Antrel Rolle talks about Manningham’s Super Bowl catch before Wednesday’s practice.

EAST RUTHERFORD: Remember Ted Dean? He is the Eagles rookie running back who in the fourth quarter of the 1960 NFL Championship, returned a kickoff by the Green Bay Packers 58 yards, setting up the championship-winning touchdown Dean scored with 5:21 left in the game and gave the Eagles their last title.

It was a moment of brilliance for a player few remember.

Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham was a solid but unspectacular performer during his first four years as a Giant.  Against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, Manningham caught a spectacular 38-yard pass from Eli Manning with four minutes left in the fourth quarter that kept a drive alive and helped Big Blue win its second title in four years.

It was a very famous play in Super Bowl history. But Manningham left the spotlight of New York after the season, signed with the San Francisco 49ers and played two seasons with the team.

Like Dean, he was out of sight and soon out of mind for most Giants fans.

Like Dean, Manningham suffered injuries that have threatened his career.

On December 23, 2012, he tore his ACL and PCL in his left knee against the Seattle Seahawks, in a game the 49ers lost 42-13.

The next day, the 49ers stated that Manningham would be out for the season.

Without Manningham the 49ers reached Super Bowl XLVII, but lost to the Baltimore Ravens 34-31.

The former Michigan star missed all of 2013 with the injury.

Manningham and the 49ers parted ways after two seasons and he re-signed with the Giants on March 18, 2014.

Manningham must earn his spot this year and it will not be easy.

The seven-year veteran talked before training camp practice on Wednesday and talked about the past and the task at hand.

Manningham was asked if he ever thinks about that catch.

“It’s a new season, man,” he said.” It’s been a new season for about two or three seasons now so I’m not really… I remember it but I don’t think about it. I’m just trying to make some more plays.”

Manningham must beat out incumbent starters Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle plus first round draft pick Odell Beckham, former draft pick Jerrel Jernigan and NFL veteran but well-travelled Trindon Holliday.

Manningham said the offence is different from when he was last here, but he likes it.

“It gives us chance to get in space and make a person move and go for six,” said Manningham.. “It just gives us a better opportunity versus when I was in San Francisco to when I was here in previous years.

Manningham said he actually respects Manning for being a pocket passer rather that in San Francisco with Colin Kaepernick, who could avoid hits with his legs. Manningham said ther is not adjustment coming back at all.

“It’s not like I didn’t work with Eli before so I know he can’t (run)’ Manningham said. “He’s going to go through his progressions before Kaepernick. That gives us a better chance because he’s staying in the pocket, taking the hit for us. That makes us want to get open more.

Manningham was asked about his knee and where he is at with it.

“I’m comfortable,” he said. “I’m real confident in sticking my foot in the ground and going out there and just not thinking about it.

Manningham was asked if he would be getting first team reps by now in training camp.

“Yeah, you know, you’ve got to ease your way into it,” he said. “I’m not looking at it now, I’m out just playing. Cuts are coming up and stuff, I’m just going out and taking care of what I can take care of.

One player in his corner is safety Antrel Rolle. Rolle was on the sideline in Indianapolis and watched Manningham, who covered better that a airtight insurance policy came down with the ball with maybe one blade of grass between his toes and the out of bounds line. Rolle was asked the question because Manningham was so reluctant to talk about his great catch.

“I’ll talk about it,” Rolle said with a big smile. “I think that catch is the reason why we have the ring, hands down. With the exceptional throw from Eli [Manning] and him just making that catch, playing the safety position, the safety couldn’t have been in a better situation. I still don’t know how he caught that ball with [Patrick] Chung flying down the way did and even taking the hit and keeping his feet in bounds. I think it’s a play of a lifetime.”

Since Manningham left the team right after the Super Bowl win, Rolle was asked if he was going to talk to his teammate about the play that sealed the title.

“We’ll discuss it briefly, just as players,” Rolle said. “You come up and congratulate him but you don’t stay on it too long. You don’t stay on it too long because we want more plays like that to come around. Although you give him a pat on the butt and tell him good job and let him know how much we appreciate him for that catch, we’re looking for more of those catches. We’re never satisfied with one, two, or three. We want five, six, or seven. That’s our mentality.”

Manningham said he has out the championship season behind him and wants to make an impact in 2014.

“I’m trying to get some more plays,” he said.  I’m not really thinking about that anymore, man. I’m just trying to make more memories.”

Dean was unable to recapture his magic for the Eagles, Big Blue is hoping Manningham will.