QB Jesse Palmer (right) is no stranger to quarterback competitions. QB Tim Hasselbeck (left) is with his sixth organization in five years.

ALBANY, N.Y. - Jesse Palmer and Tim Hasselbeck both entered the NFL in 2001 but have taken far different journeys to their duel this summer to be the Giants' backup quarterback behind Eli Manning.

Palmer took the short route. He was selected by the Giants on the fourth round of the 2001 draft and has never played for another pro team. Only five current players have a longer uninterrupted tenure in a Giants uniform than Palmer.

Hasselbeck, meanwhile, has toured much of the East Coast in his short career. He signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent and is now with his sixth organization in five years. His itinerary has included stops in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Carolina and, most recently, Washington.

Both quarterbacks saw their most extensive action in 2003. Palmer started the Giants' final three games after Kerry Collins suffered an ankle injury. Hasselbeck started five games for the Redskins, with his only victory coming against the Giants. Neither quarterback played a down in 2004. Palmer's completion percentage is 52.5 and he has thrown three touchdown passes and four interceptions. Hasselbeck's completion percentage is 53.7 and he has thrown five touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

Now both are in the familiar position of competing for a job. Lefthander Jared Lorenzen is also in camp.

"This is no different than any other year," Palmer said. "It is one of those things that I think each and every year there is competition at different positions on the field. What I try to do is focus on myself and worry about me getting better and be the best pro I can be."

Coach Tom Coughlin today indicated that neither quarterback has taken an early lead in the contest.

"It seems as if each practice one does something outstanding to get your attention," Coughlin said. "This was a pretty good day for Jesse. Tim was pretty good last night. We're trying to get more snaps for Jared."

Palmer and Manning became very close friends last year. Hasselbeck quickly and comfortably fit into the group. He is Manning's training camp roommate (Palmer is right across the hall). Hasselbeck and Palmer have worked well together.

"I think you can be competitive on the field and be friends," said Hasselbeck, whose brother, Matt, is the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback. "It's not like you're lining up against that person. If you just do what you're supposed to do and you're playing well at the quarterback position, things will work out for you. And if you don't, they won't. It's that simple.

"We have a good group of guys and everyone gets along and we all really want each other to do well and push each other. I never think that I am competing against one person, because in this business you are competing against everyone else in the league. My brother was in a situation in Green Bay where he was fighting against David Klingler for the third quarterback spot. He won it, but then they signed Rick Mirer, so they cut Matt. So you're never competing against one guy, you're competing against everybody out there that the people making the decisions think can make this a better team. Rather than counting numbers, you just have to play your best. That's all you can control."

"I want the team to be better," Palmer said. "So it is kind of unfair to be selfish and not try and help my teammates out. I am very competitive, though, and I do want that backup job and I'm playing as hard as I can to get that. I'm not going to not talk to somebody, especially Tim who I've known now since our rookie year together. We came out the same year, so we met at the (scouting) combine."

This is Palmer's fifth Giants season. When he joined the team, Collins was the starter and Jason Garrett was next on the depth chart. The next two years, Palmer was No. 2, and he started the final three games of the 2003 season after Collins suffered an injury. Since then, Collins and Garrett have departed and quarterbacks like Ryan Van Dyke, Kevin Thompson, Kurt Kittner and Jim Miller have briefly passed through the Giants' locker room.

Last year, Palmer was the third quarterback behind Kurt Warner and Manning. Warner is gone (to the Arizona Cardinals) and Manning is the starter. Palmer, meanwhile, is still here fighting for a role. Miller was originally going to be his competition, but he was released after suffering a hip injury during the offseason conditioning program.

"I don't know if I'm a survivor," Palmer said. "I've never seen it as trying to be replaced. Obviously, you want competition all the time and the bottom line is I have always focused on myself and as the competition has gotten stronger I've gotten better."

Michael Strahan, Amani Toomer, Tiki Barber, Shaun Williams and Luke Petitgout are the only Giants who have been with the team longer than Palmer. Linebacker Kevin Lewis was first signed in 2000, but was waived that season and in 2001, then re-signed each time. The other members of the entry class of 2001 still with the team are cornerbacks Will Allen and William Peterson and guard Rich Seubert.

"It's funny - there have been a lot of changes, obviously, since I've been here, and it hasn't really been that long," Palmer said. "It was great playing with Kerry and Jason and guys like Kurt, and getting a chance to take different things from all those guys."

Palmer was a free agent this offseason. After investigating his options, he re-signed with the Giants.

"It's just a great place to play and it's a good place to keep learning and keep improving," he said. "I love the organization, I love the coaches, I really like the offense, and I have a great time with a lot of guys in the locker room. It's a good place to be."

Palmer was widely assumed to be on shaky ground when Tom Coughlin was hired as coach 19 months ago. The theory advanced then was that the no-nonsense coach would look disdainfully at a player who spent part of his offseason on the reality TV show, The Bachelor. But Coughlin was open-minded about Palmer, and has praised him when questioned by reporters.

Ironically, Hasselbeck also has reality TV connections. His wife, Elisabeth, was one of four finalists on "Survivor." She is now a co-host of "The View."

Hasselbeck, however, has little time for television watching. He's trying to learn his sixth offensive system since entering the NFL.

"It's always hard learning a new system," Hasselbeck said. "A lot of players say it's like learning a new language. In certain ways it is, because coming from another offense a word might mean something different than what it means in this offense. Also, you may think you're learning it in the meetings and in studying but it is really hard once you get out on the field and there is a clock running and you have to change the protection. It is difficult. But I've done it so many times that I know not to get frustrated with it if it's taking me a while. I just try to be as patient as I can."

Manning isn't taking sides in the backup battle. But he said both Palmer and Hasselbeck have helped him improve in camp.

"They're good pals of mine that I can talk to when I have questions," Manning said. "We're together a lot during the day. When we study questions come up and we think things through and talk about them together. We think up situations in our head - 'if this happens, what do you do?' If the coaches aren't with us we can think about it and everybody throws in their ideas. We get good work out of it."

The ultimate goal for both Palmer and Hasselbeck is to be an NFL starting quarterback, which won't happen with the Giants as long as Manning is healthy.

"In terms of my time, it's not today," Palmer said. "Being here I think will help me get to where I want to be.

"I think everybody gets frustrated. If you're competitive, you certainly want to play. It's one of those things where you have the desire, but I understand my role here. Right now in training camp, it's time for me to get better. It's time for me to focus on Jesse. When the season starts, I'll understand my role then."

He's been here long enough to understand that.