Conference Championship Interview Series: New York Giants WR Amani Toomer

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The N.Y. Giants lost two of their final three games to end their 2007 National Football League season. Naturally, that doesn’t seem like a very good way to head into the playoffs. But just like instant replay — upon further review, the G-Men actually found their groove during that time. Running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for a ridiculous 294 rushing yards in a 38-21 come-from-behind win at Buffalo (I was working that game). And QB Eli Manning came into his own the following week in a narrow loss to the (still) undefeated New England Patriots. He’s now playing the best football of his career as the Giants have beaten Tampa and Dallas to advance to the NFC Championship game against Green Bay.

Through the ups and downs, one thing has remained constant — the play of Eli’s favorite target, veteran WR Amani Toomer. The Giants can’t really explain their recent success or unheard of 10-1 road record. At least Amani Toomer can’t. Speaking with him on a national conference call, I discovered a player who isn’t trying to overanalyze the Giants’ fortunes. He’s just enjoying the ride.

DAVID: Typically, a team going into Lambeau against Brett Favre — in that environment — is going to be at a disadvantage. But with your road record and being on a roll like you are right now, do you even look at this game as being an underdog?

AMANI: It doesn’t matter what everybody else thinks. The only thing that matters is what happens when we get out there and play. That’s the only thing that matters. People can say what they want to say, but the last two weeks, that goes to show that the experts don’t always know what they’re talking about.

DAVID: As a veteran player, do you put more pressure on yourself to make plays in this situation, in this type of game?

AMANI: You can’t worry about trying to make plays and all that stuff. You’ve just got to go out there and play. The only thing you can really control is your preparation and your effort, and everything else has kind of got to be “in the cards.” All you can do is control what you’re able to control.

DAVID: As a veteran, Amani, you know better than anyone how to savor the moment of being this deep in the playoffs because it certainly isn’t guaranteed every season.

AMANI: It’s definitely special. I’ve been in the league for like 12 years, and I’ve been in this situation twice. It’s one of those things that you never really can take for granted because it might be everybody’s last time doing this no matter what year it is for you. If I heard anybody in the locker room that thought, “Oh, this is going to happen every year,” I would tell them that there’s only one team a year that goes this far in our conference and the percentages of getting back here are pretty small. So they better take this like I take it. You can’t take it for granted.

DAVID: Is there anything in particular that you see as an explanation why the Giants are playing so well on the road? Your road record is incredible.

AMANI: Yeah, I know. I have no idea. It’s just one of those things that happens. I figure, just be glad that it happens and try not to analyze it and figure out the reasons why. I think back to when we hadn’t won a game and we were really trying to find ourselves and find our identity. I think now we have an identity as a resilient group that will fight until the end. And I think, from play calling on down to the players out there on the field, I think we’ve found a rhythm and we’re on a wave and we’re just going to ride it instead of wondering and analyzing and all that stuff. We’ve just got to keep going and doing what we’re doing.

DAVID: That resiliency you speak of. Has that developed all season?

AMANI: You know what, a lot of the stuff that we talk about when we talk about football is really indescribable. It’s just a feeling you get, and it’s hard to put into words and not sound corny, you know what I mean?

Some things are better left unsaid. Maybe just knowing they’re playing well and understanding what it takes to win is all the Giants need. So far, you can’t argue with the results. This was the third of four Conference Championship interviews. Check out Tom Brady (Patriots) and Ryan Grant (Packers). And look for LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers) to follow before Sunday’s games.