Eli Manning Leaves Practice Early With "Illness"

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning left Wednesday's practice early because of symptoms that head coach Tom Coughlin called "a stomach bug, hopefully a 24-hour deal."

The Giants have weathered a battery of player's injuries and sicknesses all season but, as the team gets ready to face the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday's NFC Championship game, Manning is the one player they can't do without.

Manning was put on the injury report for the first time this season after he missed the majority of today's practice.

The Giants QB started practice but couldn't finish and didn't hang around the locker room to talk.

The Giants officially listed Manning as limited due to "illness."  Coughlin said he had  a "stomach flu."

Manning may have left practice prematurely but few— if any—of his teammates expect him to miss Sunday's game.

"If there is one guy who can miss a practice Wednesday mentally, it's No. 10," said guard Chris Snee.  He was probably here on Monday and Tuesday looking at game film."

"He's probably going to spend the rest of the day doing that," agreed tight end Jake  Ballard.

Backup quarterback David Carr took over for Manning— who the Giants hope will return on Thursday.

The team noticed Manning looked a little queasy from the start of today's practice session.

"You could tell he was hurting bad," said Ballard.  "He usually toughs things out like that.  You could tell he was dragging, and you don't like seeing your Pro-Bowl quarterback throwing up or feeling like that.  Hopefully, he'll be better tomorrow."

Also limited on Wednesday were defensive ends Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee), Justin Tuck (shoulder), cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring) and linebacker Mark Herzlich (ankle).

Another concern is Ahmad Bradshaw who completely missed practice with a foot problem.  The running back has been frequently sitting out practices while nursing the injury over the past few weeks.

While all the talk in the locker room centered around Manning, his teammates claimed that it will take more than a bug to keep their battle-tested leader out of this weekend's game.

"There's no way," said fullback Henry Hisnoski.  "I think he'll play no matter what."

Justin Tuck Sits Out Friday's Practice

Justin Tuck may not be completely healthy after all.  The New York Giants defensive end sat out practice on Friday while his teammates worked out.

Tom Coughlin said Tuck was just sore and it isn't a concern.  The Giants head coach said Tuck was listed as "probable" for Sunday's NFC wild card game against the Atlanta Falcons.

It was the first time Tuck sat out a practice since Antrelle Rolle's call for "all hands on deck" three weeks ago following the Giants loss to the Washington Redskins.

Tuck quietly watched, perched on the stationary bike, while the rest of the team hit the practice field and only had a "no comment" when asked what was ailing him.

An unusually reserved answer from the defensive end.

The defensive captain has battled a laundry list of physical problems all season— including neck, groin, ankle and toe injuries.

In last Sunday's win against the Dallas Cowboys, Tuck appeared to have injured a shoulder but returned to the game and recorded a sack and recovered a fumble.

Tuck has literally put his neck-to-toe pains behind him all season and missing today's practice might just be a precaution.

The Giants are counting on the defensive line to disrupt Falcons Matt Ryan's potent offense and a healthy Tuck is a happy one.

Linebacker Mark  Herzlich sat with Tuck on the side and will not play (ankle) on Sunday.

DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee), TE Jake Ballard (knee) and RB Da'Rel Scott (knee) all practiced and are expected to play Sunday.

Eli Manning Outduels Elite Brady; Giants Beat Patriots, 24-20

Eli Manning may have finally justified using the word "elite" when describing his game after he marched the New York Giants 80 yards on eight plays in the waning seconds to defeat the New England Patriots, 24-20, in Foxboro today.

This was the first meeting between the two teams since 2007—when Manning led the Giants to a Super Bowl victory.  Even after that momentous victory, the Giants quarterback is still having a hard time trying to convince fans he should be mentioned in the same breath as Tom Brady.

In that game, the Giants broke the hearts of Patriots fans and New England's shot at a perfect 19-0 season.  Today, the Giants broke their hearts again along with the Pats 20-game home win streak.

More importantly, Manning proved he could do it again.

Manning—who compared himself to the "elite" Brady in an interview this year— has been criticized for the remark all season.  Today, he might have put the Eli-bashers to rest.

The Giants trailed, 17-20, after Brady pulled another patented last minute drive out of his own hat and hit TE Ron Gronkowski just over the end zone line with 1:36 remaining in the game.

After the kick-off, the Giants (6-2) started at their own twenty before Manning began driving the Giants to the winning touchdown.  The team was helped by a 20-yard pass interference call on Patriots safety Sergio Brown on the one-yard line two plays before Manning hit TE Jake Ballard with a toss in the left corner of the end zone with :15 remaining on the clock.

The game was a sloppily-played defensive match throughout the first half.  The score was 0-0 at half time and the Giants missed tackles and dropped passes.  In the fourth quarter, Brady came alive and the G-Men looked tired and beaten.

The Giants quarterback came up big when it counted.

Manning finished the game with 250 yards on 20-of-39 passing and two TDs and one INT.  He might have had better stats if his receivers and backs didn't drop half-a-dozen throws and his favorite target, Hakeem Nicks, wasn't sidelined.  But in crunch time, Manning was superb or more appropiately—elite.  Manning threw both of his TD passes in the final 3:03 of the game.

Brandon Jacobs was the workhorse out of the backfield and finished the game with 72 yards on 18 carries and a 10-yard TD.  While he wasn't spectacular, the 260 pound Jacobs—who complained earlier about his lack of playing time— was serviceable in the absence of starter Ahmad Bradshaw.

Manning, meanwhile, proved he is becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the league.  He may not have the arm of Aaron Rodgers or the precision of Brady, but he manages to win.

Today's game was the first in a brutal row of teams on the Giants schedule.  Manning will have to prove himself against six of the best teams in the NFL over the next eight weeks if he wants to keep in elite company.

Jenny Finch Shows Up at New York Giants Practice

The New York Giants came in contact with another bird for the fourth week in a row.  After beating the Eagles, Cardinals and losing to the Seahawks, former Olympic gold medalist Jenny Finch showed up at the team's practice facility and lent a little beauty to what is shaping up as an ugly Giants team.

The former softball pitcher showed up at the Giants Timex Performance Center yesterday as part of a cross-sponsor event prior to her running the ING NYC Marathon next month.

The 31 year-old Finch sported Brandon Jacobs' #27 jersey and chatted with players.

She did some placekicking with punter Steve Weatherford-- and even made a 20-yard field goal-- before she took some passes from TE's Jake Ballard and Bear Pascoe.

Victor Cruz should take note-- Finch actually holds on to the ball.

Finch is running her first marathon after recently completing a half-marathon.  She said she is cramming in her training before the Nov. 6 race and the flame-throwing pitcher has set a modest goal.

"I'm going for around four [hours]," she said.

Finch looked pretty good running routes and catching the ball.  No word on if she was instructed how to 'flop' or 'give herself up.'