeigler and the chiseled frames of fullback Greg Comella and linebacker Jessie Armstead is the diminutive frame of the 5-foot-9, 190-pound McDaniel.
It's only fitting that his locker is the one closest to the door, tucked behind a white brick wall where nobody can see him. It's been the story of McDaniel's career -- he's good enough to be in the league, but not good enough to play.
|  | | Emmanuel McDaniel ended up with this pass intended for Cris Carter in the Giants' 41-0 victory. |
Four different teams have placed him on the practice squad, the equivalent of being allowed in the locker room, but getting shoved behind the brick wall. Prior to joining the Giants before the 1999 season, McDaniel had appeared -- albeit briefly -- in five games over a three-year span.
"It was difficult," McDaniel said. "The hardest part was learning a new defense every year. But I never lost my confidence. Not once. As soon as you do that, that's when things start slipping downhill."
Last weekend, in the biggest game of his career, McDaniel out-wrestled Minnesota receiver Cris Carter for a crucial interception. And now, the kid that nobody wanted is preparing to play in the Super Bowl. He won't start, as those roles are reserved for Jason Sehorn and Dave Thomas, but McDaniel will see plenty of playing time, especially in nickel and dime situations.
His is the Cinderella of Super Bowl stories.
"I never thought about quitting football, but I knew that if things didn't workout pretty soon, I was going to have to find a real job," McDaniel said. "And now I'm in the Super Bowl. It's definitely a dream come true."
The Giants feel much the same way. In his reserve role, McDaniel led the Giants with six interceptions and was second to Sehorn with 14 passes defended during the regular season. Yet ask coach Jim Fassel about his early memories of McDaniel's practice squad days and he talks of a quiet, moody kid that had "a chip on his shoulder."
It was understandable, though. When the Giants signed McDaniel, they were his fourth team in as many seasons. After spending time with Carolina, Indianapolis and Miami, McDaniel had played in just five games. He saw his career quickly eroding into the label "career practice-squader.
The situation wasn't overly promising in New York, with the established Sehorn and Phillippi Sparks at cornerback and with a whole host of warm bodies for nickel and dime packages.
As the frustration continued to build, McDaniel boldly marched into Fassel's office to express his concerns over a lack not only playing time, but just active time on the roster.
"I just wanted to play so bad," McDaniel said. "And I wanted to know where I stood. Being cut four times, you don't know where you stand from this or that. I wanted to know.
"It wasn't a hostile conversation, it was nice. He just told me to stick with it and things will work out sooner or later."
Fassel said the confidence it took McDaniel to approach him and the tenacity he showed on the practice field after the meeting helped change his mind about what he believed was a moody McDaniel.
"He walked into my office and looked like someone who wanted to give it all up," Fassel said. "He was that upset. So I told him to stay positive and set a time with his position coach to find out what exactly he needed to work on. After that, I saw his whole demeanor change. He took it as a challenge. You have to like guys like that."
When McDaniel met with defensive backs coach Johnnie Lynn, Lynn emphasized that McDaniel needed to relax more and gain a better understanding of New York's defensive system.
"He wanted me to be confident with the defense we were running," McDaniel said. "After four different defenses, I really had to dig into the playbook and gain an understanding of not only what my responsibilities were, but where my help was and everyone else as well."
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He walked into my office and looked like someone who wanted to give it all up. He was that upset. So I told him to stay positive and set a time with his position coach to find out what exactly he needed to work on. After that, I saw his whole demeanor change. He took it as a challenge. You have to like guys like that. ” |
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— Jim Fassel on Emmanuel McDaniel |
When Sehorn, Sparks and Conrad Hamilton went down with late-season injuries in '99, McDaniel was given his chance. He was used in nickel and dime packages in games against Washington, Arizona and the Jets, but then played well enough to earn a starting role against Buffalo and St. Louis.
Against the Rams, McDaniel led the team with eight tackles. He hasn't seen the practice squad since.
"He's a guy that showed a bunch of determination not to give up," safety Sam Garnes said. As a last-minute addition to our team last year, he appreciates hard work and put in the time in the off-season to get where he's at now. All of the attention and accolades he's receiving, he deserves."
Never was the attention greater than last weekend, when McDaniel stepped in front of a Daunte Culpepper pass and yanked it out of the hands of Cris Carter in the Giants endzone. The play was crucial in protecting not only the Giants' 14-0 lead, but the momentum they had built as well.
"When (Daunte) threw the ball, I knew Cris and I were going to have a fight for it," McDaniel said. "So I just tried to go as strong as I could. I could feel that at one point, we both had the ball. Luckily, I was the one who came out with it."
You'd be mistaken if you think all this attention is going to McDaniel's head. He's seen too much of this game and knows too much about being ignored in practices to let an attitude problem get in the way.
"As fast as all this has come to me, I know it can be taken away," he said. "So I make a point each and everyday to try and keep proving myself. There's no slowing up
now."
Wayne Drehs is a staff writer for ESPN.com.
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