Backup job not Geno’s just yet

DON’T read too much into Josh Johnson playing just six snaps in the Giants’ second preseason game, Ben McAdoo says. Geno Smith played nearly the entire second half, 29 snaps, but it does not mean he is leading the backup quarterback competition.

“That’s just the way it went last night,” McAdoo said. “We wanted to keep it fairly even, but the way the game broke down, the way the game worked itself out there at the end of the first half and at the beginning of the second half . . . we’re going to continue to evaluate it. We don’t have a timetable on it and we’ll let those guys keep going, competing.”

As for Eli Manning, McAdoo thought the 36-year-old veteran did all right for his first game action of the preseason but still has room for improvement.

“I thought he had a fairly good showing. A couple throws I think he’d like to have back, but that’s a part of it, especially in preseason,” McAdoo said. “But, it’s the first outing for him, first outing for a lot of guys out there playing together in a game this season. So, we look to build upon it.”

BUSA TODAY/AP the appropriate time,” Mara said on July 28. “You can argue that the appropriate time is now, but you can argue both sides of that, I guess. It’ll happen when it happens.”

While the Giants are busy negotiating Beckham’s new contract these next two weeks, they also might as well protect their investment. Remember how in June the worry was that Beckham would hold out of minicamp and training camp? Well, now it’s the Giants’ turn to hold Beckham out themselves:

Do not play him Saturday night against the Jets. Give him a rest, even though starters typically play deepest into the third preseason game before sitting out the fourth.

McAdoo sounded Tuesday like he wants Beckham to play Saturday night if he’s healthy, especially because the offense as a whole still isn’t clicking.

“I know what Odell brings to the table, he’s a tremendous player, one of the best in the league, tremendous competitor,” McAdoo said. “But if you have a chance to get everyone out there playing together, playing with each other, you do it. If you don’t, you don’t. That’s a medical decision.” ut it’s just not worth the risk. It’s not worth the risk for the Giants to continue playing Beckham in meaningless games, and it’s not worth the risk for Beckham to continue putting his body on the line without the proper compensation and security.

It’s time for the Giants to keep it 100, as they say, with the generational talent they can’t live without.