In recent years, drive-thru windows have provided a periodic doorway to a jail cell for NFL types.
Former Lions defensive line coach Joe Cullen was arrested in 2006 for pulling up to a Wendy’s window without pants, or any other clothing. Earlier this month, Vikings fullback Jerome Felton’s behavior in a drive-thru lane at McDonald’s prompted a call to police and, eventually, a DUI arrest.
That trend changed Tuesday, when Giants quarterback Eli Manning took a temporary job at Dunkin’ Donuts, passing coffee and bags of food to folks in their car -- all of whom presumably were sober and/or fully clothed. It’s part of a new ad campaign, for which Eli presumably isn’t being paid in donuts.
And while the donuts, like non-non-fat frozen yogurt, could make Eli fat, the real question is whether he’s spreading himself too thin.
“Obviously, I’ve tried to manage my time well,” Manning said, via Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News. “I was able to get up, get a workout at the facility today, kind of get my preparations done.”
From February to August, Eli thinks he can juggle football with other interests.
“The offseason is a time to try to get some things done and do some things you want to do, like Saturday Night Live and those type of opportunities, as long as it doesn’t affect my preparation for football and my commitment to the Giants,” Manning said.
“I didn’t miss a single workout this year, was at every team activity and working hard to make sure I’m getting better. But also tried to do some things outside of football and keep busy and have some fun.”
He doesn’t need to explain himself. With all the recent hype and attention on the other quarterback in his family and the other quarterbacks in his town, Eli has a right to take a bit of a victory lap, especially if it entails getting paid.
