Eli Manning doesn’t think the Giants would conduct a sham interview just to satisfy a race requirement, as has been alleged by Brian Flores in an explosive class-action lawsuit.
Manning’s 18-year affiliation with the Giants includes a Hall of Fame-caliber, 16-year playing career and a recent return to the front office in a business operations and fan engagement role.
“I was not involved in any of that process in any way, so I don’t know the details,” Manning told The Post regarding the team’s recent head-coach search. “I know the Giants organization. I know they do everything possible to give everybody a fair chance. They don’t care, minority or not, they are looking for the best possible candidate. They are going to do everything properly to look for that perfect candidate. So, I don’t think there was any wrongdoing there.”
Flores, a Brooklyn native and former Dolphins coach, has revealed texts from Patriots coach Bill Belichick to bolster his claim the Giants already knew they would be hiring coach Brian Daboll before Flores had his in-person interview last Thursday.
Eli Manning attends the jersey retirement ceremony for former teammate Michael Strahan Getty ImagesBy speaking with Flores and Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, the Giants satisfied the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires that two external minority candidates must receive interviews and at least one external minority candidate must receive an in-person interview.
New Giants general manager Joe Schoen said he couldn’t comment on Flores’ lawsuit.
Brian Flores with the Dolphins Getty Images“We had a thorough coaching search and Brian Flores was one of the finalists and I’ll just leave it at that,” Schoen said from Mobile, Ala., where he is scouting players at the Senior Bowl.
Manning said he talked with both Daboll and Schoen to offer congratulations after they were hired.
“I told them if they need anything from me in any way, nothing is off limits. I’m happy to help,” Manning said. “I look forward to getting to know both of them better and seeing if I can be of service to them and help them get back on track and win more games. I’m all for that.”
— Additional reporting by Paul Schwartz
