Eli Manning purposely kept a low profile Sunday in Tampa in the NFL starting debut of Daniel Jones, except where he was needed most.
Manning did not come out to throw in the early warm-up session. He did not come out to midfield with the other six team captains for the coin toss. After the game, he showered, dressed and was gone from the locker room before the media entered. Manning’s reaction to all things Jones was a story, a tale Manning decided he would not contribute to on this day.
Yet on the field, Manning was right there, helping Jones at every break in the action, and afterward, Manning was there to offer a hug and smile for the rookie.