So how do you see it ending for the all-time great Giant? Does he hang 'em up on his own and if so, when? After a season like this or do you see greener pastures ahead?
Does he get benched to see what's behind him? Does he get benched for poor play?
Does he get injured behind this line? Does he get "injured" in the way a lot of players get "injured" as a way to let them bow out gracefully?
Personally I think he's been holding this team back for years. He's always been maddeningly frustrating to watch at times, but this season his slow starts have been brutal (to add gas to the fire, put me in the camp that also thinks he's partly to blame for Beckham's injury - a five yard slant should not be two feet high for a professional quarterback).
I love Eli and long thought he had a third championship in him. I have also thought that he's probably earned the right to play as long as he wants . . . but he just isn't very good any more. And given what's going on around him, it may be a very long time before this team is good again.
So how do you see it ending for him? Short of winning another championship and riding off into the sunset, how do you want it to end for him?
My hope is that the Giants draft their QB of the future in the next draft. Eli plays next year and mentors him, and at the end of the season announces his retirement and hands the reigns over to the new guy.
Short of another championship, that is the best way it can end.
But I can also see the very real possibility of turmoil in the front office, a new coach and GM and is it really fair to Eli (and will he even want to) work under YET another new system? Will a new coach want to work with Eli? Would Eli want to work with him?
It's also entirely possible, knock on wood, that he suffers an injury that either lays him up or ends his career.
So basically, no clue because I’m not in Eli’s head.
We hear nothing from you until the chips are down then you post...
If you really believe he's been holding them back you really need to watch more football...in the years he's "been holding them back" awful OL play and no running game...
Fans like you should really go root for another team...
We hear nothing from you until the chips are down then you post...
If you really believe he's been holding them back you really need to watch more football...in the years he's "been holding them back" awful OL play and no running game...
I agree with everything you've written here JC.
Fans like you should really go root for another team...
Eli's neck injury won't keep him from playing the Broncos - ( New Window )
He will be most productive with a power run game, a play action deep passing offense with a TE that is a primary target. We have a good TE but a bad O Line and a shitty offensive attack.
If you think anybody but Alex Smith or Aaron Rodger can do anything with this shit show of a team you are both dumb and blind.
The problem is that I don't think it's better than 50/50 that Eli finishes the season. He may not even finish the game against the Broncos. He's an aging, immobile, QB, behind a makeshift porous OL, facing a ferocious defense.
Eli probably has a no trade clause......but if a team came along, and approached the Giants with a trade, there is a good chance he might accept it......
If.....
If, it was a team with a decent OL for pass protection, and had some semblance of a running game, and a respectable defense......I think Eli would like nothing better than to show Mac, who tried to turn him into something he wasn't, that he still has it....it would give the Giants cap relief and a draft pick(how high remains the question)......
The question is, what is the Giant plan after this season, and based on our record, will THE SAME FREAKIN' PEOPLE THAT GOT US INTO THIS MESS, still be making these decisions?
Eli gets to finish his career, kind of like YA....the Giants have a golden opportunity, to clean house, not just on the field, but in the front office, too....
Just a guess, but can we assume that the ones who agree with you have the high IQs and anyone who has a different opinion about Eli is a dumb ass?
And what about the posters who agree with you and think both Reese and McAdoo should be fired in mid-season if the Giants go 0 - 7 ... are they also in the high IQ group?
The truth is a strong case can be made for either side of the argument on whether the current version of Eli is a viable QB for this team going forward.
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the perfect football IQ test on BBI.
Just a guess, but can we assume that the ones who agree with you have the high IQs and anyone who has a different opinion about Eli is a dumb ass?
And what about the posters who agree with you and think both Reese and McAdoo should be fired in mid-season if the Giants go 0 - 7 ... are they also in the high IQ group?
The truth is a strong case can be made for either side of the argument on whether the current version of Eli is a viable QB for this team going forward.
It is what it is, and it goes back way longer than this year.
And I guess it's not as much about high or low IQ as much as it is understanding what's being seen.
I do think Eli, McAdoo and Reese are all tied at the hip. I think they make adjustments in off-season, and add the pieces on oline that they need. I think ownership gives them all one more year together to try to get to a Super Bowl. Remember, if this losing keeps up, they will have very high picks in every round, as well as an easier schedule. If things fall right, we could make a serious run next year. If not, I think Eli, Mac and Reese all head off into the sunset together.
The success will be based on how the team around him does, because he can still play. The rest of the team needs to match it.
After two years, he'll either retire or go play somewhere else if he feels that's what he wants to do......because I think the Giants will have their QB of the future on the team, ready to take over.
Landscape of the NFL can change rapidly over the next two-three years, so there might be an opportunity for him, even at 39.
maybe Eli is a Giant for life, but 1) his contract ends after the 2019 season, and 2) players can in fact waive no trade clauses.
As stated many times, Eli has a no trade clause and has never expressed interest in finishing his career anyplace other than with the Giants. You want Eli to mentor the young QB's. If the Giants decide it is time...my guess is that he retires.
Barring some incredible 2018 run for both Eli and the Giants, Eli will assume the role of 2004 Kurt Warner and the new QB will take over mid-season. Eli will then have to decide if he wants to play with another team or just retire.
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How far off is this team from being a good team and contending again? If management believes that the problems can be fixed with new leadership and few key player acquisitions, then Eli should be the man to lead the O. If the belief is that the team is more than a couple of years away, then the team should consider trading Eli in the off-season to a contender. Eli only has a few seasons left, if the team isn't in a position to contend anytime soon, then they need to start building for the future.
As stated many times, Eli has a no trade clause and has never expressed interest in finishing his career anyplace other than with the Giants. You want Eli to mentor the young QB's. If the Giants decide it is time...my guess is that he retires.
Barring some incredible 2018 run for both Eli and the Giants, Eli will assume the role of 2004 Kurt Warner and the new QB will take over mid-season. Eli will then have to decide if he wants to play with another team or just retire.
Kerry Collins forced his way off the team as to avoid being Warnered, but the Manning that historically forced the draft to go his way is going to just accept that fate?
If the Giants have thoughts about drafting a QB in the first this year, Eli Manning will not be on the team next year. He'll be cut and free to go elsewhere.
Personally, I doubt he does, or that anyone would give up anything of value to get him (given the size of his contract - that would basically deter most trades from returning any value).
I think Eli goes two more years, the Giants return to some form of winning football, and he hands over the ball to the next QB in line. Like many here, I think Eli's still a good QB but not what he was in his prime (at his age, for about 99% of football players decline is inevitable).
The sad thing with most great players is the end. So very few of them get to go out on top, winning, at the top of their game. They're competitors, and in most cases they hang on too long, and the results aren't usually all that impressive. I'm hoping for better for Eli than some of his peers.
Without Beckham, the Giants have nothing going on offense and are probably not going to win a game this year unless they play an equally sad sack, injury riddled opponent and manage to play less crappy football than their opponents. I think 0-16 or 1-15 are very real possibilities. it is likely webb will see some action in the second half of blowout losses against largely prevent defenses. we will be in position to draft first or second overall. hopefully we choose a Peyton Manning and not a Ryan Leaf. they will redshirt the first year and then take the reigns in 2019.
Personally, I doubt he does, or that anyone would give up anything of value to get him (given the size of his contract - that would basically deter most trades from returning any value).
I think Eli goes two more years, the Giants return to some form of winning football, and he hands over the ball to the next QB in line. Like many here, I think Eli's still a good QB but not what he was in his prime (at his age, for about 99% of football players decline is inevitable).
The sad thing with most great players is the end. So very few of them get to go out on top, winning, at the top of their game. They're competitors, and in most cases they hang on too long, and the results aren't usually all that impressive. I'm hoping for better for Eli than some of his peers.
Probably the most likely scenario given on this thread.
Eli's contract - ( New Window )
If you were Eli why would you stay on a team who knowingly went into this season without changing anything from the porous protection you had as a 35 year old and has a clown show for a coach who calls plays you need to purposely thwart with delay of game penalties.
I can't see many 36+ year olds rejecting a trade to a contender from a shit show.
though, I doubt anyone wants to pay 36/37 year old Eli 22M per season or whatever it comes out to, so this is probably a moot discussion.
My scenario above is probably most likely.
For that reason, a lot depends on where they end up drafting and how they evaluate the top QBs in the class. Another smaller factor being their evaluation on Webb. A lot also rests on how the remainder of the season plays out; whether it's a mini-rebuild or complete teardown. It's entirely possible we're heading toward a new front office, coaching staff and offensive philosophy in 2018. You have no way of knowing how a potential new regime evaluates Eli or sees him fitting into their plan.
Keep Eli here and groom a hot shot QB behind him for as long as Eli outplays the kid in camps/practice. It's that simple.
I'd get used to Eli wearing #10 for NYG. I will lose my shit if McAdoo wins the power struggle and convinces mgmt that Eli is holding this offense back. Even if Eli IS holding this offense back fuck McAdoo for cultivating an offense that doesn't cater to Eli Manning. Either way, dump Ben, keep Eli.
I get it - this is a fan forum so the homers are going to be homers no matter what. I really try to be objective, though, and Eli's mistakes have been pretty harmful over the course of the last few years. From the dumb decision to throw the ball out of the end zone in Dallas, to the lazy pick he threw to end the Redskins game, to his slow starts in almost single every game, I don't see elite-level quarterbacking from him like I do from others around the league. Sorry, I just don't. Can he play in spurts? Of course he can - but usually those spurts come after some pretty dreadful play earlier in those same games.
Honestly, I love the guy. I think he's a sure-fire Hall of Famer and a true gamer. I will always LOVE the image of him getting up off the grass in San Francisco in 2011 with his chinstrap around his nose calling timeout - not because he needed it, but because the game situation dictated it. Amazing toughness and grit!!! More than that, he's an excellent person and a symbol of why the New York Football Giants are a first-class organization that I find pride in rooting for.
But that doesn't mean he's exempt from criticism. To the contrary, as the quarterback, he's always going to get the brunt of the blame. Maybe some of the criticism is because I had way higher hopes for him. Six playoff appearances in 14 seasons? Less than half of his seasons? And four of those appearances were one-and-dones? Yes, he also had everything to do with two magical runs and he gave us some great memories. But I also think it's fair to be a little disappointed and critical without it meaning I'm a football moron...
If they basically fire everyone, there is still talent here. A trade down in the draft and the right picks with the right coach, and this is a contending team with Eli at the helm.
Who knows? Maybe he just wants to hang out with his girls and be a dad. If the line doesn't get better, I could see him telling the Giants to pound salt and just retire.
He's earned whatever he chooses.
Who knows? Maybe he just wants to hang out with his girls and be a dad. If the line doesn't get better, I could see him telling the Giants to pound salt and just retire.
He's earned whatever he chooses.
If he is traded, I will be a fan of the team he is playing for.
I get it - this is a fan forum so the homers are going to be homers no matter what. I really try to be objective, though, and Eli's mistakes have been pretty harmful over the course of the last few years. From the dumb decision to throw the ball out of the end zone in Dallas, to the lazy pick he threw to end the Redskins game, to his slow starts in almost single every game, I don't see elite-level quarterbacking from him like I do from others around the league. Sorry, I just don't. Can he play in spurts? Of course he can - but usually those spurts come after some pretty dreadful play earlier in those same games.
Honestly, I love the guy. I think he's a sure-fire Hall of Famer and a true gamer. I will always LOVE the image of him getting up off the grass in San Francisco in 2011 with his chinstrap around his nose calling timeout - not because he needed it, but because the game situation dictated it. Amazing toughness and grit!!! More than that, he's an excellent person and a symbol of why the New York Football Giants are a first-class organization that I find pride in rooting for.
But that doesn't mean he's exempt from criticism. To the contrary, as the quarterback, he's always going to get the brunt of the blame. Maybe some of the criticism is because I had way higher hopes for him. Six playoff appearances in 14 seasons? Less than half of his seasons? And four of those appearances were one-and-dones? Yes, he also had everything to do with two magical runs and he gave us some great memories. But I also think it's fair to be a little disappointed and critical without it meaning I'm a football moron...
Almost to the day, from 2011:
GiantNatty : 10/11/2011 8:45 pm
In five games, Eli's lack of care for the football has spotted the other team 3 touchdowns. One against the Redskins, one against the Cardinals, and another one yesterday (and nearly two yesterday, but the defense came up with a turnover of its own despite being pinned back after an Eli fumble).
Despite what some say about yesterday's interception not being Eli's fault, I disagree completely. He threw that ball across his body, without stepping into it, to a receiver that had FOUR Seahawks all around him. And for what? A four yard gain? Meanwhile, Bradshaw was WIDE OPEN two feet in front of him and gains at least four yards (and maybe more because the closest defender was running away from him toward the back of the end zone). It was an awful decision. Yes, Cruz needs to catch that ball with two hands, but the throw should have never been made in the first place.
Two of the touchdowns Eli has spotted the other team were backbreakers (Redskins, Seahawks). Yesterday's loss is the type of loss we could be lamenting in December. Just an awful, awful loss. No two ways about it. You simply can't win many games when your quarterback is spotting the other team 7 points.
You get bashed relentlessly for this post, and then tell everybody else that they don't understand football.
10/11/11 Six years ago tomorrow. Same tune, different year. - ( New Window )