New York Giants: Eli Manning wants to play into his 40’s

If nothing else, Eli Manning has a perfect attendance record.

Thus far in his career, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has been as good as anyone in the league in one stat. That would be availability. Since Eli took over the reigns of the Big Blue quarterback position, he has not missed a game. He has barely missed a snap. With all of the discussion surrounding Tom Brady proclaiming he expects to play into his mid-forties, the question was thrown out to Manning this week during camp.

ESPN’s Ian O’Connor captured this from Eli.

"“Yeah, I think sitting here right now, I think I can play another four years,” the 36-year-old quarterback of the New York Giants told ESPN.“That’s the way the body feels. … Again with football, you don’t know what’s going to be the difference, how you’re going to feel next year. And right now I still have the same enthusiasm and I’m working hard and I like doing the training and watching film and doing everything … I have to do to prepare for it. So I don’t see it slowing down. I think until the time comes or that changes, I’m going to keep going as hard as I can.”"

Time to get back on track

Though last year’s eye test seem to tell us Eli had a slight regression in his 13th season, he heads into his 14th season surrounded with more talent than ever. That being said, the one unknown at this point remains the offensive line. They, of course, must be better than they were a year ago. If the o-line does indeed have a marginally improved season, I believe that will be enough to allow Eli to get back on track and post his best season in a number of years.

Newsday highlights that this can even be a career year for Eli.  Coach Ben McAdoo has said that Manning is having the best camp in the four years the coach and quarterback have spent together.

New York Giants

"“He’s completing the ball at a high percentage, he knows the offense like the back of his hand, and he has been in the offense for four years now, so he has been able to teach others,” McAdoo said."

Focus is on the position battles

Now that the Giants have broken training camp, they approach their second pre-season game Monday night in Cleveland. I do not expect that we will see Eli out there, so our attention will remain on the position battles still at hand, namely for Eli’s back up spot. Geno Smith looked to be the sharper of the two options in the first pre-season action, but still turned the ball over on two occasions. Josh Johnson seemed overwhelmed in his action, struggling to get rid of the ball. Smith did struggle with ball security in practice on Tuesday, and McAdoo was not pleased. He sent both Smith and running back Wayne Gallman off to run laps.

Eli with the handoff to Webb

In the small sampling we saw of rookie quarterback Davis Webb, we were left with some hope. Something to build on. The youngster will essentially spend this season as a redshirt player, learning from his superiors.

With all that it takes to prepare a quarterback to play on the highest level, maybe the timing here can allow Eli to play up to his 40th birthday and perhaps beyond. This would allow Davis Webb all the time he needs prove he is right man to be the heir to the throne for the New York Giants.