How New York Giants failed Eli Manning
By Henry Buggy
The G-Men have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL this season and their 1-7 start has many fans calling for a quarterback change.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning will tie his older brother, Peyton Manning, for the NFL’s second most consecutive starts (208) in league history in Week 10. The future Hall of Fame quarterback sits seventh all-time in passing yards (50,034), but many analysts and fans are calling for a change given the team’s miserable play this season.
Big Blue was expected to compete for an NFC East division title in 2017 after an 11-5 season under first-year head coach Ben McAdoo. But a refusal to fix the team’s most glaring holes has left the franchise almost a laughingstock in the NFC.
Giants Won’t Bench Manning
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Big Blue has no plans to bench Manning this season, barring “a catastrophic event.”
McAdoo left the door open to the potential of playing rookie quarterback Davis Webb earlier this week, via New York’s team website.
"“Eli, he’s our quarterback. But that doesn’t mean at some point in time we won’t throw another guy in there to get a look at him. Every position needs to be held accountable and every position needs to play to a high standard."
While it may make sense for the Giants to play Webb during the regular season for their 2018 draft purposes, one thing should be clear, New York’s ownership and front office failed Manning.
New York Giants
How Did New York Fail Manning?
Manning helped the Giants hoist two Lombardi Trophies within his first eight seasons in the Big Apple, but for some reason New York’s front office and coaching staff elected to change the formula for success following a down 7-9 season in 2013.
New York hired McAdoo as an offensive coordinator ahead of the 2014 season and from that point on Big Blue’s ground game became non-existent. McAdoo’s offense is predicated off a short passing attack, which is fine if Aaron Rodgers is your quarterback.
Manning has reached career-highs in completion percentage (63.2), touchdown passes (35), and has posted his best passer rating (93.6) since McAdoo’s arrival, but none of those have equated to wins in the playoffs.
Manning Is Mr. Clutch But Needs Help
It’s no secret Manning isn’t Rodgers or even Drew Brees for that matter. But what Manning does have is the clutch gene. Whether it’s escaping New England’s defensive line in Super Bowl XLII to hit David Tyree or his fourth quarter teardrop pass to Mario Manningham in Super Bowl XLVI, Manning has continually delivered on the biggest stage.
While Manning delivered two Super Bowl MVP performances against this generation’s dynasty, the Giants 14-year quarterback needs help getting there.
Manning is not the type of quarterback that can carry a team to the playoffs. He needs solid protection up front and some resemblance of a ground game. Both have been none existent in recent seasons.
The Giants had players like David Diehl, Chris Snee, Shaun O’Hara, and Kareem McKenzie along the offensive line when they won Super Bowls with Manning and had the threat of a ground game, which led to deep play-action passes to receivers like Victor Cruz and Plaxico Burress in year’s past
Big Blue had the NFL’s fourth best rushing attack in 2007. They struggled to move the ball on the ground in 2011 but still managed 17 rushing touchdowns that season. In the past two and a half seasons, the G-Men have amassed just 13 rushing touchdowns.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese ignored what made Manning successful by building a one dimensional-offense that relies on pass catchers like Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, and now rookie tight end Evan Engram.
Manning Deserves To Shoulder Some Blame
It’s clearly evident the Giants have failed Manning by not addressing the team’s offensive line and ground game, but No. 10 isn’t blameless for New York’s offensive woes in recent seasons.
The Giants 36-year-old quarterback has thrown 103 touchdowns to 50 interceptions over the past three and a half seasons and is currently the NFL’s 11th highest-paid quarterback this season, according to Spotrac.
Manning’s contract handicaps what New York’s front office can spend in free agency, and the four-time Pro Bowler may want to restructure his deal if he wants to add another Lombardi Trophy to his Hall of Fame resume.
It’s rare for a quarterback to leave money on the table. But in Manning’s case, he should take a page out of Tom Brady’s playbook. The Patriots future Hall of Fame quarterback has been on average the 16th highest-paid quarterback in the league the past four seasons, allowing the team plenty of wiggle room when building their roster.