Eli Manning is always so well-prepared, but not this time. This is all new to him, and he admits he does not know much about what comes next.
“This is all kind of new for me,’’ Manning said Tuesday on his weekly WFAN spot. “I don’t know what the rules and what the timetables are. I think in March there is some stuff, some decisions that might be made.’’
Well, yes. If Manning is on the Giants’ roster on March 15, he receives a bonus of $5 million. His future with the only NFL team he has ever played for will come before that. The Giants must hire a new general manager and head coach and then turn their attention to what becomes of their franchise quarterback, who might be playing his final game in a Giants uniform Sunday in the season finale against the Redskins.
“I just don’t know,’’ Manning said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, I don’t think anyone does. Obviously there are going to be some changes next year, new GM, you don’t know who the head coach is going to be and what’s going to happen there. My thoughts is try to finish the season, prepare this week, practice hard, try to go out there and play to the best of my ability and give it my all and the next few months will tell what’s in the future.’’
The Giants will have the No. 2 or No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and likely will use it to take a quarterback. Manning the Mentor is not something he envisions as a good fit for him.
“I want to play,’’ Manning said. “I think I can still play and I want to play. I understand, whether they think Davis Webb is the quarterback or they get a quarterback and there’s competition, I can compete, I don’t mind competition. I think that’s always part of it, you’re trying to compete for the starting job and get better. I do want to play, I don’t know how many more years I do have, but I do think I can play at a high level and while I can I want to be out there.’’
Despite the record — the Giants have never before lost 13 games in a season — Manning remains positive.
“It may be hard to realize or say it, but I don’t the Giants are far off,’’ he said.
Manning said he will consult with his father, Archie, and older brother Peyton, when the time comes to possibly move on. Archie Manning finished his career with the Houston Oilers and Vikings after 12 years with the Saints and Peyton Manning won a Super Bowl with the Broncos after 14 years with the Colts.
“Both of them did leave,’’ Eli said. “They’ll be in the decision-making part of this. I don’t have desires to leave, this is the city, the fans, the team that I love and know and don’t wish to leave.’’
Manning turns 37 on Jan. 3 and remains an iron man, not missing any games or practices. “I think I still have good football in me,’’ he said. “I don’t want to stop playing football. This is all I want to do. I don’t have a backup plan, I don’t have something I’m looking forward to doing when this is done.’’
He knows a player spending his entire career with one team is exceedingly rare.
“There’s no other team I want to play for,’’ Manning said. “This is all I know. All I know is the New York Giants. I don’t take that for granted. It’s been a special place to be.
“If they decide to move on … I don’t feel I’m ready to retire. I feel I can still play at a high level and compete and make plays and love what I’m doing.’’