Could we have seen the last of Eli Manning on an NFL field?
The New York Giants quarterback’s streak of 210 consecutive starts will end Sunday when Geno Smith gets the call as the team’s starter against the Oakland Raiders. Ben McAdoo’s decision to bench Manning has generated immense criticism, and reportedly might factor into the Giants head coach losing his job sooner rather than later.
And while Manning might have more football left in him, his father, Archie Manning, apparently thinks the two-time Super Bowl MVP might call it a career.
“(The benching) just flat broke his heart,” Archie told NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport on Thursday. “… If he’s still there, we don’t know what their future plans are, if other people are there. And you have no idea what other teams will think of a 37-year-old quarterback. You don’t have any idea.
“Eli might say, ‘I’ve had enough. I’m feeling good. I’ve got a beautiful wife, three little girls, I’m healthy. And that’s it.’ So there’s no sense speculating.”
We’re not sure how much the beauty of Manning’s wife would factor into his decision on whether to continue playing, but we’ll give his father the benefit of the doubt.
Rumors of Manning hanging up his cleats likely will persist as we march toward the offseason — as will reports of him requesting a trade to another franchise.
