Manning back in as Giants’ starter
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.— Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning is back as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback.
A week after being benched by former coach Ben McAdoo, Manning was put back into the starting lineup for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys by interim coach Steve Spagnuolo.
“My gut right now says Eli should be the starter,” Spagnuolo said in explaining the move after practice Wednesday.
The 36-year-old Manning was told of the decision on Tuesday. He had walked into Spagnuolo’s office on Monday after McAdoo was fired and said he wanted to start again.
“It’s important to play, that’s what I love to do,” Manning said after practice. “I love to play quarterback and I love to play quarterback for the New York Giants.”
Manning had started 210 consecutive games over the past13-plus seasons until being replaced by Geno Smith against Oakland last week. The streak was the second-longest in NFL history, only surpassed by Brett Favre (297).
The first hint of the change back to Manning came early in practice when he took the first snap with the offence.
Of course, some of the offensive linemen appeared to tease him as he entered the huddle.
“We reintroduced ourselves to him, especially me,” tackle Justin Pugh said.
The benching of Manning last week upset the quarterback and angered Giants fans. Combined with the team’s 2-10 record and other problems, it led co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch to fire McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese on Monday.
“I think you all know how I feel about Eli,” Spagnuolo said. “What happened, happened. In the long run, hopefully it’s a really good thing.”