Why I Hate Eli Manning Playing For My Giants

First of all, let me state that there are few teams in any sports that I live and die with. The NY Football Giants are one of those teams. Since I was 6, there has hardly been a Sunday afternoon where the Giants lost that I didn’t go to bed in a bad mood.

However, for the last two years, I have never had one such afternoon that didn’t leave me feeling disgusted regardless of a Giants win (of which there has been 15 over the last two years so far) or loss. I spend my Sundays throwing things at the television (which is broadcasting the NFL Ticket—God bless DirectTV this Holiday season), alienating my wife, and scaring the pee out of my dog as I watch every single Giants game.

THE REASON: ELI MANNING

First of all, let me say I was against this whole drafting Eli thing from the start, so I was perhaps entering this whole thing with the glass of beer is half empty kind of attitude. I hate the fact that these college QB’s pull this “I don’t want to go here or there” BS. I hated John Elway for the longest time and was overcome with glee when the Giants spanked his little behind in the 1986-87 Super Bowl.

The Giants QB before the drafting of Eli was Kerry Collins. Much maligned, but still a veteran that could sling the ball down the field. They pretty much passed on a chance to get Larry Fitzgerald (I know Arizona drafted him 3rd, but you don’t think they’d have traded down?).

Say what you want about Kerry Collins, but this could be the Giants lineup right now: Collins, Tiki, Burress, Fitzgerald, Shockey—Toomer as the 3rd WR.
--All that in a passing system that promotes a downfield passer. Collins’
biggest strength is his downfield passing.

You really think the Giants would be a question mark right now with that team?

People tell me I should be patient. SCREW THAT! Tiki and Strahan aren’t getting any younger and deserve another Super Bowl shot. Look at what’s happened since Tiki started getting the touches everyone else gets. Led the league in yards last year, 2nd this year. With a back like that and the receiving weapons, you shouldn’t be 10-10 over your last 20 games.

Here’s a quote from ESPN writer, Gary Horton
“Although many already have anointed him as the savior of the franchise, he has played miserably the last two weeks, tossing only one touchdown pass compared with five interceptions. He has done everything but give games away.”

TWO WEEKS????????????? (He was also on the ESPN Magazine cover this week, the only issue in the last 6 months that I wont even open.)

He has played like dog doo doo since the very beginning. His rating over two years is 69.8. Although he has drastically improved that rating to 75.9 this season. How bad is that? Think about how much crap Jake Plummer has taken over the past two or three years in Denver (until this year), his lowest rating is 85. Eli has also averaged 2.4 INT’s per game since entering the league.

He as won 2 road games in his career (San Francisco and Philadelphia last week). Good grief, USC could beat both of those teams. 3 INT’s against Philly in the 4th quarter/overtime. Seattle only beat them 42-0 in basically 2 quarters. The Giants have to go overtime to win 26-23. Who’s to blame? The defense? No. The kicker (which has been the popular one)? No, he kicked 4 field goals. Tiki? Absolutely not.

--SIDE NOTE: Why in the name of all that is holy do the Giants put that freaking rookie in on the goaline? Tiki can run for 145 every game, but they don’t trust him to run 1 yard? Its killing my fantasy team. You’re killing your father, Larry.

The person to blame is Eli. Plain and simple. Thanks for letting me rant, guys. Don’t talk to me after the Chiefs come in and smoke the Giants this weekend, I don’t want to hear it. In 2012, they’ll win the Super Bowl and everyone will say what a great move it was to get Eli. I will have switched teams by then if this continues, I promise you that.