The Giants win the division, beat a wild card team in the first round of the playoffs, but then lose to the Rams or Packers in the next round. Eli's numbers are good, but not dominant. He does an excellent job of running the offense, the turnovers are limited, but so are his wow moments. Maybe Jones gets to start the final, meaningless game of the season and performs well. He makes some plays with his feet that open some eyes (and no, I'm not saying he kicks somebody in the face).
In this hypothetical, the Giants make the decision not to re-sign Eli. So my question isn't what should the Giants do with Eli, it's where does Eli land in that scenario?
The first place to look would be Jacksonville, but they just signed Foles to a big deal, so he would have to fall flat on his face for them to move on so quickly. On top of that, the 2020 QB class is supposed to be a good one, so the teams in most need at the position are likely to be the same teams in good position to draft one. I'm sure there will be at least a team or two in the market for him if he's coming off a good year, but I'm having a hard time thinking of who that might be.
Why do I care? There could be a 2021 3rd round comp pick in it for the Giants.
Taking a quarterback with the 6th pick and sitting him for 2 years is not likely. I think it is a scenario those fans who are saddened by the thought of Eli s career ending cling to, but IMO, Gettleman and Shurmur are not going to do that.
They will likely have to aggressively trade up in the draft to get a top QB. Mariota won't be back. He is already earning a $21M salary for this year. He is earning $5M more than Eli this year. Are they satisfied with letting Tannehill lead at the top of the depth chart while a rookie gets ready to play (if they are successful in drafting the next franchise QB)? I could see the Titans signing Eli as a bridge for the drafted rookie or until they can draft a new QB.
Will Eli play for another team? Will any other team want him? Doubtful at best.
Will Eli play for another team? Will any other team want him? Doubtful at best.
In your scenario, Eli could go either way, but I think I would lean toward the Simms example.
As for Eli, I could see someone like Tennessee giving him a one year deal as a transitional guy, but I suspect he is done.
Maybe PS and DG might feel Jones is ready but I have a hard time seeing them take a SB contending team and entrusting it to Jones who is a unknown. Eli has done it.....twice.
I definitely can't see Mara/Tisch not giving Eli one more chance particularly with how they screwed up the 2nd half of his career. The only thing I strongly hope is that it would be a one year extension only.
I actually think this may in fact become a reality as I believe the Giants are going to surprise many this year. Or we'll see in training camp is arm has fallen off a cliff and it is a moot point.
Oh, I got you. I misread what you wrote. I thought y9u said what will the Giants do not the opposite.
Too early to have any definitive answer on that. Too much changes throughout the year. And the draft is after FA so unless a team is picking in like the top 4 or 5 they cannot just assume they'll get a QB in the draft. We have to see injuries, retirements, draft positioning, etc.
They're not sitting a hot prospect and paying big bucks to an old QB who is not the future, even if he is playing decent.
With a young team that is on the rise, the window of opportunity is more than just one year. sitting Jones messes with the window. Only if Jones looks bad are the Giants in one year desperation mode.
Unless Eli wins a Super Bowl I don't see any way DJ isn't the starter come Week 1 of 2020. I can't see this season being much different than the last two so I think DJ will be starting long before Week 1 of 2020.
We play the Pats Week 6 on Thursday night and then have 10 days off before we play the Cardinals. I think that's the game that DJ will make his first start.
They have a fairly easy schedule from Week 7 until the Bye Week. We got the Cards, Lions, Cowboys & Jets. Only one of those involves travel. Jones gets experience against 3 shit defenses before going into the Bye Week.
Starting him at that time makes much more sense then starting him after the Bye Week on the road against a great Bears Defense.
Maybe PS and DG might feel Jones is ready but I have a hard time seeing them take a SB contending team and entrusting it to Jones who is a unknown. Eli has done it.....twice.
I definitely can't see Mara/Tisch not giving Eli one more chance particularly with how they screwed up the 2nd half of his career. The only thing I strongly hope is that it would be a one year extension only.
I actually think this may in fact become a reality as I believe the Giants are going to surprise many this year. Or we'll see in training camp is arm has fallen off a cliff and it is a moot point.
The Eli that took the Giants to two Super Bowls was a different player than the Eli of today. As to Mara and Tisch, they have been extremely loyal to Eli and probably don’t share the sentiment they messed up the second half of his career
An added benefit is that he retires before Ben R. and Rivers, thus avoiding the talk of which of the three should make the Hall of Fame.
He can go into the HOF by first and by himself. No five year discussion about which of the three should make it by the stinking media!!
The issue has been the OL in following years. They never fixed in properly. Management tried to address all the other issues except what was the actual reason. So we will disagree on ownership's role.
Does he have enough still? We shall see this year. If he does not you move on (I have no issue with that) but there is still a lot of value if he has enough left. Eli possesses a rareness to show up big in big games and if the team shows the potential to make the deep run the following year and Eli still has it I believe you give him another year.
Regardless, I do not think Eli will want to play anywhere else.
Despite Winston getting a vote of confidence for the coming season, the Bucs are going to be terrible. Winston will walk and the Bucs should be in the top 5 of the draft to get one of the QBs. Eli could be a placeholder, but I just don't see it.
N.O. on the other hand is a possibility if Brees retires. His arm fell off a cliff in the second half of the season. I think this is his final season. They will still finish our of reach of the choice QBs so Manning can fill the role as game manager while they still have a good team.
N.O. on the other hand is a possibility if Brees retires. His arm fell off a cliff in the second half of the season. I think this is his final season. They will still finish our of reach of the choice QBs so Manning can fill the role as game manager while they still have a good team.
And what a story if Eli ends up in New Orleans!
I can't predict where he may land. As someone said above, I would have thought Jacksonville an option but that door may have closed with Foles. Also agree Tennessee seems like they would be interested.
Quote:
I wouldn't count out the Bucs, and as crazy as it might seem, if Brees calls it quits, NO.
Despite Winston getting a vote of confidence for the coming season, the Bucs are going to be terrible. Winston will walk and the Bucs should be in the top 5 of the draft to get one of the QBs. Eli could be a placeholder, but I just don't see it.
N.O. on the other hand is a possibility if Brees retires. His arm fell off a cliff in the second half of the season. I think this is his final season. They will still finish our of reach of the choice QBs so Manning can fill the role as game manager while they still have a good team.
The Titans and Saints are really the only two possibilities for Eli. Brees's arm fell off a cliff in the second half of two seasons in a row now. I wouldn't have been surprised if he retired this year if the Saints didn't go out like that.
Eli"s contract expires in seven months. He's not getting another one. Don't see why his exit has to be messy.
The front office and Eli will have the 'talk' before the season starts. Eli will ride off into the sunset after this season and he'll be a pro about it.
Super Bowl loss?
A home playoff win and a loss in the NFC Championship?
Two playoff wins and a loss in the NFC Championship?
A wild card playoff road win and a divisional round loss?
A home playoff loss?
A wild card playoff road loss?
12-4 overall? 11-5?
6-0 record inside the division? 5-1? 4-2?
4400 yards passing?
4:1 TD:INT ratio?
Would Rivers or Rothlisberger be sent packing under similar circumstances?
I hope we're all rooting for such a future debate because it will mean the Giants are winning in 2019.
He will get a shot at it this year. He will be under pressure to get off to a fast start. If they are close this year and he plays well I think he will get a chance to compete for the starting job next year to take another shot at it. I believe he will retire if he doesn't win the job next year.
The Giants will not consider having him back unless he plays very well this year. Its a tough position for Eli, but it may bring the best out of him.
My guess is he's not going to get starter money from anybody, and he has no interest in collecting a smaller paycheck in a strange city, and then he'd retire.
One exception: New Orleans. If they bring him in to back up Brees, or if Brees is hurt and they want Eli to play, I bet he'd do that. It's his hometown, he has family there, and it might be worth it to him to take lesser millions to play there.
So, to me the question really means: what if Eli has an Eli year? And it is a good question because I fully expect him to be close to the "old Eli," both in the good and bad sense of that term.
So, to me the question really means: what if Eli has an Eli year? And it is a good question because I fully expect him to be close to the "old Eli," both in the good and bad sense of that term.
If he has a year like that you gotta think the Titans and Saints will be buyers. They are both set up for him to suceed as well with strong olines and run games.
Super Bowl loss?
A home playoff win and a loss in the NFC Championship?
Two playoff wins and a loss in the NFC Championship?
A wild card playoff road win and a divisional round loss?
A home playoff loss?
A wild card playoff road loss?
12-4 overall? 11-5?
6-0 record inside the division? 5-1? 4-2?
4400 yards passing?
4:1 TD:INT ratio?
Would Rivers or Rothlisberger be sent packing under similar circumstances?
I hope we're all rooting for such a future debate because it will mean the Giants are winning in 2019.
Eli's best td int ratio is 2.5/1. So if he has a career year than yeh he should come back. Supremely unlikely though.
As coach Shurmur has said, movement plays for the QB are in the playbook, but he hasn’t called them.
Let’s face it, watching Eli and Tom, 8 SB wins between them, run a 440 would age all of us considerably.
True the giants had little clue to how the cap worked, as others too.
Should Eli have a good season and Jones emerges hard to see him stay on. If Eli becomes player of the year type of season can see one more season, but think its still a stretch.
If Farve, Payton, and others finish wearing another jersey Eli would not shock me. Being an Eli guy hope he does have a good season worth stepping away with his head held up high.
I would wish no less for any aging vet who gave his all to his team.