Jon Gruden: Time Is Now For Eli Manning, Giants

Eli Manning is 36 and entering his 14th NFL season. The New York Giants know his window of opportunity is closing. ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden agreed with that line of thinking during a conference call on Thursday.

“I think especially after just seeing that team play live. They have a defense that can win. They certainly have the receiving corps. I have some questions about the offensive line, but I don't think they have the heir apparent ready to play in New York at the quarterback position based on what I saw in the preseason,” Gruden said. “I don't even know who they're going to use as their backup, and Eli is 36, but we've got a guy down the street in New England playing into his 40s. It's got to happen certainly in the next couple years, but they look like a legitimate contender to me because they can play defense, they have firepower at the skill positions, and they have a quarterback that has the intelligence and the play-making to prove to get it done.”

I think we already knew Manning had a short window, but it’s always interesting to hear it from someone else.