Eli Manning Down But Not Out From Stomach Bug

Coming off last Sunday’s huge playoff upset against the once-unstoppable Green Bay Packers, you’d think the New York Giants’ Eli Manning would be on cloud 9, sharpening his team’s skills alongside their superbowl dreams. Instead, the star quarterback is out with the flu.

Eli Manning missed part of Wednesday’s practice session due to what coach Tom Coughlin calls, “a stomach bug, hopefully a 24-hour deal.”

For the first time this season, Manning finds himself on the team’s injury report as a limited participant, despite the fact that he missed a majority of the day’s practice. Hopefully he kicks back soon, since the Giants go head to head with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday for the NFC Championship.

Despite being out, the team doesn’t seem phased by their best pro season QB. Guard Chris Snee had this to say:

“If there is one guy who can miss a practice Wednesday mentally, it’s No. 10. He was probably in here on Monday and Tuesday looking at film.”

Tight end Jake Ballard joined Manning in recuperation, where the two did just that: watched film:

“He’s probably going to spend the rest of the day doing that,” Ballard said.

Ballard continued, saying that the team could tell early in the morning that Manning was feeling under the weather:

“You could tell he was hurting bad,” Ballard said. “He usually toughs things out like that. You could tell he was dragging, and you don’t like to see your Pro Bowl quarterback throwing up or feeling like that. Hopefully he’s better tomorrow.”

Snee is going to make darn sure that Manning bounces back strong, saying:

“I’m actually going to bring him some soup tomorrow,” Snee said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he is at full strength.”

Snee’s secret recipe to help Manning on the road to recovery?

“Southern gumbo,” Snee joked. “Or whatever they have in the cafeteria.”

NY v. SF this Sunday. I don’t have to tell you this game is going to be big.

Who do you think is going head to head in this year’s superbowl?