On second thought, Giants go back to Eli
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 yesterday.
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 told the former defensive coordinator that 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. So that’s what I will work on.”
Chiefs penalize Peters
Marcus Peters chucked an official’s flag into the stands, stalked off the field wearing a smile, then ran back onto it without wearing socks when he realized he hadn’t been ejected.
Well, he won’t have to worry about socks on Sunday.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid suspended the volatile young cornerback for their game against Oakland after a series of antics that have humiliated not only Peters but the entire organization.
The latest came in last week’s loss to the Jets, when a late penalty was called and Peters picked up the flag and flung it into the stands. Peters proceeded to leave the field, assuming that he’d been kicked out of the game, and was evidently undressing when he realized his mistake.
So Peters ran back onto the sideline without wearing socks, only to watch the Chiefs’ last-ditch drive fall short in a 38-31 loss, their sixth in the last seven games.
Shazier leaves Cincy
Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier has been transferred from a Cincinnati hospital to Pittsburgh to continue treatment for a spinal injury suffered during Monday night’s game against the Bengals . . . .
Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing says his 10-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performanceenhancing drugs stemmed from the use of an unapproved prescription to treat a mental issue.
Stafford still iffy
Matthew Stafford covered his banged-up right hand in a huge, white towel while reporters had access to the Detroit Lions’ locker room yesterday.
“I love that I have to do this for you guys,” the quarterback said with a sigh.
At Stafford’s weekly news conference earlier in the day, he was asked to show his injured hand.
“I’d rather not if that’s OK,” he said.
Stafford did not throw passes when the media was able to watch practice and the Lions say he was limited, a step above not practicing at all.
His right hand was stepped on in Sunday’s loss at Baltimore, knocking him out of the game. While Stafford and the Lions were relieved X-rays were negative, no one is declaring him good to go.
Targeting targeted
The NFL will look into adding targeting as a specific category for video review.
Troy Vincent, the league’s football operations chief, says it is on the agenda to discuss with the competition committee and the players’ union after the season.
In responding to questions about helmet-tohelmet hits and players launching to make tackles, Vincent said the NFL has seen targeting reviews “work to a degree” in the college game . . . .
The Los Angeles Rams decided not to practice outdoors due to poor air quality around their training complex in Ventura County, where a wildfire has burned more than 100 square miles.