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Are the Giants Done with Eli Manning?

Connor Lynch News NFL
New York Giants

Eli Manning

 

Eli Manning’s 210-game starting streak for the New York Giants will come to an end this Sunday. In an announcement on Tuesday, head coach Ben McAdoo said he will start Geno Smith instead against the Oakland Raiders.

This marks the end of an era for Eli manning. The two-time Super Bowl champion and MVP has been the Giants’ starting quarterback since 2004. The language coming from McAdoo suggests that his intention is to move on from Manning permanently. He told the Giants’ official site:

“Geno will start this week. Over the last five games, we will take a look at Geno, and we will also give Davis Webb an opportunity.”

Manning was apparently offered the chance to keep his streak alive by coming off before the end of games. The Giants legend showed the professionalism that endears him to so many in his response:

“My feeling is that if you are going to play the other guys, play them. Starting just to keep the streak going and knowing you won’t finish the game and have a chance to win it is pointless to me, and it tarnishes the streak. Like I always have, I will be ready to play if and when I am needed. I will help Geno and Davis prepare to play as well as they possibly can.”

 

The Giants have lost 9 of their first 11 games, and Manning has failed to hit the heights of previous years. The 36-year-old has thrown for 2,411 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions and completed 62.5 percent of his passes.

Manning has been sacked 26 times, five more than all of last season, when the team went 11-5. New York was also unfortunate to lose receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall for the season.

 

Manning to Jaguars?

 

Current Jacksonville Jaguars executive vice president of football and former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin showed his support for Manning:

“Surprised is not the word. My sentiments are totally with Eli Manning. He’s a class act, a two-time Super Bowl champ, one of the finest, most humble men in that locker room. … I was very upset when I heard that.”

If the Giants are willing to bench Manning, it’s not inconceivable that he could be playing elsewhere next season.

He delivered the biggest triumph in Giants history, the Super Bowl XLII win over the 18-0 Patriots. After Eli beat Brady and Belichick in a second Super Bowl four years later, he was described by Giants owner John Mara as the franchise’s greatest ever offensive player.

Manning has a no-trade clause in his contract, which means the choice of where he plays next is his. He is contracted to the Giants until 2019. Manning signed a four-year, $84 million contract extension before the 2015 season.

After their poor start, the Giants are + 1600 to win the Super Bowl, and + 1200 to win the NFC.

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