Eli Manning is not a foolish man despite how some may attempt to portray him, so he knows that his time as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback will soon come to an end.
For the first time in his career, Manning has been forced to consider his own football mortality, which has led the veteran to have a deeper appreciation for the position he’s held since 2004.
Despite Manning’s uncertain future, he has tried to avoid reflecting, instead focusing on the upcoming season and his desire to see that his teammates experience the same joy of winning he did earlier in his career.
Ultimately, Manning says, he has the same desire and drive to win now as he has at any other point during his 16-year career — and he still believes he has all the physical tools to make that happen.
Manning will need to put those words into action once the regular season gets underway because regardless of where the quarterback competition — or lack thereof — sits now, rookie Daniel Jones is breathing down his neck and making a positive impression all-around.
Should Manning or the Giants struggle out of the gate, it’s entirely possible the two-time Super Bowl MVP will find himself reflecting much more than he desires. But on the opposite end of that coin, it’s also entirely possible Eli has one final run in him and will ponder his fate at season’s end.
