Sans Boot, Eli Manning Says 100% Offensive Participation in Offseason Program

Eli Manning – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Sans Boot, Eli Manning Says 100% Offensive Participation in Offseason Program: New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning told NJ.com on Sunday that every offensive player on the roster participated in the first week of the team’s 9-week offseason workout program. Per the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), teams are forbidden to make activities during the offseason workout program mandatory. In fact, the only mandatory team activity before training camp is the full-team mini-camp on June 17-19.

It’s an important offseason for the Giants because new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo is installing a new offensive system. In addition, the Giants have added 15 veteran free agents from other teams.

“I’m not quite sure the numbers on what the percentage of participation is, but I feel it is very high,” said Manning. “All the offensive guys are there. We have a lot of work to do learning the new offense. We have a lot of new players also. I’m trying to put a lot of faces with names and getting to know your teammates on a personal side. I thought we had a good first week.

“We got a lot of information (from the coaches), learned a lot asking a lot of questions about the offense. We made some strides, just got to keep working.

“(Change) bring a sense of urgency to this time of year, to the offseason. For me, (is its) getting healthy, meeting teammates, and learning a new playbook. We have a lot of work to do. But [I’m] enjoying the competition of it all, the urgency we’re having right now.”

Manning underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle on April 10 and it is expected that he will not be able to return to practice until training camp in July. On Tuesday during a team-organized media day, he was still in a walking boot. But when talking to NJ.com on Sunday, Manning was not wearing the boot.