The NY Giants have Eli Manning coming into the final year of his contract this season and while the team has not started up extension talks heading into minicamp, the quarterback said that he doesn't see it as an issue for 2015 and this comes as the Giants are hoping to get Jason Pierre-Paul in on a contract soon and have Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham ready in training camp.
The Giants had just six wins last season and ended up with a top 10 draft pick and now they are looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since winning the Super Bowl. The Giants have contract concerns with Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul, who has been hit with the franchise tag and has stayed away from team activities this offseason. According to the New York Daily News, the Giants and Manning have not "engaged in long term contract talks" heading into the summer. Tom Coughlin also said that he is hoping that JPP will come to camp and not hold out.
Manning signed an extension after winning the Super Bowl with the Giants and the report from the New York Daily News says this could be a "prove it year" for Manning in the eyes of the team. Manning is 34 years old and he had a bounce back year in 2014 following a rough 2013 when he led the league in interceptions and turnovers. Manning has started 167 straight games for the Giants and the team likely sees him as their quarterback in the near future, but right now he is set to be a free agent after the 2015 season.
Coming into the offseason the Giants were hopeful that Victor Cruz would be able to come back healthy and right now he is considered to be about three quarters of the way back from surgery. Cruz could be limited in camp, but the team is hoping that he can be back for Week 1 of the season. Beckham stepped up last season with Cruz out and now he is getting the chance to have another big season, but he will have to wait to start working out with the team.
NFL.com reports that Beckham is dealing with a hamstring issue and he likely will be out until at least training camp. The team wants to be cautious after Beckham injured his other hamstring last year and that is why he likely will sit out for now. Beckham had over 90 catches and 1300 yards last season in just 12 games and he was able to do that while missing offseason workouts and a quarter of the season.
Fellow 2004 NFL draft quarterback Philip Rivers is also coming into the final year of his deal, while Ben Roethlisberger signed an extension with the Steelers. The Giants could be comfortable using the franchise tag on Manning for one or two seasons depending on how he plays this year despite the salary being $20 million, but stranger things have happened. Manning has said that he feels much more comfortable in Ben McAdoo's offensive system and it comes after he set a career high for completion percentage in 2014.
