Eli Manning Now Likely to Play Sunday..

Today, Eli Manning threw about 15 balls (fades/slants) in the 30 minutes the press is allowed to observe practice. After practice, it was found out via Jared Lorenzen that Eli Manning took 1/2 of the 1st Team snaps, splitting time with Lorenzen.

In their blogs, Giants beat writers seem to have settled all on the consensus that Eli Manning will play Sunday.

Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star Ledger
http://blog.nj.com/ledgergiants/2007/09/a_manning_metamorphosis.html#more
"I am now convinced Manning is going to play. And from the accounts of his practice today when he split time with Jared Lorenzen, it sounds like he threw the ball very well."

Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/
Title: Manning Seems Likely to Play Sunday
"In a sure sign that he’s pretty close to playing on Sunday afternoon, Eli Manning didn’t just throw on the side at practice today. He took about half of the first-team snaps during the team drills."

If Eli is able to on Sunday, this will be a rare NFL play for me. I am a die-hard Giants fan who has embraced Eli since he has come to town, something that is VERY UNCOMMON here in New York with their high-expectations. After a strong preseason, sounding off at Barber, and a huge 4 TD performance against Dallas last week, I believe if Eli plays this Sunday he will finally earn that oh-so-hard-to-get respect from the fans. Keep in mind from 1979-1983, Giants fans wanted Phil Simms out of town.

This is the perfect storm for Eli, his childhood hero Brett "Mr. Lace Em Up When Hurt" Favre comes to town. The NY defense, who wasn't worth a dime last week will play better just by default, and the banged up Green Bay offense wouldn't hurt matters either.

Anybody who is questioning how effective Manning can play can just rewatch that Dallas game. Down 38-22 with 7 minutes in the 4th Quarter, Eli Manning rallied the offense for another TD drive, cutting the lead down to 38-28. On the subsequent 2-point conversion, Manning was slammed to the turf, causing the shoulder injury that was said by ESPN to keep him out AT LEAST a month. A few plays later, while Manning was being checked by team doctors, Safety Gibril Wilson (yet another now on the Giants' injury list) picked off a Tony Romo pass. Without thinking, Manning put on his helmet and ran back onto the field subsequently going 4/4 throwing including a rope to Burress between Reeves and Williams to make the score 38-35. If Manning could do that minutes after sustaining the injury, I'm sure he'll be effective Sunday.

Playing or not, Giants will come out with a mission and win this game!

Giants baby. Lets do it. I knew Eli would play this week. There is no way that after going 4/4 with a TD while hurt he would sit for a month. This year I truly believe is Eli's year. Eli has finally seemed to mature. When he talked back with Tiki Barber if your not a Giants fan you have no clue what that means to this team. Quite frankly all these years Giants fans have thought of Eli as a quiet little bitch who let his recievers walk all over him. Now he got that "C" on his chest and hes standing up for himself against Tiki, not only for himself but his team. Eli's stock with the fans has sky rocketed and I can't wait to here the ovation he gets when and if he trots onto the field.

Eli looked great last week and he didn't like he was going to shit his pants every time he dropped back. As long as Eli just lets the ball go and isn't holding back because of his shoulder, everythings going to work out fine.

I hope he plays and like I have all week I am going to remain optimistic.

As a Giant fan, prior to the Dallas game I was down on them and Manning. Manning's passing really impressed me in that game and the ability of the O line to protect Manning also impressed me. But 1 game is not enough to convince me that they are a better team. But if Manning plays like he did against Dallas (one of the better teams in the NFL), the Giants should handle GB easily.

The only "team" part we saw was a walkthrough for the offense. For what it's worth, Jared Lorenzen lined up with the first team during that.

It will be a gametime decision. FYI.

NY Newsday Giants Beat Writer Arthur Staple has also joined the list of Giants beat writers convinced that Eli Manning can play Sunday. His theory is that Lorenzen may get the start and that Eli will be called on if needed. Really like the Giants in this spot here, and no I'm not being a homer.

Osi Umenyiora ruled as Probable for Sunday.

Looks like the Giants beat writers hit the nail on the head.

ELI TAKES IT DOWN AGAIN!!!! But Manning, Cruz and the Giants rallied for what stands as the 30th fourth-quarter comeback of their two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback’s career.

He’s still got it:

Manning completed 17-of-18 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns a game after throwing three touchdowns in a win over the 49ers. The 94.4 percent completion rate was the best of his 15-year career, and his 155.8 passer rating was also his top mark when he has played all four quarters. On the lone incompletion, deep down the right sideline, Saquon Barkley faulted himself.

WTF happened to the Giants OL?
Earlier in the year Eli was harassed all game, it was pathetic.
I know they cut two starters but picked up some players from the street I think...
How did they improve?
Now 2 in a row he looks like the old Eli.