QB wants to keep playing
ELI Manning wants to play, no matter how bad things get for the Giants this season.
The 36-year-old starting quarterback made that clear on Tuesday while speaking at his locker as he addressed questions about head coach Ben McAdoo leaving the door open for a potential quarterback change at some point this season.
“I want to play. That’s what I like to do,” Manning said. “I like to play football and play quarterback and I take – I understand that I got a job to do and I got to do it better and do it well and get wins and if you don’t, everybody’s job is up for grabs in this league.”
McAdoo assured on Monday that Manning will be the Giants’ starting quarterback this weekend when they travel to San Francisco to face a winless 49ers team, but added, “That doesn’t mean, at some point in time, we won’t throw another guy in there to get a look at him.”
Manning said he did not hear the comments, but that they have a good relationship and have spoken with each other about the current situation.
“He said he’s got faith in me and keep grinding,” Manning said. “So, that’s what we’re doing.”
Yet, Manning is not doing himself any favors with the way he has played recently.
Manning turned the ball over twice in the Giants’ most recent loss — a 51-17 embarrassment at home to the Los Angeles Rams – and also missed some opportunities to connect with open receivers.
At 1-7, the Giants are also staring at a top three draft pick this spring, which could result in a potential franchise quarterback.
So the speculation to see what rookie Davis Webb – who has yet to dress for a game this season – can do is understandable, right?
“Sure,” said Manning, who appeared to be getting tired of questions about his job.
Manning also has a consecutive games started streak on the line, which will tie his brother Peyton at 208 this weekend.
“That’s a goal of mine, to stay healthy, play through injuries, to be accountable,” he said. “Like I said, that is important to me to be there for my team and teammates but, it’s not about breaking a record though.”
Meanwhile, Webb finds himself in the spotlight a bit for the first time with all the quarterback talk but said nothing changes for him.
“My job is to help the team win .... and be a sponge and learn from one of the best quarterbacks to ever play this game,” Webb said. “The best quarterback to ever play for this franchise. There’s only been six other guys who have thrown for 50,000 yards he’s been a good teammate to me and I’ve learned from him a bunch.”
Despite not dressing for any games this season and playing a handful of snaps in preseason, Webb’s confidence remains high for when his number does get called.
“I’m confident in everything I do,” he said. “It could be playing checkers, I’m confident.”
Perhaps that is one quality he soaked up from Manning, who still manages to have an optimistic outlook for the Giants’ remaining eight games.
“It’s no fun losing games and losing players and going through stretches where you’re not winning,” Manning said. “The good thing is we got eight more games and an opportunity to fix it.”