Eli Manning knows the New York Giants might have secured his eventual successor when they took Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Luckily for Nassib, Manning appears comfortable teaching the young quarterback everything he needs to know about winning as the starting quarterback of the Giants.
According to the New York Daily News' Stephen Lorenzo and Ralph Vacchiano, Manning called Nassib shortly after the Giants picked the young signal-caller and offered his help:
(I told him) 'Anything you need before you get here in May, let me know. Looking forward to working and getting to know you. We get after it in the quarterback room. We work hard. We have great meetings. Looking forward to having you involved in this.'
The NFL is a tough business both on and off the field, especially at the game's most important position. The great quarterbacks in the league are not only physically gifted—like Nassib—but also mentally prepared for any situation thrown at them.
Such preparation comes from tireless work in meetings and film rooms, and is quite possibly the biggest hurdle for young quarterbacks to master.
A quarterback needs to know the playbook inside and out, but also how to run through his progressions in an instant, make pre-snap reads of exotic defensive coverages and shift protections to keep 270-pound pass-rushers out of his pocket.
These requirements force the NFL to throw a lot of information at young players in a short amount of time. It can overwhelm and swallow still-adjusting players who can't handle it.
Even as a backup quarterback, Nassib's every move is going to be under the microscope in the Big Apple (just ask that Tebow guy). The same goes for Manning, yet he's kept a mostly clean reputation because he knows how to handle the spotlight. Eventually, if Nassib wants to be a starting quarterback in New York, he'll have to be able to do the same.
But above all, Manning can provide championship insight to a young quarterback. Manning has won two Super Bowls and there's very little he hasn't seen or dealt with during his time in New York. He knows how to win and play big in the most important moments.
Nassib should be able to pick Manning's brain for any bit of help he needs as he transitions from the Big East to the NFC East.
Manning is still an elite quarterback, and at just 32 years old, he should have several good years left in the tank.
Drafting Nassib was a smart long-term decision, for no other reason than it gives the Giants a malleable quarterback with obvious physical skills behind Manning.
However, Manning can also provide a learning platform for down the road when Nassib is ready to challenge for his playing time. That day will eventually come and Manning didn't shy away from that fact.
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