Manningham prepared to leave Giants

Both Giants coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese in the past few days have expressed doubt about the team's ability to retain receiver Mario Manningham, who on March 13 is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Based on Manningham's own words, it seems as if he is already thinking about the Giants as his former team. "I'm ready for whatever, man, I am ready for whatever," Manningham told the Youngstown News upon his return to his hometown in Ohio to receive a plaque and keys to the city at his Warren Harding High alma mater. "If it ain't there, it's somewhere else." Manningham went on to say he is "75 percent" sure he will not return to the Giants and will instead sign elsewhere. Reese, at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, admitted preliminary talks with Manningham were not productive and that he expects the four-year receiver will hit the open market. Coughlin at the combine admitted he knows Manningham will have other options and expressed confidence that Jerrel Jernigan, in his second NFL season, can be a suitable replacement. Manningham's stock rose greatly in the postseason after a subpar regular season, as he was slowed by a nagging knee issue. He had touchdown receptions in each of the first three playoff games and came up huge in Super Bowl XLVI, with his over-the-shoulder 38-yard catch along the left sideline sparking the game-winning touchdown drive as the Giants came back to beat the Patriots 21-17. There will be teams willing to pay Manningham more than the Giants are willing to offer, especially considering they will likely have to make a salary adjustment for Victor Cruz, who emerged as a star and supplanted Manningham in the starting lineup.