|
|
Quote: |
Manning's view of his own situation is similarly upbeat. He told me he feels as good as he's ever felt and sees every reason to keep playing in the foreseeable future. And that future extends beyond what he has ever said before. "I've never put an exact number on it, but I do know I don't see the end anywhere too near, so I'm going to play as long as I feel I can play at a high level and my body can hang under me,'' he said. "I do feel healthy and strong and energized about what I'm doing, and I'm fortunate. Hopefully it's for another five-plus years. I put that as somewhat of a goal.'' And if he makes it into the "plus'' part of five-plus? Could we possibly see Manning play for another 10 years? "Yeah, I think, yeah,'' he said. "I love what I'm doing. I love training camp. I love the working-out aspects. I love the practice. I love winning games. Those are exciting things. So as of right now, I don't ever see that getting old or getting tired.'' |
In order to do so, we'll just have to continue making the offensive side of the ball the priority in the draft and free agency.
Him playing at 42 would be a sight to see though. He doesn't depend on athleticism or elite arm strength so I wouldn't be surprised seeing him play well into his 30s if he checks out health wise.
I hope he can play at a high level for at LEAST 5 more years, though. It's going to be a shitty day when Eli has to hang them up. I don't even want to think about it.
10 more years of Eli sounds great, but we Giants fans will be lucky if we get 7 or 8.
I hope Eli knows enough to shut it down when his skills diminish. People bitch about Tiki quitting when he did (among other things), but just going by the history of players at his position, he picked the perfect time to walk away.
I love Eli's iron man streak, but part of me kinda hopes he does miss a game at some point, just so he doesn't have that record to chase into his 40s. And I also think the Giants would absolutely cut the cord on him rather that let a sub-average QB chase a personal record at the team's expense. And who here wants to see Eli ever putting on another team's jersey.
His biggest edge, as others have said, is his relationship to the game and business of football. For many NFL players, football is a job. For some, it's a passion. For the Mannings, it's a profession, in the best sense. They face the game as primarily a mental challenge, not an athletic one, and they never stop learning. Peyton is 37, and a bit of a mess physically. That didn't stop him from having one of his best years in 2012, the final pass notwithstanding.
I'll take Eli for another 20 years though if he can last that long. :-)
Seriously now Eli playing for a while is a very good possibility. He's been hurt or dinged like all players but nothing close to a lot of guys who have 10 years in do.
He just not reckless and while anything can happen he will be here IMO for at least another 5-6
-David Diehl
Successful teams always try to have another (younger) QB waiting in the wings, even if the established QB is an all-time great. The 49ers got rid of Montana and replaced him with Young. The Colts let P. Manning go because they had a shot at Luck.
Throw in cap constraints (How much can you pay a 42 year old QB?) and the chances of Eli playing another 10 yrs. for the Giants are very slim.
Few seem to give him credit for throwing the ball in that wind tunnel. I was at the Philly game last year and we were in section 115..we felt those 20-30 mph gusts of wind hitting us square in the face.
I challenge the Matt Ryan's, Drew Brees', Tony Romo's, Ben Rothlisberger's, and Philip Rivers' of the league to play eight games a year in that stadium.
Just like the actual transitional move away from him isn't at all likely to be anything but an unhappy split, whenever it happens, it's crappy, but it's also by far the most probable reality.
Would love to see it, if he is healthy and productive. But 10 MORE years? Please.
His arm strength is among the best in the game and he's not a good athlete..?
Its amazing how the guy has been a 2 time SB champ and MVP but somehow he doesn't depend on athleticism just because he is also great mentally..