Coughlin says Warner will start for Giants

Eli Manning remains the New York 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 NFL draft for the starting job in the season opener at Philadelphia on Sept. 12.

“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 late 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 Jets 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. It doesn’t change anything. I still have a lot to learn.”

Seahawks place Huard on IR

The Seattle Seahawks have placed No. 3 quarterback Brock Huard on injured reserve, the team announced.

Huard hasn’t practiced since he suffered muscle spasms in his back during training camp August 5.

A 1999 third-round draft pick, Huard spent his first three seasons in Seattle, then two years in Indianapolis before signing back with the Seahawks in the offseason.

Jets’ Martin geared to go

Curtis Martin rushes for more than 1,000 yards. He does it every season. Nine years in the NFL, nine years with at least 1,094 yards.

Heading into very few of those seasons did Martin feel as ready to run as he does now. And that’s great news for the New York Jets.

“Curtis Martin drives our offense,” quarterback Chad Pennington said. “He has had a great camp. He’s getting his feet under him and being able to put his feet with his vision is what makes him a great running back.”

Martin wasn’t all that great early in 2003, partly because the Jets struggled to pass with Pennington sidelined by a hand and wrist injury, partly because the offensive line was playing poorly. Plus, Martin felt he didn’t get enough work last summer and wasn’t sharp when the season began.

And now?

“I’ve been begging for this,” Martin said after rushing 12 times for 50 yards in one half of Friday’s 17-10 victory over the Giants. “I need to see these guys flying around. I need to take some hits.”

George faces former team tonight

Eddie George used to watch from the sideline as opposing running backs struggled to gain yards against the Tennessee Titans.

Now it’s his turn.

George will be running tonight for the Dallas 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.”

George is the franchise’s career rushing leader with 10,009 yards in his eight seasons for the Titans and Oilers.

Chiefs suffer another blow

Marc Boerigter will undergo knee surgery today and might be lost for the year, throwing Kansas City’s tattered wide receiver corps into even greater disarray.

Boerigter twisted his right knee in a noncontact play early in the Chiefs’ 21-19 loss Saturday to Cleveland.

Coach Dick Vermeil said Sunday that doctors believe Boerigter might have suffered ligament damage.

Johnny Morton has missed virtually the entire training camp with a sore Achilles’ tendon, while Eddie Kennison made his first start of the preseason against the Browns.