Here is how the boss wants to see it unfold: yes for Eli Manning, no for Daniel Jones in 2019.
Clearly, Giants co-owner John Mara is less interested in the delicate dynamic at quarterback and far more concerned with yanking the franchise back toward winning.
“I hope Eli has a great year and Daniel never sees the field,” Mara said Tuesday in his first press briefing since late March. “I mean, in an ideal world, you’d like to see that. But again, that is going to be a decision by the head coach as to when or if Daniel ends up playing this year.”
The 38-year-old Manning is the starter and the 22-year-old Jones, the rookie first-round pick, is the unquestioned heir apparent. It is only a matter of when the transition takes hold.
At this point, though, there is no definite plan in place to get Jones – the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft – experience this season. Even if that might mean he does not throw a meaningful pass his entire rookie season.
“I’d be very happy about that because that means we’re having a great year and Eli’s having a great year,” Mara said.
Is this feasible? The Giants have had one winning season in the past six years and Manning is 8-23 in his past 31 starts. There is almost universal agreement throughout the league that this version of the Giants is not going to be a playoff contender.
On cue, Manning offered little when told of Mara’s ideal scenario for him and the team.
“My mindset is to go in, play well, win football games and have a great year,” Manning said. “That’s what I’m working towards.”
In the preseason-opening victory over the Jets, Manning went three-and-out in his only offensive series, while Jones went 5-for-5 for 67 yards and directed a swift and decisive touchdown drive in his debut series. That stoked the notion that perhaps Jones should play right away.
“So far, so good,” Mara said of Jones. “He’s everything we thought he would be. He’s been terrific on the practice field, did a good job the other night. I think people need to temper their enthusiasm a little bit, it’s one preseason game, one series, but so far, so good.”
There is no playoffs-or-bust directive from Mara to general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur, a duo that inherited a team that went 3-13 in 2017 and proceeded to finish 5-11 last season. Mara did not specify a won-loss record that would stamp this year as a success.
“I’m not going to say it has to be a minimum number of games we have to win or we have to make the playoffs,” Mara said. “I want to feel when I’m walking off the field after the last game of the season, whenever that is, that this franchise is headed in the right direction.”
As a two-time Super Bowl MVP, Manning has a different definition of success.
“It’s making the playoffs to start with and then making a run in the playoffs,” Manning said. “Obviously, the goal is to always win a championship, and you can’t do that without making the playoffs. I think the goal is to win the division and go from there.”
For the first time in his 16 seasons, Manning will play on the final year of his contract. Manning understands this is the way it must be.
“I think we’re at a one-year-at-a-time mode right now,” Mara said.
If Mara’s ideal plan becomes reality – Manning plays great and Jones never gets on the field – the Giants could be in position to come to terms on a deal that brings Manning back for a 17th season. Much has to happen for that scenario to come to pass.
Mara said the first time he met Jones it was “eerie” how much he reminded him of Manning.
“It was like talking to a 22-year-old Eli, which is a good thing,” Mara said.
The first question from the co-owner to the rookie was: Do you have thick skin? After the selection of Jones was met with disgust by many Giants fans, Mara had another question for Jones: You understand why I asked you that question now? Mara said Jones smiled back at him.
“He can handle it,” Mara said. “He can handle being the quarterback of the New York Giants.”
Mara said Manning has “obviously been a great representative of our franchise for a lot of years and will continue to be. We’ll just have to see how it all unfolds.” When the time comes to replace Manning, Mara knows it will be hard to say goodbye.
“It will be a very difficult, emotional moment, to be sure,” Mara said, “but I’m not thinking about that just yet. He’s still the starting quarterback.”