Eli Manning says it's not all about his completion percentage

There was a lot of snickering earlier in training camp when it was revealed that the goal for Eli Manning this season is a completion percentage of 70 or better. And then last Sunday he completed 86.7 percent of his passes against the Bills.

Sure it was a small sample size. He played only three series and threw only seven passes. None of his six completions was for more than 10 yards, and he never even targeted Victor Cruz or Rueben Randle. But the fact that he was connecting so regularly -- after missing his first attempt he rattled off six straight -- was encouraging.

"Just trying to make good decisions," Manning said on Tuesday. "Trying to find completions, trying to get the ball into the open receiver's hands and have positive plays."

Manning said this season won't be all about the short passes. "We have to be able to throw the ball down the field some, throw it short, hit some screens, take our shots downfield," he said. "I think you have to have a great mix so the defense can't decipher exactly what you're going to do on each play."

That will theoretically lower Manning's completion percentage a bit. But while 70 is the goal, Manning said the Giants are not going to be thinking about that when they call plays or make decisions on the field.

"You don't play the game to get a completion percentage," Manning said. "You play each play to try to find a completion, know your reads, know the timing of the play, and just try to make your decisions off that."

Kennard validated

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Devon Kennard said stepping onto an NFL field was a dream come true for him. It was trumped only by the emotion of stepping off the field.

"The best feeling ever is playing in a game and getting validation on what you already knew: You belonged and you can play at this level and you can play with the best of them," the rookie starting linebacker said.

Kennard had two tackles, one for a loss, and looked as seamless in the system as he felt. "There is a ton I have to improve on and things I looked at on film with the coaches that I'll work on today," he said before practice, "but it felt good to get out there and just play and get a feel for the game."

Giant steps

RB Peyton Hillis left practice early with a sprained ankle and RG Geoff Schwartz missed reps with a leg injury in last night's practice . . . WR Odell Beckham Jr. (hamstring) did not participate but was running well on the side . . . S Cooper Taylor, CB Trumaine McBride and S Nat Berhe all had interceptions in practice . . . Asked if he thinks the Giants can have the best secondary in the league this year, safeties coach Dave Merritt said: "Yes, I think that is fair to say. I do." . . . Wednesday's practice is open to the public and former Giants Shaun O'Hara, David Diehl, Kareem McKenzie and Deon Grant will be signing autographs during the workout from 5:40 to 7:50 p.m. Fans in attendance also will receive a limited edition "Giants Pride" T-shirt featuring the team's 90th season commemorative logo on the chest as well as a Giants pride poster or 90th season pennant.