Dave Tollefson shrugged off any worries about the Giants’ under-the-weather quarterback. He figures there’s an Eli Elixir that will get him better quickly.
“It’s Eli Manning. He’s probably got some type of special, like, virus pills that only Eli Manning can use,” the defensive end said yesterday. “I’d be sick for two weeks, but he’ll be good [today].”
Manning missed the latter part of yesterday’s practice with what Tom Coughlin called “a stomach bug.” The coach said Manning worked in the beginning of practice before leaving with only two more practices before Sunday’s NFC Championship against the 49ers.
“Hopefully it’s just a 24-hour deal and he’ll feel better [today],” Coughlin said.
But what if Manning doesn’t? If his bug doesn’t get squished, he could have to sit out part of today’s or tomorrow’s practices as well. He could also be dealing with dehydration or loss of appetite, which would affect him.
Manning is surely the last player the Giants want to be dealing with anything, and his teammates weren’t the slightest bit concerned. Guards Chris Snee and Kevin Boothe said they were not aware Manning was ill.
“He was in all the meetings and he was out there for the jog-through. Mentally, he’s into it,” Snee said. “If there’s one guy who can miss a Wednesday practice, mentally I think it’s No. 10. I’m pretty sure he was in here Monday and Tuesday and has the whole game-plan down.”
Wideout Mario Manningham said, “Ain’t nothing wrong with his hands or anything. He’s just sick. Take some meds, he’ll be cool. Eli’s a tough guy. That’s four days from now, it’ll be Sunday. He’ll be good.”
Backup quarterback David Carr estimated Manning took three-quarters of yesterday’s practice snaps.
“If he didn’t have the red-belt mastery of the offense, yeah, maybe [it would be a big deal]. But he does,” Carr said. “It’s not something that’s going to affect him.”
Boothe cracked he might get Manning a pillow to make him feel better. Snee, too, joked he’d help him out.
“I’m actually going to bring him some soup [today],” Snee said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he is at full strength.”
— Additional reporting by Brian Lewis and Paul Schwartz