Giants dispute report QB Manning out a month

Sep 11, 2007 - 12:41 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The New York Giants denied a report that quarterback Eli Manning has a separated shoulder and will be out at least one month.

Manning suffered the injury in Sunday's night's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, and was listed on the team's web site as day-to-day with a "contusion in the right A-C joint."

That information conflicted with a report on ESPN, which said the injury is a separated shoulder and will keep out the former No. 1 pick much longer.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin was miffed at ESPN's report.

"I don't know where that report comes from," he said. "I don't know where supposedly the information was found. This afternoon we got the report from our doctors that, after having done the MRI and done all the testing, we are just going to have to see how it is.

"Whether he can practice and play on a daily basis, when he will be able to do the things he needs to be able to do, quite frankly, if it is not possible this week then it will be another week."

Coughlin is hoping Manning can work on throwing the ball with his sore shoulder on Tuesday.

"He will be in here two or three times (Tuesday)," Coughlin said. "He spends most of the day in here anyway, so we will continue to see what kind of progress can be made in a short amount of time with regard to his throwing motion."

A fourth-year signal-caller, Manning suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 45-35 loss against the rival Cowboys.

Despite being forced from the game with 2:54 to play, Manning sounded optimistic on Monday.

"It's sore right now, that's about all there is to it," Manning said. "The day after you get hit on it, it's just going to be a little sore and a little tight. But overall, I'm not in pain or am not hurting in any way. So, it is just a matter of when I can throw the ball, I'll be out there throwing it."

Manning has been maligned during his short career in New York for his inconsistency. But before getting injured on Sunday night, he was sharp - going 28-of-41 for 312 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.

"Eli played very well. He was very accurate," Coughlin said. "He had the ball on the money an awful lot of the time during the night. He was under control in the game; made some outstanding throws even when he was pressured."

Manning completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Ward to make it 38-28 with 7:20 left. He then was dragged down on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, injuring his shoulder on the play.

He returned on New York's next possession and threw a 10-yard score to Plaxico Burress to cut his team's deficit to three. But after the Cowboys effectively put the game away on a 51-yard touchdown by Sam Hurd on a crucial 3rd-and-7, Manning did not return.

Quarterback Jared Lorenzen took over and went 1-of-3 for seven yards on his lone drive. The 285-pound Lorenzen clinched the loss for the Giants by sliding short of a first down on fourth-and-3 with 2:08 left.

Lorenzen, who won the reserve job in the preseason, most likely would start if Manning can't go. But the Giants may have to consider other options, including former New York backup Tim Hasselbeck and former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich, who is a free agent.

"Right now, it would be Lorenzen, but I'm not ruling anything out," Coughlin said. "Nothing in, nothing out."