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Giants Need Reality Check

By SEAN JENSEN,
AOL
Posted: 2007-11-30 20:31:25
Filed Under: NFL
Sports Commentary

Eli Manning didn’t look or act any different than usual late last Sunday afternoon.

Apparently, his game face doesn’t change even after one of the worst quarterback performances ever.

Three of Manning’s interceptions were returned for touchdowns by the Minnesota Vikings, and the fourth was mercifully stopped eight yards short of the New York Giants’ end zone, sparing him the embarrassment of tying a dubious NFL record.

But Manning’s postgame press conference was all too familiar: His eyes were sleepy, his hair askew, his shoulders slumped, and his voice lacked conviction.

There was no anguish, no anger, just that deer-in-headlight gaze.

This is the face of the New York Giants?

That is why this franchise is desperate for a facelift.

Quarterbacks, like anyone who is gainfully employed, are bound to have bad days at the office.

Manning’s older brother Peyton -- Mr. Two-time MVP -- threw six picks in a loss to the San Diego Chargers on Nov. 11. But Peyton showed pluck, willing his team back into the game and setting up his Hall of Fame kicker for a game-winning chip shot.

Eli?

Following his second interception Sunday, Manning transformed into a carcass for the vultures of the league’s worst-rated pass defense. Later in the second quarter, Vikings fourth cornerback Charles Gordon nearly picked off a pass intended for Jeremy Shockey, and starting cornerback Cedric Griffin dropped an interception in the third quarter intended for the Giants Pro Bowl tight end.

Then, in the first two minutes of the fourth, Manning was intercepted twice, with both returned for touchdowns.

By Monday, though, Manning was once again clueless. He said he would “treat it like any other loss,” and he said the Giants are “right where we want to be.”

He is right -- if the Giants want to repeat 2006.


For a second consecutive season, the Giants are in position to waste a strong start and wheeze to the finish. After a 6-2 start, the Giants finished 8-8 last year, losing two of their final three games at Giants Stadium. They eked into the playoffs but lost the first game, 23-20, in Philadelphia.

The Giants again started 6-2 this season, but they have lost two of three, and their remaining schedule features road games in Chicago, Philadelphia and Buffalo, and home games against the Washington Redskins and New England Patriots.

Do you smell the disappointment?

That stench is ingrained in the carpets at the team’s headquarters.

In their own media guide, the Giants struggle to hype up Manning: “Strong-armed quarterback with a historic football heritage and superstar potential.” So desperate is the club that they highlight his 39 consecutive starts -- 50 and counting -- and his 20-19 career record (27-23 now).

A 24-20 record got Byron Leftwich, the seventh overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft, his walking papers out of Jacksonville last offseason. But in March, the Giants exercised a buy-back that ensures Manning base salaries of $8.45 million in 2008 and $8.5 million in 2009.

In his 44 starts for the Jaguars, Leftwich completed 789 of 1,344 passes for 9,042 yards, with 51 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. His passer rating was 80.52.

In 43 starts in his first three NFL seasons, Manning completed 812 of 1,450 passes for 9,382 yards, with 64 touchdowns and 50 interceptions. His passer rating was 76.05.

The difference is, Byron’s last name isn’t Manning, and he didn’t have Anthony Wright behind him. David Garrard was the Jaguars’ backup quarterback, and he generally played well when Leftwich was sidelined with injuries.

Today, the Jaguars are 8-3, and Garrard is the league’s fourth-rated passer, with a sparkling passer rating of 103.1.

Twenty spots behind him is Manning, the untouchable who the Giants are constantly enabling with excuses on his behalf.

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Plaxico Burress is injured. His top two running backs are hobbled. His offensive line struggled. The defense dozed on the 60-yard touchdown on the second play of Sunday’s game.

Quarterbacks are often unfairly blamed for their team’s troubles. But Manning is the Giants’ glaring problem.

The club signed uber-talented receiver Burress before Manning’s first full season as a starter in 2005, and they surrounded him with a stable of talented running backs. Already in place was Shockey, one of the league’s top tight ends, and savvy veteran receiver Amani Toomer. And after a forgettable 2006, the Giants defense rebounded, and they are currently ranked eighth in the NFL.

Eli’s offense: 18th in the NFL.

“I don’t think he’s a bust,” one NFC personnel executive said. “He’s won games. But he’s a disappointment as a first-round pick.”

Added another personnel director: “You wouldn’t expect a guy with that kind of experience to have games like (Sunday against the Vikings). He should be more consistent.”

But Eli is reaping what he sowed.

Days before the 2004 draft, San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith announced that Manning and his agent, Tom Condon, informed the club that the quarterback would refuse to sign a contract with them.

But on draft day, then NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced that the Chargers had selected Manning (who refused to wear the team’s customary baseball cap) anyways. Manning, in essence, pulled a John Elway, forcing the hand of a team and defying the NFL process.

Enamored with his bloodline and potential, then Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi traded the Chargers an NFL ransom for Manning: quarterback Philip Rivers, the fourth overall choice, as well as draft picks that landed the Chargers Pro Bowl outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, kicker Nate Kaeding and a fifth-round pick that the club eventually traded to Tampa for offensive lineman Roman Oben.

Rivers hasn’t led the Chargers to a Super Bowl either, but he at least went to the Pro Bowl last year.

“You look at the season Rivers had (in 2006), and you see the potential,” Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said Wednesday. “I think we’re still waiting to see Eli break out.”

But there was another quarterback from the 2005 class who immediately thrived: Ben Roethlisberger. The 11th pick, Roethlisberger led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Roethlisberger endured a porous season in 2006, but he is second only to New England’s Tom Brady this season, with a passer rating of 106.0.

Maybe Tiki Barber was right, after all.

In August, the former Giants running back questioned Eli’s leadership and ability to make clutch plays. Per usual, Manning’s teammates and coaches defended him, and Manning even uncharacteristically fired back at Barber.

But Barber had a point: in 50 starts, Manning has led the team to three come-from-behind victories, his last coming in September 2006. Last season, in his first full season as a starter, Rivers rallied his team to come-from-behind wins three times.

Like his brother, Eli isn’t fleet-footed, and he doesn’t have the strongest arm. But unlike his brother, Eli doesn’t have pocket presence, doesn’t strike fear in defenses, and doesn’t have a fiery personality. And while he can pick apart a team when given time, Eli hasn’t consistently shown that he can duck and dodge defenders and still make highlight runs or throws.

By exercising the buy-back, the Giants have made their decision.

Barring a miraculous playoff run, Manning’s mediocrity will cost his coach, Tom Coughlin, his job. The Giants will then turn to an up-and-coming NFL quarterback guru -- maybe Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys? -- and hope that he can salvage the Manning project. But the NFC personnel executive said the Giants would be better served making a quick decision. Given the team’s investment in him, Manning could “handcuff” the veteran team, and he could set them back even more by delaying a decision.

“The quicker you decide and try to fix it, the better off you are,” the personnel executive said.

One college scouting director projected that four quarterbacks (Louisville’s Brian Brohm, Boston College’s Matt Ryan, Kentucky’s Andre Woodson and Hawaii’s Colt Brennan) would be taken in the first round of the 2008 draft.

But the Giants should pass up the youngsters and invest in a veteran who can push Manning. Someone like Daunte Culpepper could be a good fit, providing the yin (emotional extrovert) to Manning’s yang (docile introvert). If he can’t outshine Culpepper, then Manning should start packing for another NFL city, and the Giants might as well swallow their medicine (huge salary cap hit) sooner rather than later.

Whatever they decide, though, the Giants just have to do something to elicit some emotion from Manning.

Sean Jensen can be reached at nothinbutlovefor@aol.com.

2008 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.
2007-11-29 13:06:08
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Recent Comments

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Regerrrr69 09:11:00 AM Dec 11 2007

NAME 1 GOOD MANNING THAT EVER PLAYED ARCHIE SUCKED PEYTON SUCKED ONLY WON A SUPER BOWL CAUSE OF A BAD CALL AGAINST THE PATS AND DONT DENY IT THE REFS SAID THEY WERE SORRY THEY BLEW IT AND U ALL THINK THE PATS GET THE CALLS AND THEN THERE IS ELI HE SUCKS THEN THERE IS THER MOM SHE SHOULD HAVE SUCKED THEN THOSE 2 IDIOTS WOULD NOT EVEN B HERE ILL BET THE WHOLE MANNING FAMILY SUCKS

Bkarate215 06:03:34 PM Dec 08 2007

Unfortunately, some Giant fans want to forgive and forget the blunder of drafting Eli. No, let’s not forget the past because it will surely repeat itself. The Giants have been a poor presence in the front office for years. How could they have given up a chance for Shawn Merriam for this country bumpkin? Want kind of back door dealings went on to get this so so guy. Not only should Coughlin go for his poor performance as a coach but to recognize this kid is not the answer (Kurt Warner). Hey Tiki Barber you were right about this kid he is as exciting as watching paint dry. He (Eli) should thank his stars his last name is Manning or he would be working at Wal-Mart in Mississippi and living off his college career victories. As for giving Eli leeway, the NFL is a performance driven business, enough said.

nygiantsfanLT56 07:56:00 PM Dec 04 2007

The Giants are one of the most prolific teams to beat in the NFC right now. Eli has played a mediocre game throughout the season, but if we want to beat the Cowboys, Eli has to step up. If a quarterback is doing well, the whole team will feel encouraged by him. If Eli would just get mad and show some emotion I wouldnt feel like he should be traded. Look at the Bears. Last year, Rex Grossman led them to the Super Bowl. He is a mediocre quarterback in terms of passing, but he shows emotion and doesnt duck and fall when he is touched by a defender. Eli just seems to give up. It's like he just wants to take a hit, and go home. The defense, and the running game has taken the load for the Giants.(3 goal line stands against the Bears.) I don't think that the legacy is hard to deal with at all. It's just in his head. He could be an amazing quarterback, just like his brother, if he picks apart defenses just like at Ole Miss. Its hard to forgive him, but he's the Giants quarterback and I have to

nygiantsfanLT56 07:55:00 PM Dec 04 2007

The Giants are one of the most prolific teams to beat in the NFC right now. They lead the NFC Wild Card with an 8-4 record. Most teams in first place don't have that record. Eli has played a mediocre game throughout the season, but if we want to beat the Cowboys, Eli has to step up. If a quarterback is doing well, the whole team will feel encouraged by him. If Eli would just get mad and show some emotion I wouldnt feel like he should be traded. Look at the Bears. Last year, Rex Grossman led them to the Super Bowl. He is a mediocre quarterback in terms of passing, but he shows emotion and doesnt duck and fall when he is touched by a defender. Eli just seems to give up. It's like he just wants to take a hit, and go home. The defense, and the running game has taken the load for the Giants.(3 goal line stands against the Bears.) I don't think that the legacy is hard to deal with at all. It's just in his head. He could be an amazing quarterback, just like his brother, if he picks apart defe

CEC RILEY 03:11:00 PM Dec 04 2007

He doenst even act nor look like anyone i would want to follow..He looks like a KICKER with that ugly smug on his face,, He doesnt posses leadership. They will never win with him behind center. Tiki was right. they should have listened to him. Now Tiki is better off now and he can destroy Eli as a commentator and watch the Giants continue to LOOSE..

cindinduke 12:55:57 PM Dec 03 2007

People continually go back to when Eli was drafted and make a big deal out of it. It is done with, let it go. To keep reliving that doesn't do anything, but cloud the air, just as harping on the fact he is a Manning. Playing in New York, in any sport, is extrtemely difficult. Look at the year A-Rod had and still the fans are all over him because of his performance in the playoffs. You can't win with NY fans. The pressure is enormous. There is no other place like it. Yes, Eli has some problems, but he also has some real good qualities. He would be fine in most cities, but we have to have a Johnny Unitas, Tom Brady, etc. to be satisfied. We were never satisfied with Phil Simms until he took us to a Super Bowl. I would like to see the real fans get behind Eli instead of knocking his every move and every word that comes out of his mouth. Aikman said the kid is afraid to make a mistake. You can't play that way. He is it, so give him some leway and see what happens. We might

earlofkent01 07:28:38 PM Dec 02 2007

As a diehard Giants fan, I must say Eli sucks! He's had more excuses made for him than any other QB in the league. Phil Simms (though less talented) used his heart to get to the Hall of Fame. The pundits keeps saying that Eli is a Manning, thus he must be given a chance (more chances!) I do agree with the fact that he is a Manning; Archie Manning, certainly not Peyton Manning!

earlofkent01 07:17:35 PM Dec 02 2007

As a diehard Giants fan, I must say Eli's had more excuses made for him than any other quarterback in the NFL. I remember Phil Simms getting berated by the pundits; and I think it's obvious that Phil (though less talented) had more guts and far outplayed this kid. Everyone keeps referring to the fact that he is a Manning; to which I concur: Archie manning, not Peyton Manning!

jmdesoto 06:17:12 PM Dec 02 2007

Eli Manning thought he was to good to play for the Chargers and refused to go to them. I know the Chargers are glad he wound up in sucky NY. Manning as a rating of, is it 33 right now in the game..WOW.... how pathetic

jmdesoto 06:13:54 PM Dec 02 2007

I love the watch commercial,.."Eli Manning, Unstoppable..LOLOL" What a joke.

Giants SUCK. If they are lucky enough to make a wild card, they can come back to DAllas so we can destroy their ass and humiliate them again.

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