When he finally decided his left ankle was too cranky to ignore, Eli Manning realized an arthroscopic clean-up procedure was the best option to hasten the healing process. But he also knew the April 10 surgery meant there was a real threat of him missing some, most or all of the Giants’ organized team activities.
Unacceptable, he thought.
Not this year, not with a brand-new offense to learn. Manning could not stomach idly standing by and watching first-year offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo instructing another quarterback about the starting offense.
It wasn’t going to happen. Manning made sure of that.
General manager Jerry Reese during the NFL Draft said Manning would miss “spring ball.’’ Manning admitted he felt an extra sense of urgency to get onto the field as quickly as possible because, for the first time since his 2004 rookie year, he has an unfamiliar playbook to master.
“I always want to be out there,’’ Manning said Thursday after full participation in the OTA session. “This year, having a new offense definitely made me want to be out with the team, out running plays. Just little things, calling plays in the huddle, hearing the play called and having to visualize it quickly and if you miss part of the call, be able to kind of figure out what it just by knowledge of the offense. All those things were important.
“It’s one thing to watch it from the sideline and think you know what’s going on, but sometimes you got to be right there at the line of scrimmage and having to make important calls and changes and checks and reads. It’s very important for me to be out there.’’
After his surgery, Manning was told he would need six weeks of rehab to get back, but he admits now he didn’t know exactly what that meant.
Six weeks before he could start running? Six weeks before he could start taking drop-backs? Six weeks before he was completely healed? All Manning knew for certain was that the Giants’ OTAs began May 28, and he didn’t want to miss any of them.
Seven weeks after his surgery, Manning is on the field, taking his normal reps with the starting offense, a development coach Tom Coughlin said is “huge’’ to further the process of learning McAdoo’s system.
“He’s so far ahead,’’ Coughlin said. “When we started out I didn’t think I would have him for anything. I’m trying to slow him down, but he feels good. I’m not surprised at all.’’
During Thursday’s practice, Manning did not show any issues with his ankle. He threw many screen passes — a supposed staple of the McAdoo offense — and one of his passes nearly was intercepted by linebacker Jon Beason. He threw a slant behind receiver Marcus Harris, but then was able to place the ball between Jameel McClain and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and into the hands of Rueben Randle.
“It’s been a learning experience — some different concepts, different protections,’’ Manning said. “I like everything, everything makes sense, feel good about how these last couple of days have gone. Been some plays I’ve been in good rhythm with the offense. I like the options it gives[for] the quarterback and the whole team to be successful.’’
Manning suffered a high ankle sprain in the Dec. 29 season-ending victory over the Redskins, and when it did not heal quickly or completely he opted to have it cleaned out. Although he said he is not thinking about the ankle when he’s on the field, Manning acknowledged he and the Giants are cognizant about not overworking the ankle.
“Last few weeks I’ve been doing most things from a practice standpoint — running, doing rollouts. We’re still being smart with some things, not trying to overdo it, not trying to have consecutive days where you’re doing a lot of pounding, a lot of jumping and landing on it,’’ Manning said. “Daily football activities, I feel like I can do ’em all.’’