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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Eli Manning remains the Giants' quarterback of the future. For now, the job belongs to Kurt Warner.
Briefly citing Warner's experience and recent play, coach Tom Coughlin announced Sunday that the two-time MVP had beaten out the No.1 pick in the draft for the starting job in the season opener Sept. 12 at Philadelphia.
"We give Kurt the ball and say, "Kurt, let's go win,"' Coughlin said, ending a competition that has dominated training camp.
The choice wasn't surprising in the wake of Friday's 17-10 loss to the Jets. Warner played well and Manning did not during his worst day on the field since signing a $45-million contract in July.
Warner hit 9-of-11 passes for 104 yards, leading the Giants to their only touchdown against the Jets. Manning was 4-of-14 for 20 yards, with two interceptions and a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
Coughlin's decision puts Manning in a backup role for the first time since his redshirt freshman year at Mississippi in 2000, when Romaro Miller started.
"I wasn't upset by it," Manning said. "I figured it might come. ... I still have a lot to learn."
That's why the Giants signed the 33-year-old Warner in June after he was released by the Rams. It was expected that he would be the caretaker quarterback until Manning, brother of co-MVP Peyton Manning of the Colts, was ready.
Manning's exceptional play in training camp made Coughlin's decision more difficult.
"The advancement of Eli has been largely due to the competitive nature of this position," Coughlin said. "I feel like he has advanced tremendously as a rookie in this league with all the information that has been thrown at him, and the way he's handled the majority of that, so I feel good about the two quarterbacks."
Warner said the competition was nerve-racking at times.
"It was a distinct challenge for me, a new challenge for me and I think it helped to push and force me to learn this stuff at a little faster pace," said Warner, who lost his starting job with the Rams to Marc Bulger after one game last season.
Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan said Warner's experience might have been the deciding factor.
"Eli is still a young quarterback, still a rookie, and still has a lot to learn," Strahan said. "When we went into it, everybody assumed that Kurt was going to start with Eli getting the opportunity later on."
The offense was pleased just to have a decision. It will give Warner two weeks to get ready for the Eagles. "You can feel a veteran presence out of him," running back Tiki Barber said. "It's nothing against Eli. It was a competition. ... I think it made both of them better."
When Manning does get on the field, tackle Luke Petitgout said the Giants won't miss a beat.
"Let him learn, watch and get the feeling of being in the NFL for a while and come in and take over, eventually," Petitgout said.
The only question now is when that will happen, and how much patience Coughlin will have if Warner has a bad game. Even if Coughlin stands firm, New York fans won't hesitate to call for Manning after a 4-12 record last season under Jim Fassel.
"I am going in thinking I am going to try to win every game and play as well as I possibly can and play to the level I can," said Warner, who was the Super Bowl MVP in 1999. "I am not worried about it."
GEORGE REMEMBERS TITANS: Eddie George used to watch from the sideline as opposing running backs struggled to gain yards against Tennessee.
Now it's his turn.
George will be running tonight for the Cowboys, the team he signed with after his precamp release from the Titans because of a salary dispute.
"I've been watching them for so long. They have been able to shut down any running game at will," George said. "That's going to be interesting."
The NFL's top-ranked rushing defense last season now faces its franchise's career rushing leader. George ran for 10,009 yards in his eight seasons for the Titans and Oilers.
"You always want to play well, regardless of who you are playing against," George said. "But one game, this game, is not going to mean anything."
While George is likely the starter, coach Bill Parcells plans to use Richie Anderson and rookie Julius Jones during the season, as well. "I told you when we got (George), he wasn't going to take the whole load," Parcells said. "I am planning on three guys carrying the ball in the course of a game."
SEAHAWKS: Third-string quarterback Brock Huard was placed on injured reserve. Huard hasn't practiced since having muscle spasms in his back on Aug.5.