Stunner in NY! Eli Manning benched for Geno Smith
For the first time in 13 years and 210 games, Eli Manning is no longer the starting quarterback for the New York Giants.
Head coach Ben McAdoo made the stunning announcement that Geno Smith will be the starter Sunday when the Giants travel to Oakland. McAdoo also said that rookie Davis Webb will get playing time over the final five weeks. The team wants to evaluate the potential of both, though Smith is only one a one-year deal.
The 2-9 Giants were mathematically eliminated Sunday. Eli Manning has not exactly been elite this season but he’s played relatively well considering the immeasurable loss of wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall.
According to the team website, Manning sounds ok with the decision in a surreal statement.
“Coach McAdoo told me I could continue to start while Geno and Davis are given an opportunity to play,” Manning said. “My feeling is that if you are going to play the other guys, play them. Starting just to keep the streak going and knowing you won’t finish the game and have a chance to win it is pointless to me, and it tarnishes the streak. Like I always have, I will be ready to play if and when I am needed. I will help Geno and Davis prepare to play as well as they possibly can.
A teary-eyed Manning spoke to reporters following the decision:
Eli Manning very emotional discussing the decision pic.twitter.com/L2rtHLtStV
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) November 28, 2017
It is quite possible that Giants ownership has more to do with this than McAdoo, who is likely on the hot seat. Manning’s benching could be an indicator that both coach and quarterback are goners come season‘s end.
Just like that, the Jets are the least dysfunctional team in the Big Apple.
