Thirteen years ago last month, on a humid 57degree late afternoon at Giants Stadium, Eli Manning made his NFL debut as a starting quarterback against Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons. Giants’ management and head coach Tom Coughlin had seen enough of Kurt Warner despite leading the Giants to a 5-4 record and wins over the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Green Bay Packers. They needed to see Manning. And Warner, ever the class act, gracefully stepped aside to begin a new era in New York Giants football.
On Dec. 31 against Washington at MetLife Stadium, the Giants must properly close a dismal season amid a special era in team history. As New York City prepares to showcase the epitome of excess with its New Year’s Eve gathering, Manning should by most accounts be playing his final game as Giants quarterback.
Ignore John Mara’s pat answer to The Daily News that he wants Manning back next season. It’s Mara’s only available response without a general manager and coach in place, and the draft four months away. He just got a clear view of the media and fan vitriol that comes with going against Manning. The Giants’ owner isn’t going to take a dip into those waters until it’s absolutely necessary. But it’s time for Giants fans to accept the inevitable change and send Manning out with a special goodbye in the final game of a lost season. He will be back on another occasion for Eli Manning Day, but New Year’s Eve should be reserved for an unofficial Manning party filled with Eli shirts and those jersey-clad ex-players who talked about making a statement when he was benched.
They will thank him as best they can for delivering two Super Bowl titles. They will forget his flaws, at least temporarily, his at times maddening inconsistency and decision-making, while remembering his clutch play and model franchise representative.
Denne historien er fra January 8, 2018-utgaven av The Giant Insider.
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Denne historien er fra January 8, 2018-utgaven av The Giant Insider.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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THE HOT SEAT
No matter what John Mara says, Dave Gettleman’s job is on the line
WEEK 1: BRONCOS AT GIANTS
The 2021 season kicks off at MetLife
Northwest Huntsman
TGI sat down with guard Shane Lemieux
WEEK 2: GIANTS AT WFT
Primetime divisional showdown in DC
TRAINING CAMP TAKEAWAYS
The X factor, Kadarius Toney is falling behind and The big tight end is back
The GMEN'S all-time record against their 2021 opponents
As we inch closer to opening day of the 2021 sea son, let’s take a look at how the Giants have fared historically against their opponents on this year’s schedule:
THE 12TH DIMENSION
My crack at the final 53 (in real time)
Reviewing the best Giants' WRs of all time
2021 hopes to be the Year of the Receiver for the New York Giants.
Darnold mea culpa
Sam Darnold was the third pick of the 2018 NFL draft and three years later dangles on a tightrope mixed with underwhelming NFL starters and guys on the cusp of the unemployment line.
Are we ready for September 12th?
MOST EXCITING TIME OF THE YEAR FOR FOOTBALL FANS
