The Overreaction to Eli Manning's Benching is Bananas
Column: Eli Manning showed up for work season after season, week after week, game after game until. Then bosses who aren’t a fraction as accomplished took the ball away from him. https://t.co/jker7e8ay6
— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) November 29, 2017
“That’s not going to stand in this town because these guys have watched Eli Manning. They’ve watched him long before they ever heard your name. And they’ll remember his long after they forgot yours.” LISTEN: Francesa shreds McAdoo over Manning benching. https://t.co/lO8v2fFKWq — WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) November 29, 2017
Once a Giant, always a Giant, but the way the Giants treated Eli Manning today is resonating deeply with players from SB 42 and 46 who won with Eli. Will the relationship between team and these players ever be the same? These guys love Eli.
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) November 29, 2017
Talked to one of Eli Manning’s former NFL coaches today. He told me the starting streak means the world to Manning, and that he feels answering the bell every week is the ultimate accomplishment in the NFL. — Don Banks (@DonBanks) November 29, 2017
What would @kurt13warner do if the HOF QB were in Eli Manning’s shoes? pic.twitter.com/E4qidoGaUF
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) November 29, 2017
Tom Coughlin on @1010XL asked about Eli Manning: “Surprised is not the word. My sentiments are totally with Eli Manning. … He’s a class act, a two-time Super Bowl champ, one of the finest, most humble men in that locker room. … I was very upset about when I heard that.” — Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 28, 2017
I am very emotional about this Eli SHIT.. The guy who gave you EVERYTHING for better or worse NEVER missing a game and THIS how it ends?? Not #10! He deserves better, He gave is all when BETTER wasn’t there for him.. and this is how it ends?? I hurt for him
— Carl Banks (@CarlBanksGIII) November 28, 2017
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I have a very serious question to ask: Is this real life?
I get that a quarterback who’s been starting in a major market for 13 years getting benched is news. Sort of. I can understand there being some emotional attachment there. But as much as I think I grasp that, nothing prepared me for this Bizarro Universe where everyone is acting like the Giants just nailed Eli Manning to a cross and cast lots for his garments at his feet.
That’s actually not a great analogy because at least Jesus was legitimately the savior GOAT. Eli Manning wasn’t great. In fact he wasn’t even very good. Truth be told, he wasn’t even average. He’s a guy who put together two great months in a span of NINE years. And yes, those two months happened to win the Giants Super Bowls. That’s legit. Those happened. They are a part of his permanent record. But let’s stop blowing sunshine up his ass that he was anything more than that.
Now at this point you’re probably saying “Fuck you, Old Balls. You’re just bitter because he beat the Patriots twice.” And if you’re not saying that, you should be. Because I am. Those two Super Bowls That Shall Not Be Named haunt my every waking moment. I’ve been clear about that. Just as I’ve been clear about saying that the Giants won both those games for one reason and one reason only: They were the better team. That’s how you decide who’s better, but who wins. That’s what’s meant by winner-take-all.
But none of that means this guy has been a quality NFL quarterback. Jim Plunkett won two rings as well. And I doubt Mike Francessa was going into hysterics when the Raiders decided he was done at the age of 39. But let’s put everyone’s emotions aside for a second and just look at facts:
–Manning’s career Won-Lost is 110-100.
–Since Super Bowl That Shall Not Be Named II, he’s taken the Giants to one playoff game. And lost 38-13.
–In those six years, his W-L is 41-50 and his passer rating is 85.7. For comparison, Jacoby Brissett’s is 86.0.
–In those six years, he leads all QBs with 93 interceptions. For comparison, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have 77. Between them.
–Eli has led the NFL in a category three times in his career. All were interceptions, with 20, 25 and 27.
–That last total came in his incredible 2013 season when he managed just 18 TDs and 27 INTs with a rating of 69.4, (which was 35th worst in a 32-team league and put him behind Brandon Weeden). Those are 1940s numbers. And yet somehow the Giants struggled to 7-9 in spite of him.
–Those two Super Bowl seasons were the only postseason runs he ever had. The other four times he led the Giants to the playoffs, they were one and done.
–The good news is that four one and dones is less than half of his brother’s NFL record NINE.
I have no doubt the Manning Apology Machine will go into full production and work three shifts now. We’re going to hear all about how he lost his receivers and his offensive line was garbage. But a truly great quarterback overcomes that. We’ve seen Brady just miss going to a Super Bowl with Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney in 2006. And miss another by a missed extra point while getting hit more than any quarterback since the early ’70s in Denver, 2015. And you cannot tell me that if Brady – or Rodgers or Drew Brees or Russell Wilson – were behind center for that Giants team they’d be anywhere close to 2-9.
So tell me your sad because you appreciate Eli winning you two championships. Fine. But don’t for one hot second tell me it’s because he’s actually good.
P.S. I’m sure a lot of guys who are shedding real tears over Eli’s benching were screaming that the Patriots should start looking toward Jimmy Garoppolo after that Week 4 Kansas City game in 2014. In fact, I guarantee it.