Eli Manning: I’m not in competition with Daniel Jones

Eli Manning told NFL Network on Friday that he does not believe he is in competition with first-round pick Daniel Jones for the New York Giants quarterback job.

“I mean no, I don’t feel like it’s a competition,” Manning said in an interview that will air on NFL Network’s Total Access Friday night. “I feel like I’ve got to do my job and I’ve got to compete every day and try to get better every day. That’s the way it’s been my whole life and that’s just the way I’ve always approached practice every day to improve, to earn my place on the team, to earn the respect of the teammates and do it each year.”

Manning can phrase it however he wants. Head coach Pat Shurmur can phrase it however he wants. So, too, can Jones.

How this will go seems pretty straightforward.

Manning will open the season as the quarterback — unless he gets hurt. As long as he plays well and the Giants are in realistic playoff contention, he will stay in the lineup. If the Giants start 1-7 or are at some point eliminated from the playoffs, Jones will play.

There will be lots of “when will Jones play?” conjecture along the way. That, though, is the most likely path.