Originally, Eli Manning thought it might be a question about how to handle a Kurt Warner-esque situation, because similar to how the Giants brought in Warner for Manning’s rookie season, the Giants signed veteran Russell Wilson in addition to drafting Jaxson Dart.
Instead, Dart, who asked if Manning had a minute, wanted to check if the legendary quarterback for help landing a reservation at 4 Charles Prime Rib — an exclusive, upscale restaurant in the West Village with a limited number of tables — that night at 6:30 p.m.
That, Manning said during an appearance on “The Schrager Hour,” wasn’t what he had in mind when telling Dart to reach out whenever he had questions.
Maybe Dart would ask him football-related questions.
Maybe even inquiring about the town he wanted to live in.
“I was like, ‘No, no, no. That’s not part of the deal,” Manning said. “When I said I’m happy to help out, I’m not doing that. I’m not your reservations guy. You have to earn the right to call and get your reservation.”
Dart has started to establish himself as the quarterback of the future after an impressive training camp and preseason, and the No. 25 pick in April’s draft got his first taste of an official NFL game during the Giants’ thrilling loss to the Cowboys on Sunday.
He logged three snaps and lost three yards on his lone rush.
Dart, after a battle with Jameis Winston in training camp, supplanted the veteran as Wilson’s primary backup, and it might only be a matter of time before the Giants turn to Dart regularly this season in search of a spark.
make every NFL game pay off
Underdog is where football fans become winners.
- Easy player picks
- No season-long commitments
- Real prizes every single night
Use promo code NYPOST5 to get $50 in site credits when you play $5!
“As a competitor, I don’t have a blast watching from the sideline. But it’s just the way that it is,” Dart said last week on his new role. “My job is just to do what I can control and when I’m sitting there, I’m itching. You just want to compete. You want to be out there. “In some ways, you kind of feel like a fan a little bit when you’re on the sideline. So, it’s a little bit different of a feeling of what I’m used to, but I’m just trying to shift my perspective.”
Wilson starred with 450 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception against the Cowboys, and he’ll be tasked with ensuring it wasn’t a one-game anomaly when Big Blue hosts Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on Sunday.