What’s Happening In New York?

It seems like only yesterday we were extolling Tom Brady. In fact, it was only yesterday, right here in this blog. And we noted that he had played in seven Super Bowls and won five.

The two he lost were to Eli Manning and the New York Giants.

Say what you want about Manning – generally expressionless, generally above average, not exactly a thrill a minute – but don’t forget those two Super Bowl wins. Every starting quarterback with two Super Bowl wins except Jim Plunkett is in the Hall of Fame.

But Manning, the first pick of the 2004 draft and the Giants’ starter for 210 consecutive games, lost his job on Tuesday. The Giants, like a fish, appear to be rotting from the head. Their coach, Ben McAdoo, wants to look at their other quarterbacks as they wind down a 2-9 season that has exposed holes everywhere, including in the 37-year-old Manning’s game. And so this dimwit waited for the bus and threw Manning under it.

Manning stayed as composed as he could in the Giants locker room. He was offered the opportunity to keep his streak of starts alive against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, but he was told he wouldn’t play the second half. And he didn’t want the streak at the expense of his honor as a competitor. It is the second longest streak of consecutive starts by a quarterback behind Brett Favre’s 297.

Honor. Class. The Giants might have showed a little. And they didn’t. They benched Manning for the nearly-worthless Geno Smith. And they got called out for it.

Former Giants receiver Ed McCaffrey on Twitter: “I’m embarrassed by the callousness and lack of respect the organization has shown Eli Manning.”

Former Giants QB Phil Simms, himself a victim of a ruthless release by the club in 1993: Manning “has been a great example to quarterbacks on how to handle yourself with media, fans and on the field.”

Has Manning had a good season? No. Not without Odell Beckham Jr., a running game or an offensive line (actually it is an offensive line – everyone who watches is offended). But as this team heads to a housecleaning and a miserable remaining five weeks, what is the point of disgracing this player who showed up and did his job every week?

Shame, shame and shame. The Giants once had a reputation for being honorable, decent, good. This sorry move buries that. Eli Manning deserved much, much better from people who wear Super Bowl rings that he won them.