Back at it

I've been restless, bored and lost and sought only the comfort one gets from publishing a web diary of my ego trip. I don't even know how long the hiatus has been, but its no doubt been prolonged by procrastination, fear and ADD.
But, I've re-claimed a small island on the web and back at it and starting with a Pop! Actually, no that was Eli Manning's shoulder. Ok, how about a Poof! No, there goes Manning's credibility and Tom Coughlin's job. Whatever this ressurection is not, it is about Manning.
ESPN is reporting Manning's shoulder injury in Sunday's Giants loss to the Cowboys is a slightly seperated shoulder. Everyone else is saying - or rather repeating - exactly what Manning and Coughlin are saying - it's a bruised shoulder or a bruised AC joint after MRI's failed to confirm tears.
Considering he sustained the injury, whatever it is, on his throwing arm, it's not a bad idea that he rest up and heal for as long as he can. If it is just a deep bruise, then why did the baby not come back and at least try to lead the Giants to a win over a NFC East foe in the first game of the season.
He came back after the injury for a single drive and threw his fourth touchdown pass - his third to Plaxico Burress - and pulled the Giants to within three. Tony Romo, Patrick Crayton and the Cowboys answered quickly on a third-down play with a 51-yard touchdown to go back up 10 and all the while you see Manning on the sideline with a doctor's hand up his shoulder pads like a prostate exam and we never see Manning again.
With plenty of time, why didn't Manning come back in and at least give it a shot? He didn't want to tarnish what he was capable of doing prior to taking himself out - namely throwing a career game with 28-of-41 completions for 312 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.
"I knew there was something wrong," Manning told reporters after the game. "I knew it had gotten a little tighter and I felt more pain, I guess, after sitting a little more time on the sideline. I didn't want to make anything worse. If we had stopped them on the third down and gotten the ball back, my competitive nature, I would have gone back in there and tried to win that game."

Down by 10 with just under three minutes to play, why not try to pull out the moral victory and give it the 'ol college try? Instead, he let the overweight Jared Lorenzen take the fall. Eli had gotten his team to within 3, but that's as far he would take them. If the injury isn't as serious as Manning and Coughlin say, then isn't winning a division game and the first game of the season worth extra discomfort if it means possibly pulling one out?
No pain, no gain.
No win for the Giants and Eli is no Peyton and Archie.