I’M STILL THE MAIN MANN

Eli expects to start over top-pick Jones:

Pat Shurmur downplayed a quarterback competition after Monday’s first OTA practice, calling Eli Manning his “starter” with rookie Daniel Jones in a group “behind him.”

Manning then assured there is “no awkwardness” in the quarterback room, and he even embraced being a mentor to the sixth overall pick who is here to take his job.

Shurmur, however, said three different times that Jones should be working to be “ready to play Week 1,” which would be a much earlier transition than Manning had bargained for.

So while Monday’s message on the quarterback dynamic was optimistic, there were plenty of subtle reminders that the pressure is on Manning to perform — or else.

And the two-time Super Bowl MVP eventually acknowledged he understands the high stakes.

“I understand the circumstances that I am in,” Manning said. “I know I need to play well, and I need to play well early.”

Shurmur’s constant referBeckham

ences to Jones and Week 1 felt a little like GM Dave Gettleman’s “we didn’t sign him to trade him” mantra about Odell Jr. this offseason. It’s a way for Shurmur to back Manning but leave the door open just a crack in case the players’ performances this summer change his mind.

Would the coach really turn to the rookie as early as the season opener? Maybe not, but the reason why he must qualify his quarterback situation was on display Monday.

Manning, 38, unquestionably was Shurmur’s No. 1 quarterback in the rotation, working exclusively with the first team in the morning practice. He threw the ball with zip during early drills, and he looked fit out of uniform at the podium in the afternoon.

However, once the Giants started their full-team red zone period, Manning threw three passes out of the back of the end zone and had the fourth intercepted by Jabrill Peppers after a Sam Beal tip. Beal even said Manning was “staring (the receiver) down.”

Shurmur, asked after practice what he thought of Manning’s offseason, tellingly said: “To this point I think he looked really good.” To this point. As in up to this practice.

Jones had hiccups, too, of course. This is normal for any player in practice, especially a rookie.

The point is, though, that Manning did not impress. And if he practices and plays the way he does on Monday — and Jones simultaneously improves — the pressure will turn up higher on Manning quickly and significantly.

It’s impressive then, that in the face of this, Manning said all the right things Monday about teaching Jones and being a willing resource. He said he doesn’t see it as “added responsibility,” in fact, because this is how he feels he’s operated most of his career.

“I think I’ve been doing that the last 11 years, 12 years,” he said of mentoring younger QBs. “I don’t know when you become a mentor, ya know, when that’s official. I think when you’ve been in the league longer than any other guy in the quarterback room, you should be a mentor in that sense where you know a little bit more and can be helpful.

“It’s not necessarily your job to do it,” he added. “It’s a little bit on Daniel being in there listening and asking questions and everybody being willing to help out in those situations … (But) you’re always willing to help and talk football with all the guys who are willing to be helped in that sense.”

The awkwardness inevithough, tably will arrive, if and when Jones’ time comes and it is earlier than Manning would prefer. This seems inevitable, honestly, considering that Manning doesn’t look or sound like someone who intends to retire anytime soon.

“I don’t think I’ve ever put a time frame on how long,” Manning said of how much longer he wants to play. “I think you’ll know when it’s time to stop based on the circumstances and how your body’s feeling.”

On Monday, Alex Tanney and Jones worked as quarterbacks 2a. and 2b. Kyle Lauletta (knee) was limited. Jones, though, saw a good amount of snaps, working with both the twos and threes. And Shurmur admitted that the rookie will receive “the majority” of the backups’ work.

If Jones disappoints given this opportunity, obviously it will create an even larger problem for the entire organization after drafting him sixth overall. If Jones thrives, though, and Manning doesn’t light it up, Shurmur and Manning both made it clear on Monday:

There is little room for any more Eli error. The pressure is on, and the leash could be much shorter than anyone expects.