Quarterback Eli Manning
November 28, 2017
Q: How did this come about?
A: Yeah, Coach Mac (McAdoo) called me in. Told me that we were going to start splitting some time and thought it was best to give Geno (Smith) the start and I’ll back him up. I’ll be a good teammate. I don’t like it, but it’s part of football, you handle it. I didn’t do my job.
Q: You didn’t like it, but didn’t you also have the chance to say that you wanted to start?
A: Yeah, I mean I just didn’t think that you start knowing that you’re going to come out of a game to keep a streak alive maybe. That’s not what it’s about. It’s not a preseason game where you’re going to play the start to the half, what’s the next week? A quarter, a series, that’s not fair. That’s not fair to me, that’s not fair to Geno, that’s not how you play. You play to win. You’re named the starting quarterback, you think it’s your job to go win the football game. When you know you’re just going to play a little bit, I didn’t feel like that was the right way to play.
Q: Does this move make any sense to you?
A: Hey, I don’t have to make sense of it. This is what it is and like I said, you got to deal with it.
Q: Did you see this coming at all?
A: No. I mean I didn’t know. I didn’t know what was going to occur. Hey, we’re 2-9. Kind of uncharted territory, so you don’t know what to expect when you’re in that situation.
Q: What kind of conversations have you had with Davis (Webb) and Geno since the decision was made?
A: I told Geno I’d be here for him and I sat down with him today and going over the script and going over plays and just make sure he’s comfortable with everything and knows how to go out there and give him a chance to be successful.
Q: Can you explain why you didn’t like the plan?
A: I think I just did in the fact that to go out there knowing that you’re coming out. I just didn’t think that’s how you prepare. In the start of this week, I was going to play the first half and Geno was going to start the second half. Eventually they were going to start working in Davis and I thought I was just starting and playing to keep a streak alive and I didn’t think that was the right thing.
Q: And even though you’re at 2-9, you’re still trying to win games, right?
A: Right. That’s your job. You’re the starting quarterback, it’s your job to go out there and win the football game. When that’s not the case, you’re just going out there to play knowing you’re not going to finish the game. I just didn’t see that being the right thing.
Q: How hard is this hitting you emotionally?
A: It’s hard. It’s been a hard day to handle this, but hang in there and figure it out.
Q: Is this your hardest day as a Giant?
A: It’s up there, yeah.
Q: Do you think you’ve seen your last game for the Giants?
A: I don’t know. I don’t know. One week at a time.
Q: Have you spoken to anyone else besides Ben (McAdoo) about the decision? Jerry (Reese)? John (Mara)?
A: I spoke to Jerry Reese a little bit. Mr. Mara, he hadn’t been in today, but he knows what’s going on and I’ll probably try to speak with him tomorrow at some time.
This is something the Jets and Mets do. Not the Giants. Until today.
This is something the Jets and Mets do. Not the Giants. Until today.
That's what I've been wondering about this entire time. Where is he?
Leadership is needed on a day like today. Where is he?
Am I missing why this is outrageous?
This is something the Jets and Mets do. Not the Giants. Until today.
.
This amazes me as well. How gutless can you be.
He should have been there, IN PERSON, to speak to Eli when this decision was made.
Really, really shitty.
Am I missing why this is outrageous?
That part isn't what bothers me - it's that the owner was too gutless to even be present when this decision was ultimately made or came to fruition.
This is closing the door on the greatest QB in franchise history and the guy who has been under center for every single game since this time 13 years ago.
It should have been handled better. The guy sounds like he was totally blindsided by all of this.
This has all the makings of a last ditch effort by Mac....if the offense somehow moves the ball better with Geno, and scores 20 points(even in a loss), Mac can go to ownership and say, "See? It wasn't me!"
But all of a sudden, now we are finally going to see Webb in a game? Where did this come from?
The day Mac started changing Eli's footwork, somehow that just didn't click with me....he was trying to make Eli something he wasn't.....
I'm not surprised that this was done on a road game, to kind of ease the shock....
It looks like Eli will not be back......and if the Reese/Mac duo is, what does that say?