Eli Manning Is a Giant Problem and New York May Have to Move On

After drafting running back Saquon Barkley, revamping their offensive line, and getting Odell Beckham back healthy and happy, expectations were high for the Giants entering this season.

Then the games started and it became clear the 37-year-old Eli-phant in the room still needed to be addressed. Last night that became even more obvious during a brutal a 34-13 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles during which Eli Manning completed 24-43 passed for 281 yards, one interception, and zero touchdowns.

And, had it not been for Barkley converting a number of dump-off passes into long gains (nine catches for 99 yards), Manning’s numbers would have looked far, far worse.

Saquon Barkley is special pic.twitter.com/nXB3LPGdTK

— Alex Finnis (@AlexFinnis) October 12, 2018

Manning’s play was so poor that his teammates, especially Beckham, were visibly frustrated. At one point Manning attempted to hit him down the sideline with a pass that was badly underthrown. Paid like a No. 1 receiver, Beckham had just 44 yards on six catches.

“My confidence in myself is good,” Manning said after the game. “I know I can play. It’s just a matter of we’ve just got to figure out how to be more consistent and be better at home.”

Eli Manning throws a pick on the 2nd play of the game 😳 pic.twitter.com/P80r0OHcsp

— RotoQL (@rotoqlapp) October 12, 2018

Now 1-5 on the season, the Giants need to think about life without Manning, who is 43-58 in the regular season and 0-1 in the playoffs since winning his second Super Bowl title.

Likely looking at another top draft pick, New York will likely attempt to draft Manning’s replacement and usher him out the door quietly.

“Manning won’t be earning $23 million under center in 2019, the final season on his deal,” writes ESPN’s Ian O’Connor. “His employers will try to put the best possible face on the divorce after the mess they made of the marriage in 2018. Most likely, they will try to persuade Manning to retire as a Giant, to go out with his dignity and his body intact, while eating the $6.2 million in dead-cap hit they’ll take by releasing him.”