Take a seat
Giants bench Eli Manning in favor of rookie QB Daniel Jones.
NEW YORK — And just like that, Eli Manning’s Giants have become Daniel Jones’ Giants.
The team announced Tuesday morning that the rookie quarterback will start in place of Manning Sunday in a Week 3 game against the Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla. It is a transition that seemed inevitable when they drafted Jones with the sixth overall pick in April, yet comes as a bit of a shock this early in the season.
But after two consecutive uninspiring losses, head coach Pat Shurmur said he made the decision in an effort to help the team win now.
“Ultimately, this is a move that I felt was best for this team at this time,” Shurmur said through the team’s website. “This move is more about Daniel moving forward than about Eli.”
Shurmur said Monday that he was considering a change at quarterback and did not commit to Manning as his Week 3 starter. By Tuesday morning he had made his decision.
“Eli and I spoke [Tuesday] morning,” Shurmur said. “I told him that we are making a change and going with Daniel as the starter. I also talked to Daniel. Eli was obviously disappointed, as you would expect, but he said he would be what he has always been, a good teammate, and continue to prepare to help this team win games. Daniel understands the challenge at hand, and he will be ready to play on Sunday.”
This will be only the second time since Manning first became the starting quarterback in 2004 that he will not start a regular-season game. He was benched for one game late in 2017 in favor of Geno Smith. That move ended a streak of 210 consecutive starts, created a public uproar, and led to the firing of head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese the day after the game. Manning was quickly reinstalled to start the final four games of that season, all 16 in 2018, and the first two this season.
This change likely will be more permanent. And, if Jones lives up to what the Giants believe he can be, it might save the jobs of the head coach and general manager rather than lead to their dismissal.
Jones, 22, looked more than competent in his extensive preseason action this summer. In four games, he completed 29 of 34 passes (85.3 percent) for 416 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a glittering 137.2 rating.
In three seasons at Duke, Jones started all 36 games in which he played. He completed 764 of 1,275 passes (60 percent) for 8,201 yards, 52 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He also had 406 rushing attempts for 1,323 yards (3.3-yard average.) and 17 touchdowns.
Manning won two Super Bowl MVPs for the Giants, but he also has guided a team that has won just eight of its past 34 games and has had just one winning record in its previous six full seasons. In his two games at quarterback this season, Manning completed 56 of 89 passes for 556 yards and threw two touchdowns and two interceptions for a passer rating of 78.7. The Giants have scored only four touchdowns, despite averaging 420.0 yards a game.
“I have said it since I got here, I am very fond of Eli,” Shurmur said. “His work ethic, his preparation, his football intelligence. All those attributes are as good as I have ever seen in a player. And Eli worked as hard as you could ask of anybody to get ready for this season.”
It’s unlikely that Manning will try to maneuver his way to another roster, despite a plethora of teams who could use an experienced quarterback at this juncture of the season.