Manning a late-season bloomer.(Sports)

Byline: MARK McGUIRE - Senior writer

CHANDLER, Ariz. - Eli Manning is not a rah-rah guy. He is not even a rah guy.

If he played safety or cornerback or left tackle, no one would make much of it. The NFL is packed with low-key guys who let their play do all their talking.

But it doesn't work that for a quarterback, especially one who was the top pick in the draft, especially one who plays for the New York Giants.

Eli Manning is not his brother Peyton, or Brett Favre, or Tom Brady - a vocal leader on and off the field.

His reserved demeanor during games and before microphones has been used against him during his career, as …