As Eli Manning goes so go the New York Giants. But where is he going?

Manning won only one of his seven starts last season and that was the meaningless finale against the Cowboys. Now he has been beaten up this summer, injuring his elbow on Aug. 20 and sitting out the final exhibition game as a precaution. How will he respond to all the pressure, both physical and mental?

Hard to know, but he better react better than during his rookie season, when he completed only 48.2 percent of his throws and had only six touchdown passes against nine interceptions. Such is the importance of Manning that coach Tom Coughlan, a conservative disciplinarian, signed free-agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress who is, to be kind, mercurial.

How did these two end up together? Manning.

The NFL's odd couple was formed because the ex-Steelers receiver found the market a lot less interested in him than he'd thought and Coughlin knew Manning would have no chance of success if he didn't get him some weapons. Thus, a shotgun wedding was formed. The two had one falling out before Burress even signed over a date mixup, but since then Coughlan says he's been a model soldier. Certainly he's a model big wideout at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds. A year ago Burress averaged 19.9 yards per catch despite struggling with injuries in Pittsburgh. The
Giants' starting wideouts scored a grand total of zero touchdowns.

Think Burress is an upgrade?

Burress gives Manning three massive targets, joining 6-5 tight end Jeremy Shockey and 6-3 holdover Amani Toomer. He also gives the Giants toughness in the running game because he'll block down field. Considering how often running back Tiki Barber gets downfield that's a plus. Barber (2,096 total yards, 1,518 rushing yards) will still be the focus of the offense, but the addition of right tackle Kareem McKenzie in free agency should provide Manning with a bit more time to have an impact himself throwing the ball.

The Giants have shuffled other bodies along the line, too. David Diehl moved back to left guard and injured Luke Petitgout is working his way back into form at left tackle while the rest of the line gets used to McKenzie and vice versa.

Defensively, the big addition is middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, who was a double dip. His presence not only will help the Giants alter a team that was 28th against the run a year ago, but his absence will hurt the Redskins as well. A year ago he led Washington in tackles on the No. 3 defense in the league. Something had to be done to shore things up because New York allowed opponents 36 touchdowns in 50 trips inside the 20 last season. That had to change if the record is going to.

HOT SEAT: Eli Manning. After six straight losses he finally led the Giants to a win in the season finale and hopes to build on that. He struggled, as was to be expected, when he was installed as the starting quarterback ahead of Kurt Warner last season at a time when the Giants were 5-4 and still in the hunt. Soon thereafter they were the hunted, losing six straight. For the long term it was the right move, although Manning looked lost at times. Manning formed a bookend with his brother, Peyton, by year's end. The elder Manning led the NFL with a quarterback rating of 121. Eli the Younger had the league's most inefficient rating, finishing last at 55.4.

He needs to improve a lot of mechanical things but that's easier to do than solve mental problems. Manning will have growing pains, but if his footwork and release point are worked out then all he needs is experience to improve.

OVERHEARD: This probably is the last chance for former No. 1 draft choice William Joseph to prove he's not a bust, and he has performed well so far. Joseph had done next to nothing to justify the Giants' selection of him in the first round in 2003 and the team was running out of patience with him. He's still on a short leash, but Coughlin was happy with his effort and preparation.

OUTLOOK: The Giants should be improved simply because Manning will benefit from more playing time and the clear knowledge the team belongs to him. If the defense can avoid injuries to key players such as Michael Strahan and running back Tiki Barber can take some pressure off Manning, the Giants will be competitive at the worst and possibly more if Manning is a quick study and the defense makes plays.

PREDICTION: Third.

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