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At a time when the NFL camps are very open and players of varying shapes and sizes are vindicating their thirst for evil, Eli Manning is trying to bite something completely different. The one-year-old quarterback is reporting this week his 15th Giants training camp with greater support that dampens him than a new extra-firm mattress. After a hectic 2017 season, a stability-minded franchise pulled a general manager and a head coach, in unison, for the first time in 40 years. Still, Manning was not simply spared, but actually encouraged after a series of moves and decisions all designed to reach the same conclusion: In Eli we trust.
Manning did not simply keep the keys to the offense. He received an improved model, adapted to his precise specifications. Rather than investing in a younger, smoother replacement, the Giants did everything, but surreptitiously turned the mileage on Manning's odometer. The Giants do not put the ball in Manning's hands reluctantly, they extend it to him with open arms
The moment is already very difficult: to show all this confidence is justified
"It means that they have faith can go to a high level, "Manning told the Post as the end of the off season approached," I want to go do that. I want to go prove it. It's my goal, to go out there, to do my job, to do it at a high level, to play well, to better surround guys and to have a big year.
Prove that the Giants are right in stemming the tide of what has been a severe downward trend. His team is 33-46 in the regular season, he started in the last five years and 0-1 in the playoffs. Manning's statistical contribution has not plummeted: he has 128 touchdowns and 84 steals in the last five years, against 134 TD and 80 INTs five years ago, but a player recognized to be the biggest of big matches could not have It would have been a nonsensical but not irrational dismissal if general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur arrived, evaluated the losing spiral of the franchise and have determined that the separation with Manning was the legitimate thing. move. You know, spend a year too early rather than a year too late.
Manning is and will always be an icon of the Giants, but nothing lasts forever and only a few privileged people manage to make the call when they come out of the city. He continues to present a juvenile aura and his body is remarkably unmarked – Shurmur calls Eli "the strongest 37-year-old I've ever seen."
Addition of Nate Solder, rookie Will Hernandez and Patrick Omameh to the offensive line should provide greater protection. Having a good Odell Beckham Jr. course will give Manning a dream option for every game. And the selection of Saquon Barkley with No. 2 pick in the repechage should give a better balance to the offensive force than Obi-Wan. In addition, Manning, at the end of his career, is gifted Shurmur, one of the NFL's coolest offensive designers. See Case Keenum on this subject
"If Eli does not have one of his best career years, it would not be good," Phil Simms, a CBS analyst and former Giants quarterback and Super Bowl XXI MVP, told The Post. "I think everything is set up for him to have one of his best years of his career, and he's going to enjoy that.Just because of the versatility, and he's going to do things that he He's not done in a moment, he's not going to be sitting in the shotgun at every game, taking the ball and peeking at Odell Beckham Jr. It's going to be a little bit more than that
"It will be fun for him. I'm sure he's excited about it. It makes you feel young. There is no question of it.
"Forever Young" is a song and not a reality of the NFL, but for Eli Manning, it's a new lease on his football life. He prefers not to see it that way, at least not for public consumption. The whole "next chapter" affair is dramatic and, in case you have not noticed, Manning 's idea of dramaturgy is to watch reruns of "The Office".
So, a new life will not take you far with Eli.
"Not necessarily," he says. "I think I see this as an opportunity to go out there and have a great year, I think we have some talented guys, I think we've made some good additions to different places." the paper and the field are two different things, I have to go out there and get there. "
This has not happened on the ground, not enough, for far too long Manning is here to reverse course and start to score and win again.
"He sees the offense, he sees Barkley behind him, he sees what surrounds him and it makes you feel different," said Simms "You will look different. It's inspiring.
It will only remain inspiring if Eli proves it.
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