National Football League

Eli Manning makes "Late Show" stop

Published Feb. 6, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

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A victorious Eli Manning on Monday night told David Letterman that his baby daughter learned an important lesson from his Super Bowl win: how to clap.

Manning appeared on the "Late Show with David Letterman" as he wrapped up a three-state victory lap, from Indiana to a Disney World appearance in Florida to New York for Letterman, after the New York Giants' Super Bowl win.

Letterman asked him how it felt to hold his 11-month-old daughter, Ava Frances, on the field.

"She stayed up the whole game, past her bedtime — and learned how to clap," the proud pigskin papa said.

The two-time Super Bowl MVP told Letterman, ''When you have one, that second one, you really do it for the other guys who've never had that experience. The first one just is wild.''

Letterman said Eli is his favorite Manning, over brother Peyton, quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts who had neck surgery and missed the entire season. Letterman then pressed the younger Manning on his brother's plans for next season.

Eli Manning told Letterman that Peyton wants to play but didn't know where he would end up. Letterman says, ''You know! Don't lie to me!''

Manning said he celebrated his Super win with his teammates first, then with his old buddies from high school in New Orleans and at the University of Mississippi.

"You know, the locker room, it's a great scene. You see all your teammates, you get a lot of hugs, see all your coaches, and then you go to the team hotel, have a big party for the team," Manning said.

"[But] I [also] kind of host my own party for family and friends, so it's great.

"I walk in, I see a lot of my college teammates, high-school teammates I played football with ... I swear they're more excited than I am. It's like they won the Super Bowl ... They're fired up."

Before the interview, Letterman told his audience that Manning would be arriving late for the show's taping in Manhattan.

"Just minutes ago, he landed by helicopter on the West Side. He's racing here," Letterman said.

While waiting for his guest, Letterman poked fun at Manning's two-time Super Bowl rival quarterback, the Patriots' Tom Brady.

"How about that Tom Brady?" Letterman said in his monologue. "He was so inconsolable he could barely touch his Bundchen," he joked in a reference to the QB's wife, Gisele Bundchen.

When Manning arrived, Letterman asked him if he has a relationship with the Patriots QB.

"Not a whole lot," Manning said. "I don't know if he likes me."

The "Late Show" host also had a bit of fun with Manning's youthful appearance and "aw shucks" manner.

"Eli Manning, what a guy," he said. "I asked him confidentially, 'How old are you, really?' He answered, 'Don't tell anyone: 14.'"

"I started to shave, you know, this past year," Manning said to big laughs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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