Tag: Eli Manning

Giants’ Eli Manning feels fresh, focused ahead of Week 14 start

New York Giants QB Eli Manning says he feels fresh and focused ahead of his first start in nearly three months.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning fell out of the public eye after being benched in favor of rookie Daniel Jones in September, and by all accounts, that was one of the few things he enjoyed about being replaced.

But on Wednesday, news dropped that Manning would “very likely” be back under center in Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles, replacing Jones, who suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Accordingly, Manning reemerged and stepped up to the plate with the same grace and humor we’ve become accustomed to over the past 16 seasons.

“I missed you guys,” Manning told reporters with a sarcastic smile.

“It’s just business as usual in the sense of get the game plan and start prepping for Philly. We’re going against a good defense, but also a defense we’ve faced [a lot] over the years and know well. Just got to get back into the mix with the offensive line and receivers, and make sure timing is where it needs to be.”

Manning admits he’s not thinking ahead and hasn’t considered that he might be saying goodbye to Giants fans, instead focusing on each practice and whatever he can do to help the team win.

“Try to take it one game at a time and not make decisions about the future while you’re still living in the present and don’t know the circumstance of what could happen,” Manning said. “Just gotta go out there and try to get a win for the Giants.”

There was speculation that Manning would have been dealt at the trade deadline, but those rumors essentially fell flat. Asked about that situation, Eli jokingly said he couldn’t recall what happened all the way back then.

As things sit however, Manning feels completely fresh and focused.

“It is difficult, especially when you’ve been the starter for so long,” Manning said of not playing for months. “I’ve missed being part of the action. It felt good to be out there today (at practice).”

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The Eli Manning farewell tour is the perfect way to end this Giants season

Eli’s back!

Of course Eli Manning is back.

That’s the kind of season it’s been for the New York Giants. And now, with rookie QB Daniel Jones suffering what head coach Pat Shurmur deemed a “moderate high ankle sprain,” Manning — who was rightfully benched after too much checking down and some questionable arm strength, along with the fact that the Giants had spent a 2019 first-round pick on his replacement — will likely start, perhaps for the rest of the year.

It’s the footnote on a disaster of a year for Big Blue. After some magic from Jones in his first couple of starts (and Manning was all class throughout), there was Saquon Barkley returning from an ankle injury and not looking the same. There was the Jets fleecing the Giants with the Leonard Williams trade. The black cat invasion that made for a good punchline. And we haven’t even mentioned a defense that gives up big play after big play with a struggling secondary. There are calls for Pat Shurmur to be fired (and speculation about whether Dave Gettelman will hire his old Panthers pal Ron Rivera).

I figured Manning would play a series or two against the Eagles in the fourth quarter of their Week 17 matchup at MetLife Stadium, and that would be his presumed farewell that would end with the standing ovation he absolutely deserves. The storybook ending for a storied career, even if it didn’t land him in Canton.

But now — presuming the Giants do the smart thing and shut Jones down for the season — there will be Eli Face memes and jokes and “OMG did you see that dying duck throw that he tossed for an interception” tweets. It’s not the best way for Manning to finish his Giants career, but that’s likely what will happen in his quest to finish his career over .500:

There is a what if, one that would have the NFL world going nuts if he exploded in what could be his final games in the only uniform he’s worn in the league. What if he torches the very suspect Eagles secondary twice, takes it to the Redskins and throws for 350 yards against the Dolphins, who have a bottom-10 passing defense?

Would Tom Coughlin figure out a way to get rid of Nick Foles’ gargantuan contract to hand the backup QB keys to Manning? Would another team looking for a stopgap quarterback sign him in the hopes he could make some starts while a rookie waits in the wings?

Doubtful. Given the way things were going for the franchise and for Manning, it doesn’t seem likely he’ll find his inner 2012 Eli and flourish.

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Daniel Jones’ injury puts Eli Manning’s consistency in context

Daniel Jones suffering a serious injury puts into context the amazing career Eli Manning has had with the New York Giants.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has played in 234 games over his 16-year NFL career, never once missing a game due to injury. In fact, the only games he’s ever missed were the decisions of Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur.

On Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, Manning will once again find himself under center and hopes to bail the struggling Giants out.

Manning could theoretically push his career record (116-116) over .500, end the Eagles’ playoff hopes and potentially even save jobs if he goes out and lights things up over the final month of the season.

It would be such an Eli thing.

But that conversation should be held for another day. Rather, what everyone should currently be focusing on is the most overlooked and underappreciated aspect of Manning’s game — his remarkable consistency and toughness.

Whereas Manning has never missed a game due to injury despite suffering some serious ones, Jones lasted just 11 career games before being unable to play due to injury.

That’s not a knock on Jones — quarterbacks get hurt in the NFL every single day and no one bats an eye. It’s a hazard of the job. It also makes what Manning has been able to do throughout his career that much more remarkable.

If Manning is forced to play in each of the team’s final four games and doesn’t suffer an injury, he will have bookended his Giants career with a level of consistency rarely seen at the professional level.

Love or hate Eli (and how in the world can you hate Eli?), there’s something to be said about his unparalleled toughness. We may never see it again.

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PFF: Giants’ Daniel Jones among NFL’s worst quarterbacks

Pro Football Focus has New York Giants rookie Daniel Jones graded out among the very worst quarterbacks in the NFL.

As many things change, so many stay the same for the New York Giants.

Big Blue ushered in a new era in 2019, sending veteran quarterback and two-time Super Bowl MVP, Eli Manning, to the bench in favor of rookie quarterback Daniel Jones.

12 weeks into Jones’ NFL career and he’s setting records left and right, and has established himself as a bright star that is ascending. However, in the eyes of those who grade the game, Jones is literally no better than Manning.

Pro Football Focus recently released their quarterback rankings entering Week 14 and lo and behold, Jones is right there near the bottom.

27. DANIEL JONES, NEW YORK GIANTS

After an encouraging start to his career, Jones has settled in as one of the most volatile quarterbacks in the league. He ranks 19th in big-time throw percentage at 3.6%, and he’s had a number of beauties, but his No. 3 ranking in turnover-worthy play percentage (5.5%) looms large. He’s made ill-advised decisions, but it’s his pocket presence and subsequent fumbles that have been the biggest issue. Overall, there is some optimism that he can move the chains and cut down on the turnovers with a better group of playmakers, but like Winston, it’s an important part of his development if he’s going to be the future in New York.

The only quarterbacks graded lower than Jones were Mitchell Trubisky, Jacoby Brissett and Kyle Allen (yes, PFF only listed 30).

Unfortunately for Jones, he may not have an opportunity to beef up his grade as he’s currently in a walking boot and unlikely to play in Week 14 or, quite possibly, for the remainder of the season.

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Giants’ Daniel Jones has high ankle sprain, Eli Manning likely to start vs. Eagles

New York Giants QB Eli Manning will likely start on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles as Daniel Jones deals with an ankle sprain.

The New York Giants are likely to have a new — or old? — quarterback under center on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Head coach Pat Shurmur revealed on Wednesday that rookie Daniel Jones is dealing with a “moderate” high ankle sprain and is currently in a walking boot. He is unlikely to play in Week 14, essentially ushering in the return of Eli Manning.

Shurmur says that Jones will not need surgery to repair his injured ankle, but it’s possible the sprain will shut him down for the season, meaning a four-game farewell tour for Manning, whose contract expires at season’s end.

Jones’ injury is said to be “similar to,” but “not as severe” as the high ankle sprain that caused running back Saquon Barkley to miss three games erarlier this season.

Ironically, news of Manning’s return comes two years to the day that Ben McAdoo benched him in favor of Geno Smith, ending Manning’s league-leading iron man streak, much to the dismay of fans and team owners alike.

In another twist of fate, wide receiver Golden Tate (concussion) and tight end Evan Engram (foot) are expected to return this week, giving the Giants their full compliment of offensive talent for the first time this season.

Manning has never missed a game due to injury in his entire 16-year career.

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Giants’ Pat Shurmur: Eli Manning ready if needed vs. Eagles

New York Giants rookie QB Daniel Jones (ankle) is expected to play vs. the Philadelphia Eagles, but Eli Manning is “ready” if called upon.

New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said during his Monday conference call with reporters that Eli Manning “is ready” if rookie quarterback Daniel Jones’ ankle keeps him out of next Monday night’s game in Philadelphia against the Eagles.

Jones was hobbled in the second half of Sunday’s 31-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers but stayed in the game and toughed it out.

“Not really,” Jones said after the game when asked if his ankle held him back late in the game. “Yeah, I hurt it on that fourth down play right there. It’s sore, but that’s part of playing the game. I’ll be fine.”

The Giants have an extra day of practice this week and Shurmur anticipates Jones participating in each.

Shurmur also said that he was “hopeful” that tight end Evan Engram (foot) can return next week versus the Eagles. Engram sprained the foot in the Giants’ Week 9 loss to the Cowboys and has not played since.

The coach was asked if he had spoken to cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who was critical of defensive coordinator James Bettcher after the game on Sunday. He said he had not as Jenkins was attending to an ill family member on Monday.

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2019 will be end of an era for Giants

At the conclusion of 2019, the New York Giants will officially put to rest an era that brought two Super Bowl titles to East Rutherford.

The New York Giants entered the 2019 season with just two players remaining from their last Super Bowl championship in 2012: quarterback Eli Manning and long snapper Zak DeOsssie.

Manning, in the final year of his contract, has already been replaced by rookie Daniel Jones and is not expected to re-sign with the club.

From the New York Post:

DeOssie and Eli Manning are the only remaining players from Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI. Manning, benched before Week 3 this season, is not under contract in 2020 and will not be back with the Giants. An era will officially be over once Manning and DeOssie are no longer remnants from the last glory the franchise has experienced.

DeOssie’s career on defense never gained any traction but he lasted year after year as a reliable snapper, often among the league leaders in making tackles on the punt coverage team…but his consistency has wavered. Last week, a snap hit the ground in Chicago, affecting the kick as Aldrick Rosas missed a 42-yard field goal attempt.

DeOssie has been dealing with knee and wrist injuries and is headed for injured reserve, which will end his season and most likely his Giants’ career.

The 35-year-old DeOssie was a fourth-round selection out of Brown in 2007 and become a key contributor for the Giants on special teams. He was playing this season on a one-year deal close to the veteran minimum.

During his Giants’ career, DeOssie was named to two Pro Bowls and has served as a captain on special teams for the Giants the past several seasons.

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What we learned from Giants’ 19-14 loss to Bears

The New York Giants lost to the Chicago Bears, 19-14, in Week 12 and here’s some of what we learned from that loss.

The New York Giants went on the road to face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, and what transpired was a disaster. The defense largely did its job, save for Corey Ballentine, but the offense couldn’t put enough points on the board, in part due to two missed field goals by Aldrick Rosas.

That said, here is what we learned from the Giants’ loss to the Bears in Week 12.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Aldrick Rosas is a mess

Rosas ranks 32nd among 38 active field goal kickers in percentage made at 67%. He missed two field goals against the Bears. Had he made those, the Giants would have won. One miss was due to a poor snap, but he’s now missed either a field goal or a PAT in the last five games straight.

Not only that, but Rosas had a kickoff go out of bounds and had some words with Pat Shurmur on the sideline. An All-Pro kicker one year ago, Rosas’ decline is surprising and frustrating. He’s in his third year in the league, all with the Giants, and this is by far his worst season yet.

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Giants Twitter uses humor, sarcasm to mask increasing misery

New York Giants Twitter masked its rage with snark and sarcasm following Big Blue’s latest loss to the Chicago Bears.

The New York Giants are now 2-9 on the season, have lost seven consecutive games and failed to pick up a single win in either October or November for the first time in their history following a 19-14 Week 12 loss to the Chicago Bears.

The reality of the situation seems to have dawned on Big Blue Nation, who now recognize just how pathetic this team is and how remarkably far away from competing they actually are.

As a result, Giants Twitter is a nice mix between debilitating depression, blinding rage and mind-saving sarcasm.

Let’s take a look:

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Is Eli Manning’s absence hurting Saquon Barkley?

Is the absence of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning actually hurting running back Saquon Barkley?

For years, the narrative has been that Eli Manning was dragging down his New York Giants teammates and not the other way around. However, in the aftermath of Manning’s benching, it’s been quickly established that was not the case at all.

Out in Cleveland, Odell Beckham Jr. is having his worst season to date, which is a common theme for wide receivers who went from Manning to another quarterback. But that’s hardly where these revelations begin or end.

The Giants offense has seen a sharp decline since Daniel Jones took over under center, and in no way is that a knock on a rookie so much as stating the reality of the situation. Perhaps more specifically, we’ve seen Saquon Barkley’s production go into a nosedive.

Yes, part of that has to do with Barkley sustaining a high ankle sprain earlier in the season. Another part of that has been the horrendous run blocking up front, while the suspect play calling and poor use of the running back’s talents also factor in.

But you know what else factors in? No Eli Manning.

Manning took relentless heat for his willingness to check down in recent years, but that worked to Barkley’s benefit in 2018 and over the first two games this season. With Jones now under center, there’s been a sharp shift for the Giants offensively as the rookie is more prone to look down the field, essentially eliminating Barkley from the passing game.

“It’s safe to say Daniel’s got his eyes downfield a little bit more,” head coach Pat Shurmur said, via the New York Post. “That maybe has something to do with it.”

With Jones looking down field much more, Barkley has just 46 targets on the season and 13 of those came when Manning was still starting quarterback. That’s a drastic decrease from the 121 targets he had a season ago.

“Where do you win in that situation?” Barkley said. “When Eli was our quarterback and I was getting the ball too much, everyone would say, ‘He throws check-downs too much.’ So now that we’re not throwing check-downs, ‘Oh he’s looking down the field too much?’ Me personally, I don’t ever want to get in his way. Daniel Jones is a great player and a great quarterback and going to be an even player as time goes on. He’s going to be one of the best in the league, I believe. That’s gonna come to him.

“Check-downs are always a safety-valve for a quarterback, but be you. In college we used to say they dig the deep ball. Be you, go out there and play your game. I’m going to be there if you need me to be there.”

Barkley may be modest, but there’s no denying he’s the Giants’ best offensive player and after being taken second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, should be getting many more opportunities than he is, injury be damned. If the team isn’t going to shut him down, they need to use him — and what better way to use him than out of the backfield matched up against much slower linebackers?

Daniel Jones plays a different style of football than Eli Manning, but that shouldn’t result in Barkley becoming an afterthought. It’s on both Shurmur and Jones to devise a way to get the most talented player on the field the ball more. Period.

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