New York Giants to Bench Quarterback Eli Manning

After 210 starts in NFL, the New York Giants QB will sit out the next game.

Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) in 2017
Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) in 2017. Photo by Scott Taetsch/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (9238781ab)

Eli Manning’s streak of 210 consecutive regular-season starts as a quarterback for the New York Giants will come to an end on Sunday. The Giants coach Ben McAdoo revealed on Tuesday that Geno Smith will start the next game against the Oakland Raiders instead of Manning.

Geno will start this week,” – said McAdoo in a statement. “Over the last five games, we will take a look at Geno, and we will also give [rookie third-round pick] Davis [Webb] an opportunity.

Manning had the chance to keep the streak alive since McAdoo gave him the option to start the game while he would be substituted for Smith later on.

Coach McAdoo told me I could continue to start while Geno and Davis are given an opportunity to play,” – said Manning. “My feeling is that if you are going to play the other guys, play them. Starting just to keep the streak going and knowing you won’t finish the game and have a chance to win it is pointless to me, and it tarnishes the streak. Like I always have, I will be ready to play if and when I am needed. I will help Geno and Davis prepare to play as well as they possibly can.

Eli Manning’s 210 games as a starter streak is second in the NFL history for quarterbacks, just behind the Green Bay Packers’ Brett Favre who had 297 stars. The last game that Manning didn’t start was on November 14, 2004, when Kurt Warner started the game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The team’s decision to bench Manning at this point of his career is a way of exploring quarterbacks options for the future.

Eli Manning was selected by the San Diego Chargers in 2004 NFL Draft with the first overall pick and then traded to the New York Giants. He lead the Giants to two Super Bowl appearances in 2007 and 2011, both of which the team won.

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