No franchise did more for its franchise quarterback over the offseason than the Giants did for Eli Manning.
All they are asking — and expecting — in return is for Manning (27 interceptions) to remind everyone you can’t spell Elite without E-L-I and silence the doomsayers who have begun to argue you can’t spell Decline without E-L-I.
The centerpiece of GM Jerry Reese’s offseason Big Blueprint was to fix Eli, and here’s why I am expecting the quarterback of the New York Football Giants, on the field Tuesday for the first Giants training camp practice, to rebound with a vengeance and leave Giants fans saying again you can’t spell Believe without E-L-I.
“Just greatness,” Victor Cruz told The Post when asked of his expectations for Manning. “He’s a guy that’s proven that he’s a champion, he’s a winner, and he plans on getting back to that this year.
“You can tell that last year left a bad taste in his mouth and he wants to come back and prove some of the doubters wrong and prove that we can be a top-tier team again.”
The Big Blueprint to fix Eli:
The Great Wall of East Rutherford: Better late than never, Reese learned the hard way that if your franchise quarterback is running for his life, any countdown to the Super Bowl instantly becomes a countdown to oblivion. There remain concerns — the health and effectiveness of left tackle Will Beatty is the biggest — but at least there is more youth, size, versatility and depth now that the cavalry has arrived. And Justin Pugh looks like a 10-year fixture at right tackle — unless circumstances dictate he hold the fort on the left side. There better be life after Chris Snee.
Go West Coast, young man: Kevin Gilbride “retired” and was replaced as offensive coordinator by Ben McAdoo after co-owner John Mara lamented a broken offense. A new voice and a new system has seemingly reenergized Manning, who will have to be a coach on the field more than ever and almost certainly will improve his 57.5 completion percentage — his lowest since 2007 — with higher-percentage timing throws and simplified receiver routes.
“He’s got a good grasp of it,” Cruz said.
If Manning’s passer rating (69.4) is again lower than Brandon Weeden’s and Christian Ponder’s, the Giants have no chance.
“I don’t think coach Gilbride did anything wrong,” Cruz said. “You need a fresh start, and I think we got that.”
The prospect of Manning forced to dig into a new playbook thrills Tom Coughlin.
“I read one of the responses where he said he was a little uncomfortable, and that is the position I have taken since Day One,” Coughlin said. “We do not want anyone around here comfortable. That is a good thing.”
Salsa partner: No. 1 draft WR Odell Beckham is a dynamic game-breaker who will take the heat off Cruz as long as he can stay on the field more often than Hakeem Nicks did. And Rueben Randle should continue to emerge, particularly in the red zone. Jerrel Jernigan should not be discounted either. Cruz, in his prime, relishing the opportunity to get the ball in space, looks like a good bet for 80-plus catches and possibly double-digit salsas for the second time in his career.
“I like to have the ball in my hands whether it be a 3-yard route or a 30-yard route,” he said. “I want the ball in my hands so I can make big-time moves and make people miss and get in that end zone, which is one of the things I feel like I do best.”
Safety valve: Running back Rashad Jennings was signed to be the durable big back the Giants haven’t had lately to provide balance. But the Giants also view Jennings as an invaluable pass-catching machine out of the backfield, particularly with the stable of unproven tight ends at Manning’s disposal. Jennings caught 36 passes with the Raiders last season. Rookie Andre Williams is a between-the-tackles hammer, while former No. 1 draft pick David Wilson would be a luxury if he can stay on the field.
Many happy returns: Beckham, tiny Trindon Holliday and Quintin Demps will be counted on to give Manning advantageous starting field position. If any of them takes a punt or kickoff to the house, so much the better.
Manning is 33. There is no way he should be in decline. Tom Brady, who was 33 at the start of the 2010 season, threw 36 and four INTs that season. From ages 33-35, he threw 109 TDs and 24 INTs. No one should expect similar numbers from Manning. But he ought to have three high-level years left.
Vinny Testaverde threw 80 TDs and 41 INTs from ages 33-35, and enjoyed a career year (29 TDs, 7 INTs) at 35 with Bill Parcells and the Jets in 1998. Steve Young’s career year (35 TDs, 10 INTs) came during the season in which he turned 33 in October.
Mara has detected a look in his quarterback’s eyes, believes he is champing at the bit to make a mockery that reports of his demise have been extremely exaggerated. The franchise has done its part. For the Giants to return to the playoffs, it is time for the franchise quarterback to do his.
“Like anybody else, a quarterback like Eli doesn’t come around every five years, you know?” Giants punter Steve Weatherford said. “He’s the best quarterback’s that has ever been in this franchise, and this franchise has been around for a long time.
“And he’s not getting any younger — I don’t think he’s getting older — but the opportunities that they have to win world championships with a quarterback that good, if they’re lucky they’re gonna get another eight, nine years, and that’s saying that Eli plays til he’s 42, that’s gonna be tough to do. So I think the years that they have with Eli Manning, they need to give him weapons, and I think that’s what they’re doing.”