NO MANN’S LAND
Shurmur floats the idea of switching from Eli to Jones
ELI IN LIMBO AS SHURMUR MULLS QB SWITCH
Pat Shurmur sounds like the sort of guy who leaves the door open at the house in the winter and then wonders why it got so darn chilly inside.
The day after the Giants found their usual place in the football world — 0-2 after two games — Shurmur said everything is on the table, as far as being open for discussion, heading into this week. That includes whether or not Eli Manning remains the starting quarter back or gets replaced by rookie Daniel Jones.
“I think we always do that,” Shurmur said Monday. “Obviously Eli’s been our starter to this point. I’m not ready to get into those conversations about any position.”
What he meant was, he is not ready to make those conversations public just yet. Those discussions will be held internally, though.
“We’re gonna talk about everything moving forward,” Shurmur said. “I think that’s fair at this point. We’re 0-2, there’s areas we got to get better, so we’re going to address all areas and try to find ways to put a winning performance on the field.”
Shu rm ur was asked point blank if Manning would be the starter in Tampa on Sunday.
“He’s been our starter to this point and I don’t want to talk about anything else moving forward at this point,” said Shurmur, who added a decision will be made by Wednesday’s practice.
This leaves the largest decision hovering over this franchise wide open for interpretation.
“I understand that,” Shurmur said. “I do.”
What this also accomplished is to setup Manning, the 38-year-old with a tenuous hold on his job, for one of the most uncomfortable media sessions he’s endured in his 16 seasons. Dealing with a slow start is familiar ground for Manning. Hearing that his head coach will not commit to him? That is new terrain for Manning.
“Oh well, I got to get ready to play a game,” said Manning, positioned in front of his locker, as usual, the day after a loss. “No t h - ing changes. Get ready for Tampa and f igure out a way to get a win.”
Manning said his most recent conversation with Shurmur was “just business as usual.” He is certainly sharp enough to realize now, as he did when the Giants made Jones the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft, when the change takes place it is the hottest of topics. Shurmur made it clear on draft day it was Manning’s job to play well, and win, to keep Jones off the field.
That has not happened in the first two games. The defensive deficiencies are far more glaring and appalling, but Manning’s offense, despite Saquon Barkley rushing for 120 and 107 yards, scored only 17 and 14 points in losses to the Cowboys and Bills.
And so, the specter of Manning out and Jones in has surfaced early.
“Hey, we’re 0-2 and you’re looking for answers,” Manning said. “I get it. When you draft a guy early and you’re not winning games these are going to come up. I just got to keep working and do whatever my job is.”
There are those in the organization beyond frustrated with being 0-2 once again and there will be discussion whether Jones actually might give the team a better chance to win. Any shift of this magnitude will include general manager Dave Gettleman, as well as ownership. Gettleman has said Shurmur gets the final say on changing quarterbacks.
Shurmur, asked if Jones is ready, said, “I think anybody we put in there we put in there with the idea they’re ready to go.”
No one on the roster should feel comfortable at 0-2, but Shurmur said this is not a ploy to keep everyone, including Manning, on high alert.
“Listen, I don’t want to be dishonest with anyone,” Shurmur said. “Like I said, we’re evaluating everything moving forward.”
He added Manning is “doing a good job. I think we need to do more, all of us, to win football games.”
Manning is completing 62.9 percent of his passes and has two touchdowns passes and two interceptions. The greatest issue is the lousy third-down conversion rate of 21.7 percent (2 of 23).
“Well, we’re 0-2, so there’s always room for improvement,” Manning said of his play.
Manning shut down a question anticipating a change at quarterback that started with “If the Giants …” with an interruption of “Let’s stay away from the ifs.”
Would he prefer to know, one way or the other, about his status this week?
“The mind set,’’ Manning said ,“is just to prepare and to work and to do what I’m told to do.”