The future of Eli Manning with the New York Giants

As we approach the NFL trade deadline, the New York Giants may continue to tear down their roster.

As we found out this week, there was a market for at least a couple of players – interior defender Damon Harrison and cornerback Eli Apple. Of the remaining New York Giants players, there clearly remains a wait-and-see approach.

But does the list of possible tradable commodities include quarterback Eli Manning?

At this juncture, the New York Giants should listen to any and all trade proposals. Chances are general manager Dave Gettleman is doing just that. We will see if his efforts bear fruit. Traded or not, like it or not, there’s an impending transition in store for Manning.

Big Blue won’t be the first NFL franchise to go through an awkward transition, they are just the latest one who has to try to figure it out. It will bring out raw emotions, that will eventually subside.

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At 1-6, there certainly appears to be plenty of blame to go around, and that goes for the two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback. In this respect, the front office’s efforts are being hamstrung by the short-sightedness of some fans with respect to Manning.

It’s great to be a loyal supporter, as long as it doesn’t come along with being a denier. Very simply, a change is needed at quarterback.

It’s over

I don’t blame Manning one iota for not wanting to be traded. There probably doesn’t exist a scenario where he would agree to waive his no-trade clause, like it did for his brother, Peyton.

And that’s fine, he deserves to go out on his own terms.

But to think that a 1-6 team will continue to suffer through a dismal campaign without looking to make a change at the most important position on the field is sheer lunacy. For all intents and purposes, the Eli Manning-era is over in East Rutherford.

I take no joy in writing those words, but it’s the reality. The only remaining question becomes: When?

Haters will post ignorant and vengeful comments in response. Some may take a higher road and continue to blame the offensive line. And if somehow you believe all of this is patently unfair to Manning, consider the plight of Phil Simms.

In 1994, Simms was released by the team despite leading the New York Giants to the playoffs in 1993. He had undergone shoulder surgery in the offseason, but would have been available for training camp. The problem was that then-general manager George Young had already invested a first-round draft pick in Duke quarterback Dave Brown.

Simms wasn’t as popular as Manning is, but he did something that no one else before him had accomplished – he quarterbacked the New York Giants to a Super Bowl victory. But Young had already created the transition.

Last season, former general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Ben McAdoo thought about that transition. They were absolutely correct to think about the scenario, and got skewered for it by media and fans alike.

Their mistake was trying to replace Manning with Geno Smith. That doesn’t happen, but you could have replaced Manning with Sam Darnold.

That’s exactly what the Giants did with Manning, ushering out future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner nine games into the 2004 NFL season with a 5-4 record! Ironically, Warner took it in stride, and he had plenty left in the tank – taking the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl XLIII.

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As a 38-year old quarterback next season, Manning has a $23.2 million cap hit, according to Spotrac. If you think his play seems commensurate with his salary, think again, and if necessary, one more time. If released, he’ll have a dead cap hit of $6.2 million.

Let’s just say, it’s time. That presents a sad reality for many folks, myself included, but a reality nonetheless. Oh and by the way, the aforementioned Warner retired from the NFL after the 2009 NFL season – when he was 38-years old.

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