Soon came a book deal, with Manning and Harrison agreeing to provide forewords. It would be called “More Than Just the Catch: A True Story of Courage, Hope, and Achieving the Impossible.’’

But Harrison’s interest quickly cooled. To Tyree, it seemed as if Harrison had suffered a pang of wounded pride.

“He had a tremendous career,’’ Tyree said, “but that play is not how he wants to be remembered.’’

Harrison, during a break last week from his role as an NBC analyst, said he withdrew from the book project because of a disagreement with Tyree’s co-author about the content of the foreword. The dispute hinged in part on Harrison’s skepticism that God preferred Tyree and the Giants that night over Harrison and the Patriots.