Benching Eli Could Prove Helpful for the Giants
Whether it’s to protect him or to get a glimpse at Davis Webb, benching Eli Manning may be the best course of action for the Giants right now.
Since November 21, 2004, Eli Manning has been the starting quarterback of the New York Giants. Manning has been one of the perennial “iron-men” of the NFL throughout the duration of his career, never missing a start since the day he took over, leading the Giants to two Super Bowl wins over the New England Patriots in the process. But at age 36, it may be time to finally consider benching the 14-year veteran.
After dropping Sunday’s game against the defeated San Francisco 49ers, the Giants now sit at 1–8. This has certainly become a lost season and with Ben McAdoo a lock to be relieved of his duties at any moment, it may be time to take a look at what the G-Men have in Davis Webb.
At the same time, the Giants need to consider benchiing Manning for his own safety. This still remains a talented roster with a very strong defense, so a quick turnaround next season isn’t completely out of the question. Their offensive line has been terrible this season, especially Erik Flowers. Flowers, a top pick in the 2015 draft, has been a major culprit as to why Eli Manning has been sacked 67 times over the last three seasons.
After today, Eli tied his older brother Peyton for the most consecutive regular season starts by a quarterback at 208 games. Many critics are opposed to prematurely ending Manning’s streak, although it is unrealistic to believe that he will be able to reach Brett Favre’s record of 297. However, as Manning ages his susceptibility to injury increases, and the last thing he needs is to suffer a devastating injury in a lost year. Behind this offensive line, it’s almost a forgone conclusion that Eli will get hurt down the stretch if they continue their abhorrent play.
With several tough matchups coming up, is it really worth subjecting Manning to those games? The Giants still have to face the NFC’s best Philadelphia Eagles and the perennially tough Dallas Cowboys. I think we can finally cross the Giants off in terms of playoff contention, so there really isn’t much for him to play for other than stat-padding.
The chemistry in the locker room is questionable at best right now. Injuries and a lack of institutional organization have robbed this team of the trait that has kept them relevant for the past decade: consistency. A brief seven game look at Davis Webb could answer some seriously important questions. Is this kid really the future quarterback of this team? Should the Giants draft a signal caller in the upcoming draft or focus on a different aspect of their team? Even if Eli remains the starter for 2–3 more seasons, it’s important to have a relevant understudy in order to ensure a smooth transition while Eli wraps up what should be a Hall of Fame Career.
It’s a tough call, but it is a decision that the Giants have to make at this time. We will certainly see an interim coach in the next few weeks, if not tomorrow, and the best thing this franchise can do is gain an understanding of the talent it has on it’s roster. As mentioned earlier, the Giants have talent. They have a two-time Super Bowl Champion quarterback, a talented defense, and arguably the most electric receiver in football when healthy. If they draft wisely, they can bounce back next year. And if Davis Webb truly is the future, now is the time to ascertain that decision. However, throwing Eli Manning to the dogs won’t do anybody any favors, especially the 2018 New York Giants.
