The New York Giants’ interest in free-agent quarterbacks is apparently serious.
According to ESPN, the team is concerned that Manning is on the downside of his career and wonder whether he is still the team’s best option at quarterback going forward. The team’s concern was evident by its decision not to extend Manning’s contract — which is set to expire after the 2015 season — during the offseason. Per the report, the team wants to see Manning bounce back after his 2013 campaign.
Last season, Manning threw a career-high 27 interceptions compared to 18 touchdown passes, his lowest total since becoming the Giants’ full-time starter. Manning completed 57.5 percent of his passes, his lowest mark since the 2007 season, and the third straight year the percentage dropped.
Here’s what Graziano reported:
There are those who wonder whether Manning is a player in decline at age 33. This is a question that has not gone unasked within the ranks of the Giants’ front office. It is part of the reason the Giants decided not to try this offseason to extend Manning’s contract, which runs through 2015, even though doing so would have offered them significant salary cap relief. They would like to see him pull out of his downward trend before they commit to his late 30s. Their hope is that he has a big year and that extending him next offseason makes sense.
The news about the Giants’ concerns comes days removed from a report that the team plans to work out former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Freeman. Now the New York Daily News reported the Giants have reached out to former Green Bay Packers backup Matt Flynn.
Flynn, who has bounced around from the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders — all stints where he was unable to lock down a starting job — returned to Green Bay midway through the 2013 to pad the Pack’s depth at quarterback while Aaron Rodgers was sidelined due to injury.
Josh Freeman may not be the only vet QB the Giants workout in the near future. They have also reached out to free agent QB Matt Flynn.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) April 11, 2014
Neither Freeman or Flynn are long-term options for the Giants under center, but they could be fallback options should Manning continue his regression or if the team has real concerns about Manning’s ability to bounce back from ankle surgery. The team could also turn to second-year player Ryan Nassib, who the team drafted in the fourth round out of Syracuse last year.
