I was disgusted the way Eli was treated this season by our now former coach thrown under the bus and then the benching cluster fuck, I am happy he is back on the field but got me thinking the way Payton ended in Indy.
Granted Payton was due to injury but a horrid season for Indy with a top pick in the draft and they moved on from him for a rookie. And Payton sure enough was not done and had 2 more big dances in him one of which he one.
This is what I see happening with Eli sadly my money says he will be in Jacksonville next year. With TC having the AMEX black card and a team that by all accounts have a legit shot for a playoff run this year with a subpar QB he will make the trade happen. This thought makes me sick to think about but it is a real possibility which sucks IMO.
The thought of Eli hoisting another trophy for a different team would be sickening to me.
I personally am going to enjoy the last few games win or lose watching Eli play because I believe it is the last time we see him in our uniform. Whether that is via trade or retirement season end and I hope for the latter.
Curious on your thoughts
Your OP speculates a trade scenario. In my opinion, the likelihood of a trade is remote. Not just finding and negotiating compensation, but Eli agreeing to waive his NTC, along with the dead cap hit not being spread across 2 seasons make the trade scenario unlikely.
I suspect in order of probable outcomes is:
1) Release.
2) Play for the Giants.
3) Retirement.
4) Trade.
Quote:
and as I said OP due to injury. With that said Peyton made it clear he was not done he was simply released sadly.
Your OP speculates a trade scenario. In my opinion, the likelihood of a trade is remote. Not just finding and negotiating compensation, but Eli agreeing to waive his NTC, along with the dead cap hit not being spread across 2 seasons make the trade scenario unlikely.
I suspect in order of probable outcomes is:
1) Release.
2) Play for the Giants.
3) Retirement.
4) Trade.
I believe the bridge has been burned with Eli unfortunately with trust in ownership hence the trade comment. I honestly can’t see Eli going through another season like this on a personal level so playing for the Giants is IMO not a option.
I said in my OP I hope the latter in your post option 3 I hope.
2. Releasing him is not an option. He was elevated to deity status last week. Once done, there is no going back.
3. The league knows he can't play. They don't say so because of the respect they have for him. However that doesn't mean they want him to be their quarterback .
4. Almost all the offenses in the league are of the WCO variety . Eli is a dinosaur .
5. In Jacksonville, Coach might take a sentimental journey. But I think he will ultimately resist.
6. The Giants are taking a QB with their early 1. That leaves Eli in a pass-the-baton mode, probably at some point in 18 when the season goes south on them, yet again.
7. Webb becomes the Colt McCoy of the Giants.
Why would any team trade before the Giants have to pay him 5M? Then they would be on the hook for it.....
Chances are, the Giants have to start their rebuild.....those plans don't include Eli, so the sooner he is off the books, the better.....they can save 20M over the next two seasons by cutting him.....which can be used to rebuild the OL, which needs to be the main focal point, if we are going to draft a qb.....
Yes Eli has been THE guy, the last 14 years.....and we have wasted the last 6 of them, by not providing him with an OL....I would rather see him playing some place that offers a better chance for success, than to be part of some rebuilding process....
It doesn't make sense to tie up 22M in cap dollars, just to mentor the next qb, when that money can be used to rebuild the OL.....
Yes, the Eli situation was handled all wrong.......But these decisions the new GM must face, may not be popular ones, but necessary, to get back near the top as quickly as possible....
The only way Eli should be here, is if ownership and the GM think, he can still lead this team with a viable OL.....that would mean, no drafting of a QB, but going all in by picking OL in the first two rounds, and then drafting either a #2 WR, or getting a WR in FAcy, because Marshall is done, and the other pretenders to the throne on this team suck....
However, that is just a short term solution......
If he's not in their plans going forward then saving $5M by releasing him is the best way to go about it unless some team is willing to give up assets to pick up his contract.
2. Releasing him is not an option. He was elevated to deity status last week. Once done, there is no going back.
3. The league knows he can't play. They don't say so because of the respect they have for him. However that doesn't mean they want him to be their quarterback .
4. Almost all the offenses in the league are of the WCO variety . Eli is a dinosaur .
5. In Jacksonville, Coach might take a sentimental journey. But I think he will ultimately resist.
6. The Giants are taking a QB with their early 1. That leaves Eli in a pass-the-baton mode, probably at some point in 18 when the season goes south on them, yet again.
7. Webb becomes the Colt McCoy of the Giants.
3. The league knows he can't play. They don't say so because of the respect they have for him
I don't know if this is really true. If given an adequate line and 4 seconds of protection I think he could carve up most defenses.
You are right in the sense though that due to the incredibly poor OL quality coming out of college the league has shifted to a much more mobile QB. Eli used to be a master of sliding in the pocket. If you watch the games when he is given a little bit of time in the pocket early he gets comfortable and heats up a bit. Most times though he is running for his life.
I'd still wager right this second though that 1/2 of the teams in the NFL would sign on tomorrow to have ELI be their QB for the next two years.
I don't know if this is really true. If given an adequate line and 4 seconds of protection I think he could carve up most defenses.
Not sure if you're serious with that line or being sarcastic, but third stringers in the league would carve up most defenses with 4 seconds of protection.
It'll be: He's our #1 pick, and he's ready; put him in.
FO hopes they can get thru '18 with Eli and start winning; then they let him lead the team in '19 and let his contract play out, even if the decide the kid is ready.
There are residual scars from 2 weeks ago and they can't let a wiff of that be repeated.
OR
Eli plays poorly, the Giants play poorly and are 0-5, AND, the kid is ready.Hopefully gets some quick WS and people get excited about the kid. It then puts pressure on Eli to retire or asknfor release.
You start Webb or the new QB, and the 10M per season you save with Eli gone can be used in free agency to rebuild the line....
Eli is not going to accomplish much next year without a line in front of him.....it's just a wasted opportunity....
Hard decisions have to be made.....not sentimental ones.....
I wouldn't bet on that.
P Manning was hurt for the year but was still putting up league best numbers. He had gotten himself into a superbowl just a few years earlier and made the playoffs in 2010, his last year starting in indy.
He got injured and the Colts got Luck. Made sense to start moving on.
RetroJint is mostly right and possibly totally right. Eli cannot play at a high level anymore, even if he is not washed he is no better than average.
NYG really screwed up. Not because of the slight to Manning, now they have put him on a pedestal there was not need to put him on. A cut now will create another fan firestorm.
But, I can see him in Jacksonville in 2018. Especially if the Giants can get some high picks for him!
There is the Tom Coughlin connection and that team has a great defense. The addition of a clutch QB like Eli ... could take them deep into the playoffs.
A couple more pieces on Offense in the next year or 2 (a year or 2 for that team to mature) and who knows? They will have as good a shot as any.