EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ Having won one of the more hotly contested battles of Giants training camp, Geno Smith was busy accepting some hearty handshakes and heartfelt congratulations in front of his locker this week, a bevy of good wishes from teammates delighted to see Smith earn the opportunity to continue writing this new chapter of his NFL life.
But here's the question no one would ask out loud: Is it really a good career move to back up Eli Manning?
Because let's be honest _ being the No. 2 quarterback of the Giants is like being the NFL's invisible man. If history is the indication, you're never going to see the field.
On Sunday night in Dallas, Manning is set to start his 200th consecutive regular season game, the longest active streak in the NFL and third longest of all time behind only Brett Favre and Eli's brother Peyton.
This is his job, and he isn't about to give it up.
"I think I played seven snaps," said Tim Hasselbeck, Eli's backup for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. "There are probably some that feel it's bad for your career. I never thought of it at the time, but looking back at it, for somebody like me who wanted to play, it is bad for your career. But never. It was all positive for me. I never looked at it as a missed opportunity. I was happy to be there. He knows I was always supportive of him and I look back fondly on that. Quite honestly, I'm happy it worked out for him that he was able to win two Super Bowls. My friendship with him continues."
Surely Smith did well to beat out incumbent Josh Johnson and join a quarterback room that includes rookie third-round draft pick Davis Webb, but both Smith and Webb are about to experience what Hasselbeck and 13 other quarterbacks have before them: Life behind Eli can be pretty idle.
Yet thanks to the quiet confidence, disarming personality and generous spirit of the NFL's resident Ironman, life in the Giants' quarterback room is rarely boring.
"Every practical joke I know how to play on a football team is from Eli Manning," said Jared Lorenzen, who played behind Eli from 2005-07. "Having said that, I learned how to be a quarterback from Eli Manning."
