TIME TO BENCH ELI?
After he passes Peyton for consecutive starts, it’ll be time for Giants to see what they have in Davis Webb
ELI Manning is a Giant For Life no matter what. But that doesn’t mean he has to be the quarterback for the rest of this dreary season. Although Manning is just part of the problem as this once highly anticipated Giants season has deteriorated into wondering whether they will ever win a game, he’s not necessarily part of the solution, either.
I think the Giants owe it to him to let him start the next five games, which would allow him to pass big brother Peyton into second place behind Brett Favre with 209 consecutive starts, and then sit him down to find out about rookie Davis Webb. Favre is out of reach with a record 297 consecutive starts by a quarterback, so that is not an issue.
Unless the Giants somehow win their next five games to force their way back into playoff contention — that is just not happening — it really doesn’t help the franchise long-term for Manning to keep taking all the snaps in what could be a 3-13 or 4-12 season. Why? They need to get Webb on the field for significant reps to find out if he’s the longterm guy or this really should be a Suck For Sam season. Then Manning can have his job back next year.
This is the first time since Manning threw four interceptions against the Vikings, with three returned for touchdowns, on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2007 at Giants Stadium, that a case can be made for him to take a seat. Of course, 10 years ago, he went on to win his first Super Bowl a little over two months following the Minnesota meltdown.
Manning is 36 and looks as if he’s playing like he is much older.
“Two years ago, I said this guy might be done and then they gave him a new contract,” one source said earlier this season. “He is old. He’s been old for the last three or four years. His play has been very spotty. I thought he hit the wall two years ago.”
The Giants’ unexpected freefall has put them in prime position to get a top-five draft pick. Along with the Browns and 49ers, the two worst teams in the league last year and the two worst teams this year, the Giants are keeping some bad company as the remaining winless teams.
This is going to be a strong quarterback draft, despite the uneven performances of USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Wyoming’s Josh Allen. Suck for Sam was originally the rallying cry for the Jets, who will now loan it to the Giants. By the way, anybody who says they had the Jets having more wins after five weeks than the Giants and Cowboys combined is either a genius or lying.
Anyway, the last time the Giants picked in the top five, they drafted Philip Rivers at No. 4 in 2004 and in a prearranged deal sent him to the Chargers for Manning. Being in position to draft a potential franchise quarterback comes around only once every 15 years for the teams that know what they are doing, so the Giants are going to have to think very hard about taking one next April.
Unless Webb gets a chance to play, how will the Giants know whether to draft Darnold or Rosen if they get the chance? The Giants had a first-round grade on Webb in this year’s draft and were happy he was there for them in the third round. Just as the Jets still need to find out about Christian Hackenberg at some point this season, the Giants bad season gives them an unexpected opportunity to find out if Webb is their long-term guy.
It serves no purpose for the Giants to immediately hand things over to Webb. It would signal they are giving up on the season, and with six home games remaining, they can’t do that to the season-ticket holders. Also, with Odell Beckham out for the season and Sterling Shepherd and Brandon Marshall out with ankle injuries and Dwayne Harris out for the year with a broken foot, the Giants are decimated at wide receiver. Roger Lewis takes over as the No. 1 wideout.
Webb would have no chance for success without the top three wideouts. In another five weeks, assuming good health for Shepherd and Marshall, the Giants would be in better position to make a judgment on Webb.
I’m not suggesting that Webb, even if he plays well, can show enough to take Manning’s job next year. But with the rare and unexpected position to draft a QB high in the first round of a strong QB draft, the Giants need to know if Webb is a keeper, which would allow them to fill their glaring needs. Even if John Mara and Steve Tisch dictate Manning keeps starting, then Webb should at least get enough of Manning’s playing time so the organization can make a determination on him.
There will come a time when the Giants ease Manning out for good. It is never pretty. It wasn’t with Phil Simms, Joe Montana, Brett Favre or Dan Marino and it may not be one day with Tom Brady, either. But with the offensive line getting him beat up and with Beckham out, it might add another year to his career to take a seat for the last stretch of the season.
Eli Manning has his place secured in Giants history. But even Eli doesn’t have a lifetime appointment.