Funny you should bring up Eli's personality, Wolf. That's just the topic I'd like to get into today and will be addressing in further depth in the Chalk Talk.
My man Wally Matthews, never one to shy away from a strong opinion, offered this take today. Saying Eli is akin to Joey Harrington might be the biggest blasphemy laid at the feet of St. Eli so far, but hey, Wally pulls no punches.
My take? Eli is boring with the media. His demeanor is boring on the field. Who cares? He's won some big games, and the playoff losses were not solely on him -- what else could he have done in Philly last season, except maybe play some D and make a tackle?
It's the biggest knock on him, and it's wrong in my book.
So let's hear it, people. Eli: Boom, bust or just plain boring?
Comments (26)
Arthur:
The issue is that he too laid back when they need a spark and too laid back when things are good. More imortantly however, he threw two brilliant passes to Shockey on Sunday and then threw such a terrible pass that flew over Toomers head along with the delay penalties. Just too inconsitent. I am a big Eli fan, but as a #1 overall pick fans are expecting more brilliance and less ugh after 50 starts. He needs to carry the team on occasion especially in a big game like Sundays game. The Lion's game is now the biggest game and he will need to be better than Kitna in order for the Giants to win. C'mon big blue lets not repeat last years fiasco! Great job Arthur!!
I think Eli is a good leader on the field, but he shows no emotion or fire on the sidelines or in the press conferences after the games. That monotone personality I'm sure does'nt rub off on his teammates that well, but they've gotten use to it. I still think Eli can get better on the field, but he looks a lot better distributing the ball than he did last year for sure. Absolutely not a bust, but not superstar material either. We'll see how he looks compared to Jon Kitna on Sun. I know most would'nt take Kitna over Manning.
Art:
As a football writer, or actually as a columnist in general, Wally Matthews is a heckuva boxing writer.
You follow the team every day. When guys like Matthews and Heyman (who I had several email exchanges with after he wrote some moronic stuff about Coughlin despite not having even been at Giants Stadium) parachute in (or worse, write from a far away perch) and give their opinions, those opinions are founded on nothing more than hearsay and urban legends. They don't KNOW anything. They heard or read stuff which forms their opinions prior to even writing about it--then they write their column to fit their second or third-hand opinion.
It's the self-perpetuating media circle jerk that creates images and then reinforces them to the point where they are accepted facts.
You're still young Art. Don't go there!! Learn from Best, not Glauber, not Matthews. And by the way, I genuinely enjoy Matthews on boxing. No personal dislike there for me like with Glauber.
Hobbs
The question I have seen in other publications and web sites if answered yes is my worst fear..."Is this the best of Eli Manning?"..It is a valid question to ask because if it is, then the trade for him was one of the worst in NFL history and as long as Romo is on the Cowboys, all we'll ever play for is second place with very little hope to get to and win a championship. All the "Eli bashing" on the sports radio shows in NY yesterday are valid. One point I haven't heard yet is this--Dallas on Offense averages well over 30 points a game. To go into that game expecting a dominating effort from our defense, which currently is devoid of an OLB, a great DT, and a play making Safety, was absolutely not realistic. As hard as it is to say, we had to admit we were going to give up at least 28 points and we needed Eli--as leader of the Offense--to keep us in the game and make the plays that were available down field. He didn't necessarily have to win the game, just give us a chance and he did not do that. In his 50th game as a starter and a former #1 overall, regardless of the "Manning" name, was that asking too much? Apparently it was and for that reason, this franchise is going no where with this quarterback when he couldn't even get a play off 3 times AT HOME, which in itself is laughable...as is Eli's pecking order in the league's QB hierarchy
Great Quarterbacks are usually linked to great coaches. The systems allow them to develop and excel. Eli has not a system that allows him to excel.
I'm just fine with Eli Manning, but Wally Mathews? Let me just say that he's no Grantland Rice and leave it at that.
Everyone wants to blame Eli for the failures of the his teammates because it's easy and we live in an age where any moron with a keyboard can have their thoughts published for the world to see. This reinforces the stupidity because it encourages other lazy morons to make the same lazy and moronic points without really substantiating anything that they write.
Of course, these are mostly the same type of folks who were anointing Phillip Rivers last year (Adam Schein, can you hear me?) while suddenly now writing that he has a noodle arm worse than Chad Pennington. The truth is that the team around him has fallen apart as much as him, but that's not the easy, nor the lazy answer and thus too difficult to worry about.
Give Eli a defense that can hold a lead and then we should come back and revisit this topic. Until then, it's just more lazy and moronic journalism.
Eli does not compare well to Romo, who is full of contagious energy and just makes things happen, even when his protection breaks down. When Eli's protection breaks down, he just gets sacked or throws a pick. And I have a hard time believing he fires anyone up.
I could live with the demeanor if he provided consistent production, but he doesn't, not even close. He shows flashes, and then it goes away again.
That being said, he didn't really have Plax to throw to, and Moss is still a non-factor, and his backs aren't pass-catchers, so he really only had two receivers for most of the game.
I have a different theory. The Giants in the first half had a healthy offensive line. The cowboys took away Burress deep. The Giants worring about giving Romo too many cahnces, played control football with long drives and short gains. After Mackenzie(sic) got injured they had to make adjustments. During that time Dallas scored, got our defense more tired, and caused us to try and play catchup, without great OL play. Look at Eli's #'s numbers in the first half with a full OL versus the second half. Give Eli a good offensive line and a good game plan and he will usually do well. He has not yet finished his growth.
I would like to know who will have the responsibility to advise ownership that we have to move on at QB. I like him, but he is not the answer. Too slow to react, & in this day of age, you need someone who can least get out of troble in the pocket, scamble at times & make a play. He just cannot execute this type of play.
Eli is a tremendous bust. Why? Because he said he was too good for San Diego. Why? Because we traded many picks for him. Any player who stiffs a team and then has another team trade multiple picks for him had better deliver. Eli does not deliver.
By refusing San Diego he also refused to ever be compared to anything but great. Eli said that he did not lose the game this past Sunday. Maybe that is true. But the point that he misses is that he was supposed to WIN the game this past Sunday.
He gladly let the Giants trade picks for him and he gladly signed his $54 million contract. He asked for greatness, now he has to deliver.
Bust.
Joe Montana could quite possibly be the most boring individual to ever walk on the earth. But who cares? He won football games. Thats the difference between "Joe Cool" and Eli Manning. If Eli wins games, "its look how calm and relaxed he is!" When he loses, its "this guy is flat-out bored and lacks intensity!" Personality has nothing to do with throwing a football. I'll make due with Eli since he is definitely more talented than half the league.
Very few mortals could live up to the combination of name & the fiasco with san diego. After almost 4 years eli still makes poor decisions,espescially under pressure, lacks accuracy and fails as a leader. Will he improve? Possibly ,but increasingly unlikely. So we are forced to the conclusion ,based on his performance to date, that he is,and will remain ,a journeyman qb. That guarantees that we will remain an also ran ,beating the mediocre teams but always falling short of the brass ring. Once again, thank you mr. accorsi.
How about Brad Johnson? Trent Dilfer? Kurt Warner? These guys all won Super Bowls within the past ten years. Who woulda thunk it?
Ever hear Kurt Warner in an interview? I've heard stumps that have more dynamic personalities.
Eli is good enough to win a Super Bowl - and he's getting better every year. You don't have to be a Tom Brady to win the big one. (Although this year it would seem that way).
Anyone remember a guy named Jeff Hostetler?
On another note - Tony Romo smiles like a mental patient. Even after throwing five picks and losing a fumble against Buffalo Romo was on the sidelines grinning like a chimp while his team was still down.
If Eli ever smiled after throwing ONE interception the press would hang him.
ELi's OK with me.
-Big BB
Eli will never live up to the hype of the pedigree or to what he cost us on draft day. He will never be an elite QB like his brother and Brady. Once we get over that fact, we can come to realize that he can be a decent QB who'll manage the games, win some and lose a few but he ain't gonna be Elway or Montana or whomever that's gonna throw the team on his back and carry them to victory.
Having said that, the hardest pill to swallow is that he's being paid to be a Montana, Brady, etc.... so I foresee a loooooong and agonizing stay in NY for the kid...
Precfectly fine with Eli, hes still a top 10 quarterback nontheless
When he plays excellent, Week 1, Giants still lose, so its not soley on Eli's hands, everyone needs to play as a unit
He is alot more confiendent this year than last year.
His body language is not that great, but who the heck is happy about throwing a pick.
I happen to like his quiet leadership, Giants have too many personailities, and his quiet leadership is exactly what they need. Granted Eli is not perfect, i would still rather have him than say Rivers.
Giants are 6-3, no way they would be that way with a bad, unconfiedent quarterback leader. If he was anywhere eles then NY, his name wouldnt even be mentioned, just NY media
If he can be consisted, and its not just him, like the way he played first half of Cowboys game, you would have an Elite, top three quarterback (Brady, Manning, Manning)
Eli is a quiet boom, has his moments
Big BB got it right. It's nice to have a big name big time QB that can take over a game, which Eli is not and probably wont ever be. But it isn't necessary when you consider who's gone to and won Superbowls in the last 10 years. Rex Grossman made it to the Superbowl for christsake. Rex "I'm gonna be a third stringer next year" Grossman. Bolster the O-line, add another corner to compliment Ross in the secondary, keep improving the run game which is promising, and find one OLB or safety and this can easily be a superbowl team in the NFC next year. The entire league is devoid of good young QBs because the college game doesnt prepare them that well anymore and there are MUCH bigger busts out there. Oh, and the cowboys are one or two injuries away from being very beatable, just like everyone else.
I think this is a premature topic to be talking about. We were 6-2 heading into this game and everyone loved what Eli was doing this year. He comes in and plays a medicore game on Sun. and everyone is calling for his head. If Sam Madison doesn't get absolutely torched by TO twice in the second half we could be talking about a 7-2 team. Now not one person is to blame for this loss, obviously 3 delay of game penalties are horrible but so is our lack of pass coverage and the stupid penalties we burn ourself on. I think we are still a very dangerous team with Eli leading us and we will continue to be all year. Getting back to Eli, to this day there is only a couple quarterbacks in this league I would feel more comfortbale with behind center. (brady, manning, palmer, roethlisberger, hasselback). So bring on Detroit and I think we are going to be mad and really show our talents on every side of the ball.
You are what your record says you are, as Tuna used to say.
Eli is 26-24. Which is the very definition of a mediocre quarterback.
I am happy with Eli. I don't care about the trade and all that junk from the past. I've moved on from that. He is a good solid QB. Does he still make mistakes, yes? But that does not mean he won't improve. To people saying"He will never be this or that", how do you know? Did you see the future?
Anyone calling Eli a bust is quite frankly an flaming idiot and I pity your stupidity. I wonder how you survive in the world.
Eli didn't lose the game for us on Sunday, btw, where was the defense on Sunday? How come no one is screaming bloody murder over their performance?
The constant discussion over his demeanor is probably one of the stupidest things ever. Do people need to spew crap to fill newspapers? I know they have to write a story, but give me a break.
I guess being the number 1 draft pick especially if you name is Manning makes you the target du jour. Easy to pin the loss to Dallas on Eli, yes he did make mistakes which I believe were critical, but they did not cost the team a TD. We need to focus on what lost the game and it was clearly on the D, in fact all three loses were not the result of Eli’s errors they all can be attributed to the D. Going forward I believe as I pointed out in a previous post; in my opinion it would really help if the Giants offence went to the no huddle, this system seems to be the rhythm that Eli is most comfortable with some of his best success have been during 2 Min offence.
Eli will be fine.
Eli is fine. He will be great. IF we get rid of Coughlin and Offensive system. He's not a bad coach, but he is a bad coach for Eli. The combination can't be overrated. Look at Pitt. Great fit, makes Rothlesberger look great. Offensive system is non-creative. Finally we see Shockey involved. Where the heck has that been? And why Can't we seem to develop a third receiver? IT has been years without a good third option...
Alex S-
Phil Simms was 23-25 at this same point in his career with 58 TD's and 54 INT's. Was he the very definition of a mediocre quarterback and if so, what allowed him to win a Super Bowl and lead the team to another win before being injured?
I'll give you a hint: There were 11 of them playing at a time and they never gave up 76 points over a two game stretch to a divisional opponent.
I agree with you that Eli is boring,but he gets the job done.The last time that i looked,Eli does not play DEFENSE...When you put up 20 points per game you should win.Put romo ir Big ben in another system and who knows what you will find....Look at Farve the last couple of years with no talent.
Mark - if Eli keeps improving like Simms did, then he will be a better-than-mediocre quarterback, just like Simms became. (And I am a huge Simms fan - still have a #11 jersey.) But neither you nor I can say whether that improvement will occur. It certainly could, although I am skeptical (I am very, VERY doubtful that Eli could ever be 22-25 in a Super Bowl). If and when Eli improves to get to Simms' level, I will be quite happy to say so. But at this point in his career, Eli is a mediocre quarterback, just as Simms was at the same point in his career.
What a crap write up on Eli. First off Romo had 4 years as a back up to learn the system and Eli got thrown to the wolves very early on and is now on his 2nd system in 4 years. There is no way you can tell me that didn't hurt his development. 2nd a QB is only as good as the players around him.Eli was playing great at the start of this year and now his #1 target is hurt and slowed. To throw him under the bus after one game is crap. No one threw Dallas under the bus when NE embarrasses them a few weeks ago did they??
Eli will turn out better than old No 11 was.Put Moss, TO and Plax (healthy) out there with him and he's a pro-bowl QB.
Plus you have to credit or call out the QB coaches since clearly the new QB coach is doing a MUCH better job with him this year.