Tag: Eli Manning

Did Giants ownership force an Eli Manning farewell tour on Pat Shurmur?

Conspiracy theorists are out in force suggesting Eli Manning is back under center because New York Giants ownership wanted him to be, but…

Entering the 2019 regular season, a popular but unsubstantiated conspiracy theory was that Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch forced veteran quarterback Eli Manning on both general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur.

If that were true, Shurmur was quick to pull the plug — much faster than the owners would have liked had they mandated Manning starting — and went to rookie Daniel Jones in Week 3.

Now entering the final stretch of the season and a Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, people are once again donning their tinfoil hats and suggesting ownership is again cramming Manning down the throat of Gettleman and Shurmur.

The injury Odell Beckham Jr. suffered late last season was initially called a quad injury, later a hematoma and then a hamstring issue. There’s never been any actual clarity on what injury OBJ actually suffered through, and the player and team could not agree on the severity of it.

Ultimately, Beckham was unable to play through whatever the injury was and missed the final stretch of the season.

Earlier this year, running back Saquon Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain and missed several games, returning well ahead of schedule and taking quite some time before he even looked remotely close to the same player.

Meanwhile, the ankle sprain Jones suffered at Duke in 2018 came during the Independence Bowl, and just as he did a week ago against the Green Bay Packers, he played through it. He didn’t have to test it the following week, so there’s no certainty he could have or would have played.

Jones also missed several weeks due to a broken clavicle, so the notion that he “played through it” is an argument that is just hemorrhaging water. And his broken wrist? Yeah, Jones played through a summer basketball camp with it before even realizing it was broken, so it’s not like he was taking shots from 300-pound defensive linemen or anything. Or, you know, trying to throw a football with it.

There’s also the other elephant in the room… Forget the obvious nature of the injury and all the limping (and struggling) Jones did after suffering the ankle sprain in Week 13, he’s currently refined to a walking boot after testing revealed an injury that almost consistently keeps players out for 3-to-6 weeks if not longer.

Not to mention, if Shurmur is coaching for his job and hitched his wagon to Daniel Jones, why would he even humor ownership and put Manning back in at this point? Unless he got a guarantee that doing so would save his job, it would make absolutely no sense whatsoever for Shurmur to flip flop with only a month of a lost season remaining.

Allow me to throw out my own conspiracy theory: Daniel Jones has a high ankle sprain, can’t play and as his backup, Eli Manning, will now step in and start just as QB2 is designed to do for all 32 NFL teams.

I know, I know… It sounds crazy, but maybe — just maybe — that’s all this is.

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Eli Manning returns as Giants’ starter: The good and the bad

A look at the good and the bad that could come for Eli Manning in his return as the New York Giants’ starting QB.

Eli Manning’s return as the starting quarterback of the New York Giants means several things for him, the team and the fans.

First off, it answers the question if he’s going to get to take any snaps under center the remainder of the season or if he is going to just go away quietly. He’s going to get a chance to show the world what — if anything — he has left. At least for one game.

There are a few milestones — both good and bad — that Manning was on the cusp of eclipsing when he was benched in Week 3 in favor of rookie Daniel Jones.

The good…

Manning is one of eight quarterbacks in the history of the NFL to throw for over 55,000 yards (56,537). With eight passing yards on Monday night in Philadelphia, Eli will surpass Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (56,545) for seventh place on the all-time list.

With two touchdown passes, Eli will pass Roethlisberger for seventh on the all-time with 364 and fourth among active passers behind Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers.

The bad…

With a loss, Manning’s career record as a starter drops below the .500 mark (116-117), which could impact his Hall of Fame chances on getting in on the first or second ballot.

Manning has thrown 241 interceptions in his career, which is 14th All-time in NFL History. If he throws one more INT, he will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Fouts for 13th place. If Eli tosses two, he will pass Fouts and tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Layne for 12th place on that infamous list.

A loss would also bring Manning’s record on Monday night to 11-11 for his career.

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Giants’ Pat Shurmur knows he’s coaching for his job

New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur is well aware that he’s coaching for his job, just as he has been since Day 1.

New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur is firmly on the hot seat with a record of 2-10, having also failed to win any games in the months of October and November for the first time in franchise history.

Shurmur’s status with the team was further called into question when Giants co-owner Steve Tisch said he and team CEO, John Mara, will have a heart-to-heart talk after the season as it pertains to both Shurmur’s job and the job of general manager Dave Gettleman.

That was no skin of Shurmur’s back, however.

While meeting with reporters on Wednesday, Shurmur acknowledged that he’s enlightened to the fact that he’s coaching for his job, just as he has been since the day he was hired.

“I really have no reaction to that. I was made aware that he spoke [Monday]. I’m sure he’s disappointed with the results this season, just like I am and we are. I’m trying to get this team ready to play and win a game against Philly,” Shurmur said of Tisch’s comments.

“I feel like I’m coaching for my job every day. That’s the way we function. As players, you’re playing for your job, and you’re coaching for your job every day. We understand this is a results business, and the ultimate result is winning games. Along the way, doing the things necessary to win a game and then consistently win. That’s just the reality of it.”

Shurmur has never once shied away from the team’s failures or made excuses for the lack of wins, so whether you are a fan of his or not, there’s something to respect about that.

Ironically, Shurmur’s fate may now be tied directly to quarterback Eli Manning, whom he gave up on after just two weeks of the season.

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WATCH: Eli Manning likely to start Sunday vs. Eagles

The Giants are likely to start Eli Manning against the Philadelphia Eagles.

It’s time for Eli Manning to shake off that rust.

New York Giants coach Pat Shurmur said Wednesday that starting quarterback Daniel Jones did not participate in Wednesday’s practice and is wearing a protective walking boot as he recovers from a “moderate” right ankle sprain suffered Sunday against the Packers.

Shurmur told reporters that the injury is not as severe as what Saquon Barkley dealt with earlier in the season, sidelining the running back for three games, but Jones’ recovery is expected to take weeks, not days.

That means we can expect to see Eli Manning back in the saddle on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran quarterback hasn’t seen a snap since his Week 2 loss to the Bills.

How Eli Manning starting at QB for the Giants impacts the Eagles

Eli Manning to start at QB vs. Eagles in place of Daniel Jones

The Philadelphia Eagles start a four-game stretch of consecutive NFC East games that will determine their postseason fate. For the Birds it’s simple, win four in a row, and you’re in.

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The Eagles received some good news on Monday when Giants head coach Pat Shurmur revealed that Eli Manning will start at quarterback for an injured Daniel Jones.

Manning was his usual low-key self when discussing the promotion.

“Obviously we’ll see what happens Monday,” Manning said via ESPN.com, after taking the first-team snaps at practice. “But business as usual in a sense get the game plan, start prepping for Philly. Going against a good defense, but also a defense we faced a number of years. Know ’em well. Just get back into the mix with the offensive line and receivers. Make sure the timing is where it needs to be.”

Jones 18 touchdown passes with 11 interceptions and would have faced an embattled secondary with all his weapons available. Jones’s mobility would have likely presented an interesting scenario, as his ability to get outside the pocket could have proven valuable with skill players such as tight end Evan Engram, Golden Tate, and Sterling Shephard all available to play.

With Jones now likely to miss the huge matchup, here are 3 takeaways and observations on how Manning’s return will impact the Eagles on Monday night.

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1. Eagles constant success vs. Eli

For all of his obvious career accolades, Philadelphia has owned Eli Manning and the Giants. Manning is 10-20 all-time against the Eagles in the regular season and has lost five-straight in the matchup. Manning, 38, hasn’t played in 12 weeks and his lack of athleticism should play into the Eagles hands.

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Giants’ Sterling Shepard never thought he’d catch another Eli Manning pass

New York Giants WR Sterling Shepard admits he thought he’d never catch another pass from QB Eli Manning.

Like most of the football world, New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard was stunned when learning that Eli Manning, not Daniel Jones, would start on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jones, of course, is sidelined due to a high ankle sprain he suffered in a Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, ushering in a potential farewell tour for Manning.

Ironically, Manning will likely have his full compliment of playmakers against Philly, as Shepard previously returned from a concussion, while wide receiver Golden Tate (concussion) and tight end Evan Engram (foot) are each expected back on the field this week as well.

And what did they see from Manning in his first practice as QB1 since September? The same old Eli.

Despite reports that Manning’s 2019 resulted in a “demoralized” locker room, his teammates were nothing but complimentary on Wednesday.

“It’ll be pretty cool to play with Eli again,” Shepard added. “Eli is the ultimate pro. It’s ‘next man up’ mentality.”

It would be fitting for Manning and Shepard to connect for a few big plays on Monday night, potentially earning Eli his first win a year to the day of his last victory.

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Giants’ Daniel Jones disappointed in injury, ready to learn from Eli Manning

New York Giants QB Daniel Jones expressed disappointment in his injury, but vows to watch and learn from Eli Manning.

New York Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones will do one thing Eli Manning has never done in his entire career this Monday against the Philadelphia Eagles — he will miss a game due to injury.

Jones suffered a “moderate” high ankle sprain in a Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and despite playing through the injury that afternoon, the rookie was confined to a walking boot on Wednesday and has returned to QB2.

After yielding way back to Manning, Jones expressed a disappointment in his injury, but vowed to learn as much as he could from the two-time Super Bowl MVP for however long he remains out.

“I knew something was wrong with my ankle but didn’t know how bad. It’s disappointing. I’m going to take it day by day to heal as quick as I can,” Jones told reporters. “There is an opportunity to learn and watch and I’ll try to do the best I can to do that.”

Jones revealed that he previously played through an ankle sprain during his time at Duke, but acknowledged he’s unlikely to be able to do it this time around, but wouldn’t rule himself out for the season.

“A real good chance,” Jones said when asked if he’d play again this season.

In the mean time, Jones is back in the pupil role and has no intentions on making a stink or trying to force his way back under center.

“I have a ton of respect for Eli Manning,” Jones said.

Head coach Pat Shurmur said the team has absolutely no intention on shutting Jones down for the season and said that when healthy, he will once again replace Manning.

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