With the other New York team, drafting a quarterback is a sign of another year of turbulence.
With the Giants, it’s just another day at the office.
Of course, Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s in no danger of being replaced by fourth-rounder Ryan Nassib, either.
“I think that’s pretty normal,” Manning said, via Jenny Vrentas of the Newark Star-Ledger. “I think it’s always good to have a good quarterback to come in and learn and be prepared. You never know what happens in this league, and you always have to have quality players on your team and quarterbacks, and so I think it’s a good thing. Looking forward to working with a young guy.”
Of course, the hope is that Nassib doesn’t have to take a snap. Manning’s 135 consecutive starts is the longest streak in the league, and there’s no hurry to end it for the 32-year-old Manning. At the same time, he knows his time isn’t limitless.
“I feel like I’m playing at a high level, and this is the prime of my career, and I appreciate my job every day,” Manning said. “I’m fortunate that I get to play quarterback in the NFL, and I love all the aspects of the work that goes into it, and I’m still hungry to improve my game and to get better and to win more championships for New York. And so I understand that one day it will end.
“The thing about in this league, you never know when that day comes, and you never know what’s going to happen. So you’ve got to take advantage of it, and work hard, and try to ensure that every year that you play that you’re going to do everything you can to try to win a championship.”
If Nassib puts pressure on anyone in the near future, it would be backup David Carr, but the Syracuse rookie found a good place to ease into the league after a draft-day fall few expected. And he also fell in with a mature starter who will allow him time to grow, something the other guy in town probably won’t get.