Eli Manning began the Giants’ off-season program Monday with more questions than answers. He also played it straight and rather vanilla like he always does surrounding some of the major issues engulfing the Giants’ camp these days.
Manning took the first steps of the 2018 campaign as the fourth player in Giants history with 15 seasons under his belt in blue and white, according to Giants’ website.
These are the unsettling weeks as Manning will get a better understanding about his future with the club on the night of the NFL draft when the team probably will draft one of the touted quarterbacks or running Saquon Barkley.
“You never know what is going to happen on draft day,” said Manning. “That’s why they have all the scouts and (general manager) Dave Gettleman and the coaches in doing all their work to figure out who is available and who is the best player to kind of help us out going forward.
“There is no point in speculating who you might draft or what’s going to happen here or there, we’ve just got to wait until draft night and see what happens.”
Yet, drafting Barkley would give a green light to Manning for another two seasons, considering he keeps his accuracy and health. It would also lend more credence to having Davis Webb become the heir apparent when the time is right.
Possibly, that process may already have begun as Manning has spent some time with Webb in the offseason.
“Yeah, Davis has done a good job,” said Manning. “Last year coming in and learning an offense and now coming in and trying to get a new offense and just trying to get a head start watching film. He’s been here a bunch in the offseason; we’ve watched film together of Minnesota film, just trying to learn the offense.
“You’re limited in the discussions you can have with coaches and this and that, so you’re trying to kind of figure out things on your own a little bit. But he’s done a good job, having questions, asking things and just trying to be as prepared as possible when these first meetings and practices happen.”
Then there is the Odell Beckham situation. With Beckham in camp, Manning appears to relish a solution to the issue before the upcoming draft. Still, Manning would like to see Beckham stay with Big Blue.
“I think over the years you just can’t get caught up with what’s being said on TV or in the news or what people assume is happening,” said Manning in response to Beckham. “It doesn’t help, you don’t know where these things get started or where it’s going. I think it’s important when those things happen to just have great communication with your coaches and with the ownership and whatnot and make sure everyone is on the same page.
“I never got too concerned with it. We all know the talent that Odell has and what he brings to the football field and I look forward to playing with him this year and for years to come.”
Whatever the final outcome, it will be interesting scenario with a new head coach, teammates, and a new offense for Manning.
Soon, the answers will outweigh the questions.
“Still figuring that out,” added Manning about the offense. “We’ve just got to see. Obviously we haven’t had one practice and we’ve had meetings, so we’ll see what we’re going to put in, what’s going to be our best personnel and stuff. We’ll have to see as things are going on.”