The New York Giants are struggling an identification disaster. Because the 2024 NFL draft nears, they’re waffling over whether or not they nonetheless imagine Daniel Jones is their future at quarterback or in the event that they should draft a brand new one subsequent weekend.
In brief, they’re on the lookout for the subsequent Eli Manning.
Manning, who the crew traded for on draft day in 2004, led the franchise to a few of its best moments whereas by no means lacking a recreation resulting from harm and comporting himself with class and dignity.
Jones has proven a few of Eli’s traits however there’s no mistaking him for the longer term Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer. Jones is usually injured and has struggled in key video games over his five-year profession in New York.
Eli was, for intents and functions, the Giants’ unicorn and goat all on the identical time.
“He’s the best big-game quarterback I’ve ever been round and even watched,” retired Giants head coach Tom Coughlin instructed Newsday. “You take a look at his eyes on recreation day and it’s like sending laser beams from his eyes. He was so into what he’s doing.”
The Giants miss that. Positive, there have been days when Eli regarded as if he hadn’t performed a down in his life, however when the stakes have been excessive, he rose to the event.
One factor the Giants might at all times depend on was Eli’s availability. He began 210 consecutive video games for the Giants from 2004 by means of 2017.
“I believe one factor folks don’t understand is what it meant, what an impressive feeling it was, to know as a coach that he was going to be there each Sunday,” Coughlin added.
“Each Sunday, he lined up and performed. He performed with a separated shoulder, however he performed. And it was essential to him that he did. However from the standpoint of teaching, there was nothing he couldn’t do and nothing you couldn’t ask him to do. You would do no matter you wished to do as a result of he was going to understand the ideas and he was going to do it to one of the best of his skill. And that was an amazing [comfort] for all these years as a result of he lined up and performed.”
Large followers had gotten spoiled with Eli. Jones, though showing to be an ideal match as Manning’s inheritor obvious, hasn’t lived as much as expectations.
Subsequent Thursday night time on the NFL draft in Detroit, common supervisor Joe Schoen might stroll away with the crew’s subsequent franchise quarterback, or he might select to attend and take a participant the Giants can develop.
Both method, there’ll at all times be just one Eli. Coughlin tells the story of how Eli stopped to get a sandwich earlier than his professional day and nearly missed the occasion.
“It’s one of the best passing efficiency at a Professional Day that I’d ever seen,” Coughlin mentioned. “He actually lit it up, and this was with 5 [receivers] who he’d been throwing with, however he didn’t know them. He didn’t play with them. It was an incredible expertise.”
Simply one other day within the charmed lifetime of Eli Manning.
