The second-longest start streak in quarterback history will come to an end after the Giants decided to bench Eli Manning in favor of Geno Smith. This naturally leads to speculation that the 36-year-old quarterback has played his final down with the team. In his Tuesday press conference, Ben McAdoo did not specify the role Jerry Reese and John Mara played in making the move to bench Manning, via Ed Werder (on Twitter). McAdoo merely said all parties were in agreement. The second-year Giants coach also said the team is not considering waiving Manning, who has two years and more than $40MM remaining on his contract. Smith is not under contract beyond 2017.
Here’s more from the Giants cutting the cord on Manning after 210 starts.
- Tom Coughlin came out in support of his former quarterback and said he was “very upset” to hear the news Manning had been benched. “My sentiments are totally with Eli Manning,” the Jaguars‘ executive VP said (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, on Twitter). “I love the kid. He is a class act. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He is the finest, most humblest young man in that locker room. I haven’t followed the Giants. I know it’s a disappointing year by my thoughts are strictly with Eli. I’m very upset about when I heard that.” This stands to naturally fuel buzz about Manning being a 2018 Jaguars target. Coughlin running the Jags, who can cut bait on Blake Bortles‘ non-guaranteed 2018 option before free agency, and their rebuilt defense thriving makes north Florida a logical fit.
- Manning has a no-trade clause in his contract, but after Tuesday’s events, the two-time Super Bowl MVP may be more inclined to waive it for a chance at another starting job. Conor Orr of SI.com lists the Jaguars as a fit, while placing the Broncos and Cardinals as the other top two destinations. The Broncos are in a similar place to the Jags, only with their quarterback woes having removed them from a Super Bowl perch, and the Cardinals will likely again be waiting on a Carson Palmer retirement decision. The Palmer-to-Manning switch would be interesting given that Palmer is only a month older than Manning.
- As for a Manning/Coughlin reunion, Joel Corry of CBS Sports tweets the Jags could create $19MM in cap space by cutting Bortles after this season. That option doesn’t become fully guaranteed until Day 5 of the 2018 league year (March 14). Prior to a Bortles cut, the Jags have just more than $30MM in projected 2018 cap space. The Broncos have $32MM-plus, and the Cardinals — with Palmer’s 2018 salary on their books as of now — stand to hold more than $35MM.
- This decision was certainly brought down from higher than McAdoo, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes, and the current HC feels like the next scapegoat for the Giants’ woeful season. Reese should be on the chopping block as well, Graziano writes, noting that were that to happen, there would be front office and scouting department turnover as well as a likely McAdoo ouster.
- Manning will be due a $5MM roster bonus on March 14 if he’s still on the Giants, per Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Yates adds the Giants can save $9.8MM if Manning is cut or traded, but they’ll be taking on $12.4MM in that scenario. Manning has a $22.2MM cap figure in 2018 and a $23.2MM number in ’19. Manning’s $10.5MM base salary next season is non-guaranteed.
Eli goes to Denver or Eli to JAX and Bortles to DEM
I heard that Eli was benched and cried about it, but I assumed he was benched for the rookie.
GENO SMITH?
LOL, no wonder he was crying. WTF.
Also agreed. No clue why they’re interested in what Geno can do unless they felt he was a poor fit for the Jets system, which seems like a real stretch.
Also seems strange they’d take the rookie and not let him spend more time under a veteran (assuming Eli leaves which sounds likely) who was any good in the next year. Instead, he’ll be under Geno Smith. Or they sign one of the free agents mentioned below, or draft and baptism by fire.
Either way, a bit of a strange scenario and choice. I suppose change is change when you’re having a season like the Giants are.
Adam Schechter says this is year of quarterback. In draft you have Lamar Jackson, Josh Rosen, Mason Rudolph, Josh Allen, the Memphis and Oklahoma quarterbacks.
Free Agency you have Jimmy Garrapollo, Drew Brees,
Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewatter, Sam Bradford, and maybe A.J. McCarron.
In trades you have Eli Manning and Alex Smith (and maybe Andrew Luck). He says this is good year if you are looking for a quarterback.
Don’t forget Sam Darnold too!
Sam Darnold is returning to USC!
Put a fork down n Eli. He’s done
Everybody says Jaguars want him because of Tom Caughlin.
It would be way cool to see another Manning win a Super Bowl in Denver
It would be WAY more cool to see Eli win another Super Bowl and the Jaguars win their first!