Giant Backup

One of the hardest things for an athlete to do in their career is realize that their body can’t do what they need it to do.

If you follow sports then you’ve undoubtedly heard it, “The fire still burns in him”, is usually how it’s described.

New York Giants QB, Eli Manning, is now faced with such a question. He was unceremoniously benched, this week after their week 2 loss to Buffalo 28-14, in favor of rookie Daniel Jones. The rookie looked good in pre-season. With this being New York and, Eli providing more memes than wins of late, the murmurs began to grow. Speculation about when Jones will start is growing every week.

That’s life in the NFL. There’s always something new and shiny around every corner.

Part of me doesn’t mind, or care, because I’m a Cowboys fan. And while I’ll miss the cartoonish faces of Eli, a bigger part of me loves football and rational common sense even more.

Now as a disclaimer I will say that I don’t feel I know more than a front office and the direction they want to go in or the timing of their changes/decisions. It’s hard because we don’t see the entire picture, just moves surrounding a plan of action.

Having said that, this is now the part where I contradict myself….I don’t think Eli needed replacing. Yes his decision-making was not great at times but you hit any person a number of times and he will get flinchy anytime you lift your arm higher than your chest. Now try staying clear minded with a 280lb DE bearing down on you. Needless to say, in the Buffalo game he played well. He was trading shots with Buffalo’s Josh Allen. The difference was Manning’s receivers dropped passes, the offense committed costly penalties and he had a few balls batted down, one actually right into a defenders arms for an interception.

The final nail in the coffin came unfortunately at the expense of the fans terrible memory. The one that players are subjected to. Last season, for example, Cowboys safety Jeff Heath had a pretty solid season but all some “fans” remember is the bad angle he took on one of the final plays of the year. Nevermind everything else. Nevermind the defensive call, assignments or other players bad play. All these fanatics remember is Goff running by Heath and getting the first down. Manning, on Sunday, threw a pick on a desperation heave and a pass into the flat where there was no receiver on a 4th down. Two passes that on their own, without context look terrible and make the vet seem incompetent. That’s what the Giants fans will remember and that’s what could be Eli’s last moment as a giant.

Ripples in the Pond

Let’s start with a disclaimer, I’m not a professional writer. I’m just a guy who loves sports, is highly observant, smart, has a lot of time on his hand and more importantly a wife who’s tired of listening to me. Hallelujah for social media and its easy delivery of opinions.

The latest thought is a question. One formed through the signings of MLB Jaylon Smith and recently RT La’el Collins. They both agreed to “team friendly” deals. Deals putting them near the top of their positions salary-wise but yet still leaving room for the organization to maneuver other deals. The question that rose in my mind was this, “What are the chances Dak gives the Cowboys a “team friendly” deal?

I hear the groans and the sighs and the audible eye rolls. Yeah I hear those, I’m married.

Just hear me out. There’s been some contention between the Cowboy’s front office (Stephen) and player’s agents. Dak is a pleaser and he’ll do anything for his teammates. That’s why they love the guy. Jaylon proves you can cash in on the Star. Collins proves you don’t need to be the highest paid to be content. He’s also a very good friend of Dak’s.

The organization has been subtlety sending a message to its players, play ball and you’ll get paid. It’s a lot to ask but if it helps you save a little money by pulling on heartstrings, why not. Will Dak succumb to peer pressure? Will he happily take a lesser deal and join his gridiron brothers a just slightly poorer man than he should have been? Will those damn meddling kids ever not ruin things for the old guy just looking to get one over on the man? All valid questions I think.