Kurt vs. Eli -- age vs. beauty

We wheeled, we dealed, we showed him the money to play in New York, but it wasn't Brian Cashman, George Steinbrenner, or the N.Y. Yankees who got the star this time.

The New York football Giants gave up more than a great deal for rookie Eli Manning of Ole' Miss.

While us as fans were torn apart by the question of one rookie's true value, we wondered who would be his mentor?

Certainly not Kerry Collins, he was never consistent enough to be the leader on a team with very demanding fans.

We thought maybe Vinny Testeverde, but a former two-time NFL MVP?

Well, there are only so many of those to go around.

Only a finite number that were shunned by the team that they changed from hapless to "The Greatest Show On Turf."

That number is 1: Mr. Kurt Warner, former footballer turned grocery store clerk turned champion.

Warner has seen his share of ups and downs in his strange career, but after being replaced by Mark Bulger (after a more-devastating-than-it-looks thumb injury), being involved in a spat between his spouse and the Rams organization, it looked like it was back to Shoprite for Kurt.

Instead, Kurt will be working the aisles at the Meadowlands, where fans demand that their inherited season tickets carry worthwhile performances.

Who is more valuable, a proven but aging star, or football's prodigal son, despite having no professional snaps under his belt?

Age is certainly a factor, but whom does it factor positively for?

Does Kurt's 33 years benefit or detriment his chances for being a starter?

Is it out with the old, in with the new- or is Warner's experience worth more than Manning's youthful body?

Manning is much like Secretariat, coming from great stock, a true NFL thoroughbred.

No one can argue the pure talent of the Manning men, but with his more humble background, Warner is our Seabiscuit.

Old and battered, almost a never was, fighting to not be a has-been

The reports from N.Y. Giants training camp in Albany suggest that both QB's are locked and loaded.

No one disputes that Manning is the future of the team, but 2004 is not the future.

It is the present, and in the coming preseason weeks, a decision must be made.

This is the problem that coach Tom Coughlin faces, and if you ask me, it's a pretty damn good problem for a new coach.