"HEELING" ELI MANNING

Most, if not all quarterbacks go through the same general motions when they fake a hand-off.  Eli Manning, however, for as long as I've seen him play, has had an unconventional way of play faking.

Specifically, whenever he play actions to the left, he spins around every time.  This, in fact, was the exact type of play that Eli was injured on in his game against the chiefs.  Can this be more than just a coincidence?

It's readily apparrent that if you spin and plant, as opposed to just dropping back conventionally, you're putting more pressure on your foot, particularly your heel.

If you don't believe me, when you have some free time (and you're sure no one's looking), find some room to maneuver, and try spinning and planting.  Then pretend to play fake and just drop back normally.  You'll feel the difference, trust me.

Is this enough to cause a chronic condition?  Not if you don't do it often, but how many time has Eli play actioned, not just this year, but all the years he's been playing football?

A lot, to put it simply.

Taking that into consideration, I'll ask again, are we really to believe that it was mere happenstance that the very play during which Eli's injury occurred involved him performing the precise unconventional maneuver that we have been discussing, which also just happens to place an unnecessary amount of pressure at the exact site of said injury? 

Hmmm... It doesn't take a genius to make this connection.  In fact, it couldn't be more obvious; it's on tape for everyone to see.

With that said, regardless of whether or not you buy into my theory at this point it is irrelevant.  The fact is that Eli's foot is injured.

It is also a fact that you put far more pressure on your heel by spinning around and planting than if you just drop back. Manning has no choice but to do everything he can to minimize the chances that he'll further injure himself.

It is incredibly rare for a quarterback to change his mechanics mid-season, even if it is as routine as tweaking the way he play fakes.  However, exceptions exist for a reason, and it behooves Manning and the Giants to make an exception in this case.

If they do, they risk Manning having to make some minor adjustments.  But by ignoring the obvious, they'll risk their season.