Tag: Hall of Fame

Giants Reach An All-Time Low — Drag An All-Time Great Through The Mud

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Eli Mannin

Eli Manning is being benched for the 1st time in his career….

 

 

for Geno Smith?!

*No need to adjust your TV set (or eyeballs). This is a real story.

Eli Manning has started every game in his career for the New York Giants. His consecutive games started streak, that currently stands at 210 (2nd longest in NFL history), will come to an end this coming Sunday. Allow me to remove any fluff other media outlets are adding to this story:

THIS IS STUPID!!

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m not Eli Manning’s #1 fan. In fact, I think he’ll rank as the 2nd worst quarterback in the Hall of Fame when it’s all said and done. Joe Namath will forever hold that wonderful distinction. But that’s no reason to treat a consummate professional this way.

Eli Manning has been a good soldier. He’s done everything the Giants’ organization has asked of him. He’s started every game of his 13-year career. And he’s won 2 Super Bowls.

He’s dodged fake allegations of autograph fraud. He’s taken head coach, Ben McAdoo’s unjust, public criticism on the chin. And he’s won 2 Super Bowls.

He stands as the Giants’ best quarterback in franchise history. He ranks 7th all-time in passing yards. And he’s won 2 Super Bowls.

Check out Eli Manning’s career stats here.

Generally, when a team is 2-9, they aren’t faced with the dilemma of benching an all-time great quarterback. However, this Giants team is taking unprecedented to a whole new level. Enter Geno Smith. The world already knows Geno Smith isn’t fit to be a quarterback in the NFL. Add this to the looooong list of things Ben McAdoo doesn’t know. I think we’ll put this right in between ‘how to comb your hair’ and ‘the meaning of embarrassed’.

I never thought the Giants would bench Eli Manning. They should have traded him at the deadline, but that’s a different story. I thought they’d let him start the rest of the season, and watch him don another team’s jersey next season. If you decide to bench Eli, you must play Davis Webb, as he is the only unknown here. And as poor of a decision as that would have been, at least McAdoo(dle) could have fallen back on ‘future of the franchise’. So, rather than fall on the sword, McAdoo is pushing Eli on that sword, in the most disgraceful way possible.

Oh yeah, coach McAdoo(dle) offered Eli the choice to continue starting games, and be pulled at halftime, solely to keep his games started streak alive. As always, Eli responded to that nonsensical notion in the only way a classy person can:

“Coach McAdoo told me I could continue to start while Geno and Davis [Webb] are given an opportunity to play,” Manning said. “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.”

At the end of the day, organizational decisions are approved by the person who signs the checks. At least they should be. Giants’ owner, John Mara, should be ashamed of himself. For Mara to allow McAdoo(dle) to make this decision, when McAdoo(dle) won’t be the head coach next year, IS ABSURD!!!! So rather than allow Eli Manning to ride off into sunset, the Giants are going to drag him through the mud first.

I guess there’s a reason the words classy and NFL organization don’t often collide in the same sentence….

 

Post your thoughts on Eli Manning’s benching in the comment section below. I know a lot of you have a lot to say, so don’t hold back.

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2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Congratulations to the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees.  Congratulations Warren Sapp, Bill Parcells, Jonathan Ogden, Dave Robinson, Larry Allen, Curley Culp, and Cris Carter!!  It is the most prestigious honor a football player or coach can receive.  This years ballot was certainly loaded with worthy candidates, but unfortunately only a certain number of players can make it in each year.  Which begs the question, why in the world are there minimums and maximums for the number of players that can be inducted into the Hall of Fame every year?  I personally don’t understand this concept.  The Pro Football Hall of Fame is supposed to be the measure of a players or coaches career and whether they deserve to be enshrined along side other legends of the game.  Here are a few quick excerpts I grabbed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame website that should shed some light on the subject:

“The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 46-person Selection Committee is charged with the vital task of continuing to be sure that new enshrinees are the finest the game has produced.”  That is the first line from the Pro Football Hall of Fame website under the Selection Process Tab.  My intention is not to disrespect the Hall of Fame, but only to educate.  See guys, logic would dictate that the Hall of Fame should only allow in the best of the best.  This means that setting minimums and forcing inductees into the Hall of Fame makes no sense whatsoever.  Here’s another quick excerpt from their website: “There is no set number for any class of enshrinees but, the Committee’s current ground rules do stipulate that between four and seven new members will be selected each year.”  If you set a minimum and a maximum on the amount of inductees you will or can have for each year, you are doing a disservice to the Hall of Fame.  If you have a “weaker” list of players to select from on a given year, but you are forced to induct at least 4 players, you are watering down the contents of the Hall and therefore not sending only the best of the best to the promised land.  On the flip side, if you have a year like 2013 where you have 8 worthy candidates, then you are forcing someone to wait at least an extra year to enter the sacred Hall of Fame.  For example, this year Michael Strahan deserved to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, however he was the 8th best player on the list this year, so he must wait.  Why??  You got me.  I have no freakin’ clue.  Hopefully someone can explain it to me.  It’s hard for me to understand how the NFL, a multi-billion dollar machine, can get something so simple so wrong.  I did notice that in 1973 and 1976 they only inducted three players, so  maybe there is hope for change after all.  Here’s a little side note that I have to mention:

Man do I feel bad for Dave Robinson.  For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, Dave Robinson was announced immediately following Jonathan Ogden on Sunday prior to the big game.  Whoever decided the order that the inductees should be announced should be fired.  With a Pro-Ravens crowd on hand, you had to know that Jonathan Ogden was going to get a standing ovation.  Even Dave Robinson noticed it.  You could faintly hear him say, “Damn it’s bad after that.”  Why you wouldn’t put Ogden last is beyond me, but as you can see the Hall of Fame doesn’t seem to be getting anything right.

Congratulations class of 2013!!  Better luck next year Mr. Strahan.