I realize this sort of discussion has been through the mill and back on BBI, but I wanted to ask it from a nuance of a difference of angle.
The franchise seems to be on the precipice (channeling my inner Tim McCarver there) of ... well, something. The truth is,. none of us know precisely what direction things will go in the coming months, and the next few years.
While I'm a HUGE Eli Manning fan, and truly want to see things righted and watch him finish a great career in the Meadowlands, whether they win the big one with him again or not, I also understand the (a) trade Eli and/or (b) draft a top-flight QB prospect next draft.
It may be lampooned by some as not seeing the best for the ball club in the big picture, but I want to see the Mara family do this with class and choose loyalty to Eli Manning and what he's meant to this team these years. I want them to draft differently than to take a QB in the first or second .. I want to have that support firmly planted behind Eli for the next couple seasons, and I want to see an open commitment to building the O to get him another shot - regardless how it goes.
I think there's a chance we already have the next solid QB in-house, with Webb. I'd like to see him in the #2 role the rest of the way, get a few junk minutes the remainder of this season - maybe even a couple quarters toward the end - and for the club to supprt Eli first, before there's any siding with/support of Ben McAdoo.
I know there are many who want to trade him, blow it up, get Rozen or Mayfield or whomever, but I think that would be a shitty thing to do, and at best, a gamble that a college QB will be better than Webb.
I choose loyalty to Eli Manning, at the same time drafting a stud RB, a great O-line prospect, some defensive pieces and grabbing a few FAs. I think this team could be a contender next season with some tweaks, and a new coach at the helm.
This is exactly what happened when Coughlin came in. They drafted Eli, but Coughlin decided what to do with Collins (who saw the writing on the wall and split) and eventually Warner (who agreed to keep the seat warm for Eli).
If his last name wasn't Manning, everyone would be ripping him to shreds.
He has always been a slightly above average QB, who cam through in clutch 2X.
Look at the rest of his record.
The case could be made if Plaxico doesn't'shoot himself and team in leg, maybe another SB. But, that is the past.
Eli still fumbles way too often, and throws too many INT's. he is not 25.
It is time to move on.
1- It is an excellent year in the draft to obtain a franchise QB.
2- We are in the perfect draft position to take one without even moving.
3- Eli is at the end of his career and you don't build around a 37 year old QB, plus he is still good enough to trade, so trade him this off season and get something for him, he will waive his no trade clause when he sees the Giants are moving on. he don't want to sit the bench, plus Jacksonville is waiting, they have the worst QB in the league in Bortles.
time to rebuild. eli is the most overrated QB as judged by his peers and there is a good reason for that - he can't move, his accuracy is inconsistent especially on deep balls and he turns the ball over at a high percentage relative to his peers.
Do what KC has done draft a QB and let him sit or beat out Eli.
Either way Eli plays out his contract and retires or moves on.
If you draft a QB that is actually better or more promising than Eli this will make this an easy decision.
Problem is Webb is not that guy. If we drafted Mahomes or Watson last draft they would be playing now.
As long as Eli remains the best option he will start as it should be. But you don't trade or release your best option without a backup plan.
This. And yes it can be both. G’aints have, without a doubt, the worst coaching staff in the entire NFL. You ship every G’aints player to New England and I promise you they’d be Giants again. There is talent on the this team. Dear God, the Niners had 26 players injured yesterday and came in with the worst offense in the NFL and they hung almost 500 yards on the G’aints defense. This team is lost in all three phases of the game. Fire Reese and the entire coaching and start over. Of course draft a QB with the first pick - Eli isn’t a kid. But there’s enough talent on this team to be competitive - all we need is a real coaching staff
In that vein I would like to see the Giants try to re-structure Eli and free up cap space, then be agressive in FA to strengthen the OL and possibly acquire a real, play-making, MLB that can stay on the field.
1. Draft Saquon Barkley
2. Draft/FA Playmaker MLB
3. Draft FA several OL to build strong front
4. Get rid of Spags/MacAdoo and if you must Reese though he
can't be blamed for not being able to pull OL/LB'ers out of his ass.
Then let Eli continue to groom the kid for a year or two or three or even four, each of those years adding strength to the OL and DL via the draft and FA when possible.
New GM gets to pick his coach. And the new GM/coach get to
Build the roster.
If they think a few more years of Eli are worthwhile, great.
If they think it’s time now to move on, that works for me as well.
Unfortunately, I fear that keeping Eli at QB will be a prerequisite to the GM and coaching selections.
Fire Reese and most of his staff.
Fire HC, OC, DC and Quinn.
For GM maybe get that drunk the Skins fired.
Let Eli play two more years get Webb ready take the RB
Barkley he will help Webb immensely we need help in the trenches and at LB .. But there are plenty of good players left to get right back into it .
Webbs not gonna be ready next season but make him the back up this wasted Geno vs Josh thing was infuriating waste.
The guys age is just a number and he will be playing and playing well for at least 3 years. People discuss the guy like he's taken a beating and been hurt. He's in great shape, still has a gun, still has touch..... I'm just happy the owners are not in a hurry to cut his career short. He is part of why the team will be good again soon.
Maybe the best thing for Eli isn't coming back here to get physically walloped and crapped on by analysts every week during a rebuilding process, but instead, to go somewhere with a chance to win RIGHT NOW.
It's not what I want, but the thought has started creeping into my head.
Main thing is they need a new strategic direction that creates a tough, athletic and competitive roster on both sides of the field and in particular in the trenches. Reese is a solid draft evaluator but a terrible roster builder. After 10 years I'm pretty certain of that. The Maras need to hire a football guy with experience running things, then put that person in charge of finding the next coach and restructuring the organization going forward. Maybe Reese can still be GM under that person, but he cannot be in control.
The guys age is just a number and he will be playing and playing well for at least 3 years. People discuss the guy like he's taken a beating and been hurt. He's in great shape, still has a gun, still has touch..... I'm just happy the owners are not in a hurry to cut his career short. He is part of why the team will be good again soon.
I mean he’s the quarterback, when things go bad your name is gonna come up. He’s on this roster maybe one more year, no chance it’s three
I think the Giants owe him the choice to:
STATUS QUO,
ASK HIM : IF THEY FIND A PARTNER, WOULD HE WAIVE THE N-T-C FOR THE SAKE OF THE GIANTS, EVEN HIS SAKE IF THE RIGHT PARTNER,
WOULD HE WAIVE THE N-T-C AND GO WHEREVER THE PARTNER MAY BE(A TRADE FEELER).
OR
the alternative, cut him ,take the cap hit, he's on his own(hardass and I dont think owners would let that happen).