Eli Manning

Eli Manning explains why he'll never skip the preseason

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:27 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The NFL preseason tends to be viewed as a necessary evil among players and teams. Aaron Rodgers and Adrian Peterson, for instance, would prefer to stay away from the injury-filled exhibitions and get right to the regular season.

Eli Manning, on the other hand, doesn’t mind the four meaningless games. He was held out of the New York Giants’ preseason opener, but that wasn’t because he didn’t want to play. Manning actually feels like he needs the preseason.

Why? Because practice can’t accurately replicate the hits he’s going to take in games, and the preseason can.

Knowing Manning’s durability history, having never missed a game in his career, it’s interesting to hear that he needs the preseason to prepare himself for the upcoming year. He’s no stranger to getting hit or feeling pressure in the pocket, yet he has remained healthy game after game.

If there’s one player in the NFL who doesn’t need to experience the feeling of getting sacked by 300-pound defensive linemen, it’s Manning. He knows what it’s like and has gotten up time and time again.

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Eli Manning

New York Giants

National Football League