The New York Giants have once again started their season 0-2. After back to back embarrassing losses to start the 2019 season, the Giants are considering a big change. Throughout all of the 2019 offseason, the Giants were committed to Eli Manning as their starting quarterback.
The commitment to Eli changed on Tuesday morning as the Giants and head coach Pat Shurmur decided to bench him in favor of Daniel Jones.
Pat Shurmur’s Vague Comments On The Quarterbacks
The New York Giants made one of the most important acquisitions in the team’s history this offseason. With the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected quarterback Daniel Jones. This was the most controversial pick in recent memory, but after his impressive preseason, the Giants seemed to have hit a home run.
In fact, Jones was so spectacular in the preseason, he seemed to be ready to start regular-season games. Many fans and analysts agreed on this fact, no matter how controversial it is. Now, after two tough losses, it seems like head coach Pat Shurmur might agree with this, too.
When asked about Eli Manning’s starting status in week three, Pat Shurmur gave a conspicuous response: “Obviously, Eli’s been our starter to this point.†Yes, he has been the starter to this point, but Shurmur refused to answer whether or not Eli will continue to be the starter.
Shurmur was informed that he was leaving a quarterback competition up for debate, then responded saying he “understands.” Pat Shurmur was fully aware that Jones would be the starter for week 3, even as reporters were peppering him with questions on the matter.
Why This Is A Fair Debate To Have
Pat Shurmur pointed out the obvious during his press conference, saying “We’re 0-2.” Shurmur also added that the Giants will “talk about everything we’re doing moving forward. That’s fair at this point.” It is fair, as fans are fed up with the Giants’ losing ways.
That’s the problem. No, it might not be Eli Manning’s fault that the Giants are losing. He has not played that bad, but the flip side is that he has not been the solution, either. Manning has not been the reason the Giants win games.
With Manning as the starting quarterback, the Giants continued to lose. They are 8-26 in the past three years and Eli Manning has been the starter in every one of those losses. Now, in 2019, with the heir apparent sitting on the bench through two weeks, moving on from Manning seemed right, but heartbreaking.
Eli is a franchise legend. He will always be appreciated and honored as a sports hero for the Giants and New York. The two-time Super Bowl champion has had an incredible, Hall-of-Fame career. But it is time. Eli Manning has a career win percentage of .500. If the Giants lose another game with Manning as the starter, they will put a big stain on his resume with a losing record.
The Giants will not be good this year. They are rebuilding. They are a bad team. Eli Manning deserves, better. The Giants might be showing mercy by not trotting Manning out to embarrassment every Sunday. At least with Daniel Jones as the starter, the Giants can get a glimpse of the future, instead of reminiscing on the past.