The date was circled for months, the day when new Giants coach Tom Coughlin would get his entire team on the practice field for the first time. That date arrives today, but when this three-day mini-camp starts, Coughlin figures to be upstaged by Eli Manning.
Consider this the unofficial start of Eli Mania, where every move, pass, gesture, grimace and grin will be noted and analyzed.
“That’s why they call it college and that’s why they call it pro,” said defensive end Michael Strahan, a critic of the moves to release Kerry Collins and all but hand Manning the starting quarterback job. “It’s a totally different ballgame. People are going to try to confuse him. It’s going to be more difficult than anything he’s ever faced; you just hope he’s able to handle it.”
Veterans will participate in double workouts today and tomorrow then be excused, with rookies remaining for a single Sunday practice. It will be the first chance for Manning to intermingle with his new teammates.
“I want to see it, too, I can’t wait to see it,” cornerback Will Allen said. “I’m quite sure he’s going to do well; he is the first pick, that stands for something.”
GM Ernie Accorsi, who scouted Manning last year as a junior at Mississippi and made it his mission to get him in last month’s NFL Draft, said he’ll be “enthused” to see Manning in a Giants uniform but added “I’m a little old to get real excited any more unless I make a 6-foot putt.”
Accorsi said he’s also looking forward to seeing Jared Lorenzen, the 288-pound undrafted rookie quarterback form Kentucky, in action.
“I think he’s gonna be a kick to see,” Accorsi said.
Manning, Lorenzen, Jesse Palmer and Kevin Thompson are the four quarterbacks the Giants will use for this mini-camp, with Ryan Van Dyke not available because he’s playing in NFL Europe. When training camp starts July 29 in Albany, all eyes will be on the position as Manning gets first shot at the starting job while Lorenzen and Van Dyke battle for the No. 3 spot. Palmer appears to be the odd-man out; a veteran will be signed to serve as Manning’s mentor and backup.
Accorsi will speak next week with Mark Bartelstein, the agent for Kurt Warner, who will be released by the Rams on June 1. The Rams have given Warner permission to get a feel for the market. Consider this more fact-finding than rock-solid interest by the Giants, who more likely are targeting Rich Gannon if Kerry Collins signs in Oakland and Gannon is released by the Raiders.
At today’s camp, Manning gets thrust into the spotlight.
“I know how it works,” said Archie Manning, Eli’s father and a former NFL quarterback. “Some guys are going to sit over there and they are just going to watch him a little. They are going to watch his actions. They are going to watch how he deals with this, how he does that. I am going to tell him that you have to be yourself, you roll up your sleeves, you go to work and you just deal with it. I am confident that he will handle that part of it very well.”
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Quote: “It’s going to be more difficult than anything he’s ever faced; you just hope he’s able to handle it.” -MICHAEL STRAHAN on Eli Manning