EAST RUTHERFORD – You look at him, you hear him talk, and you see his mannerisms and the first conclusion you would draw is that Eli Manning isn’t the toughest player in the league.
He speaks in soft tones, come off with an “ah shucks” demeanor and because is not overly emotional, this is the reputation that has preceded him.
Looks can be deceiving, and no one should ever question the man’s toughness. If you don’t know how much he means to his football team, look no further than his performance on Sunday.
Playing the hapless Oakland Raiders would have been very easy for the Giants quarterback to take the game off and leave it in the hands of David Carr and the offense would not have had a problem scoring points with the lack of resistance they were receiving. But as we have seen through his career, Manning once again shows he is tougher than anyone gives him credit.
When he went back to throw in Kansas City last Sunday, stepping into a throw going deep to Steve Smith, his leg gave out on him and went to the ground, untouched by a Chiefs defender.
You began to think the worse as Manning slowly was getting to his feet. The most valuable player to his team and the only thing that would derail a trip to the Super Bowl appeared to be seriously injured. On his next throw, he was clearly in pain throwing his next pass, a wide receiver screen to Hakeem Nicks.
All week the question would be whether he would be able to play. The injury revealed a case of planter fasciitis, a debilitating injury that could have kept him out for the season. Lucky for him, the injury was not as severe and with proper rest, would be able to resume football activity.
When he went out for the team’s pregame warm-up and gave the coaches a green light that he was ready. Don’t tell him about the magnitude of the game, each game for him is important and none is to be taken for granted.
On the games first snap, Manning went back to throw, stepped up in pocket, planted his feet and threw a nine yard completion to tight end Darcy Johnson.
No pain.
Five more times on the drive Manning went back to throw. He was rushed twice on his throws. After he threw, the quarterback showed no signs of the injury that was supposed to keep him out. On the next possession, Manning further tested his leg when he threw deep down the right sideline for Steve Smith, who hauled it in for a 43-yard reception.
The game was starting to reach the non-competitive phase after just one quarter. The scoreboard started to read 21-0 when Manning threw a perfect pass to Mario Manningham in the back of the end zone.
Injury? What injury? What was all the anxiety about this week?
Three plays after that scoring strike, the Raiders turned ball over putting the Giants offense back out there. Three plays later, Manning found Nicks in the end zone, and now it was 28-0.
That would be the last throw he would make on the afternoon. Oakland was not going to mount much of a challenge, and with the comfortable lead, Manning could now be taken out and the keys to the car could be given to Carr without worry.
Finishing the day 8-for-10, 173 yards and 2 touchdowns in less than a half, he had done his part, could now rest up for the remainder the game and be relegated top clipboard duty.
Preferably, it would have been in his best interest to have him at nearly 100 percent when the Giants play in New Orleans against the Saints, but don’t tell that to Manning.
Back in 2007, he suffered what was initially supposed to be a four-week shoulder injury when Anthony Spencer planted him to the ground. Instead of missing a month, he played on Sunday and did not miss a game the rest of the season.
As it turned out, he has been playing with slight injury for a few weeks now. Lucky for him and the Giants, Manning has been able to rest for a total of five quarters over the last three games. That is the equivalent to one full game and a quarter.
Starting Sunday, the team will begin a stretch of games against playoff level competition. They will go into battle with a quarterback who shows him to be the toughest player on the roster.
Tough-Mann.
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