Home Eli Manning Why Extending Eli’s Contract Might Not Be In The Big Blue Plans

Why Extending Eli’s Contract Might Not Be In The Big Blue Plans

by James Doino

Why Extending Eli’s Contract Might Not Be In The Big Blue Plans

Who is Russ Lande?…And what is his significance in regards to this article?

(South Orange, New Jersey, USA) is Sporting News’ NFL Draft Expert, Former NFL Scout & Front Office Executive. Russ Lande, is currently a Sporting News.com NFL Draft Expert and President and Founder of GMJR.com. For the Sporting News, Lande is responsible for writing NFL insider content, providing detailed scouting reports on college players and posting an ongoing mock draft in the “War Room” leading up to the NFL Draft. Before working for Sporting News, Lande served as a college scout for the Cleveland Browns for three years covering the mid-west region while evaluating all eligible prospects for the NFL Draft. He covers all-star games, the NFL Combine and pro days. Lande continues to appear on radio stations across the country. Lande is also the author of the annual “GM Jr Draft Guide” which has been called the most comprehensive, unique and thorough NFL Draft Guide ever written and made available to the fans and scouts of the NFL.

Seems legit to me. I’ve been reading Russ for years now, and his in depth analysis is more than not, spot on.
Well James, what does Russ Lande have to do with the Giants extending Eli Manning’s contract?
Absolutely, positively, nothing. However, a Easter egg that Russ dropped recently, a Easter egg that went unnoticed by most Giants fans could be the clue to the future of our NY Giants. But we will get to that quote in a minute, let us first examine some other things in reference to Easy E.
Change isn’t constant: “I definitely don’t want change and think he’s a terrific offensive coordinator. Kevin has been my quarterback coach from Day One and my offensive coordinator. It’s been a lot of his offensive stuff from Day One.” That is how Eli felt about getting rid of Kevin Gilbride. Whether you want to call him delusional or loyal, I will leave that to you. It does however provide of glimpse inside Eli’s thinking.
Change is coming: Enter new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. While Coach Coughlin has said a lot of the offense will remain the same, there are sure to be some wrinkles provided by McAdoo. If not, then why even hire the guy? Can Manning handle the changes? It is easy for us to say yes he can, but that answer may be a bit naive as well. How do we know not only that Eli can accept the changes, but that he can thrive in a new offense? Eli’s game is throwing the ball down the field, chunks of yardage, that is not McAdoo’s vision. McAdoo will bring short passes, screens and that change will not only require the WR’s, RB’s and O-Line to adapt, but Eli as well.
Is he 33 already?: Yes he is, and there is no fountain of youth in the swamps of Jersey. The 49ers once said good-bye to Joe Montana. The Colts waved good-bye to Peyton. The Packers jettisoned Brett Favre. For us to sit here as Giants fans and blindly just say Eli is here for the duration of his career is ignorant and small sighted. Extending Eli now for 17-20 million a season til he is in his late 30’s or early 40’s is, well, not very smart. That’s a good way to cripple our salary cap figure for the next 5-6 season. Even with the salary cap going up over the next handful of years being fiscally responsible is imperative to keeping the NYG brand competitive for years to come.
Now if you read the Big BluePrint on BleedBigBlue.com you read how I thought the Giants should extend Eli now. So why am I being hippocratic now? Enter Russ Lande…Russ was quoted by Ian O’Connor, a columnist for ESPNNY.com during the NFL combine…
“This week, I had a higher up in NFL tell me none of this year’s QB’s are as good as (Ryan) Nassib” – from Russ Lande via Ian O’Connor.
Wow!…Can that be true? You all know the hard on I have for Johnny Manziel, so reading this quote got me thinking. What if the Giants know something we don’t? What if Nassib is a gem? What if Nassib is our Aaron Rodgers?
I was screaming for Nassib to get some run last season after we had nothing to play for. #PlayNassib. But what if Big Blue brass said we don’t want Nassib playing with this offensive line and the rest of the fuck ups we had out there last season. What if Nassib is the future?
I was also screaming at the top of my lungs that Nassib should have been playing last year, much like Kirk Cousins, to be put on display to possibly trade him for some picks. But what if the Giants simply don’t want to trade him because they see the future in this kid? And what does that mean to Eli?
Eli is 33 years old with 2 years and a shit load of money left on his contract. A new offensive coordinator who is only 3 years his senior is in town, with rumors everywhere that he might be Coughlin’s successor. And a much less expensive 4th round pick named Ryan Nassib waiting in the wings.
From what I have read and learned about Nassib, he seems to be a better fit for McAdoo’s timing offense then Eli does.
“I told you I’ve known this kid since high school. I am so happy for this kid. He’s a passionate kid with an edge. He’s got some footwork issues, but if you want to talk about a kid with an edge to him who will make his teammates better, this is the kid. He’s a tough kid. He lives in the weight room.”…”Thick-bodied arm talent who can distribute the ball at every level. Plus velocity when balanced and clean in his footwork. Strong, quick release, gets the ball out in a hurry on hitches and slants. Accurate to all parts of the field when in rhythm. Comes off initial read, can look off safety to come to the opposite side of the field. Willing to shovel the ball or make a last-ditch throw to make a play instead of taking a sack. Displays the ability to step up within applies enhancers: who this know.
the pocket or move to either side to create space to throw. Flashes air, touch, and accuracy on fades in the end zone. Puts a lot of air under deep balls, giving his man a chance to make a play. Sells play action and screens well. Places the ball on the run, especially to his right. Competitive player who directs his teammates well and does not give up on any game. Tough enough to take big hits, bull for a first down with his feet.” Mike Mayock

“The Syracuse star is the best combination of present capability and future potential of all the quarterbacks in the draft. He clearly has the required skills to play quarterback in the NFL – and very well. Nassib more than capably ran an NFL offense at Syracuse, posting great statistics as a senior, including a 62.4% completion percentage. I believe Nassib has plenty of room for growth. Syracuse didn’t run a full NFL offense, keeping the passing offense mostly in the horizontal timing range, though Nassib’s arm strength is clearly strong enough to throw more vertical combinations. That’s where Nassib’s growth potential lies…..Nassib is the type of quarterback teams – the players – want. He’s a guy teams are going to respect. He plays tough and not like a quarterback in a skirt. And he’s the type of quarterback that can put the team on his shoulders and carry them to wins. While he many not be the most physically imposing quarterback in the draft with the highest ceiling, there’s enough for me to think he’ll eventually be this draft’s best quarterback.” Jason Piere of SB Nation
Is it at all possible that the Giants are more than happy to give Eli until the end of his current contract and move on with a 38 year old head coach named Bob McAdoo and a young QB named Ryan Nassib? Similar to the changing of the guard that took place in Green Bay a couple of years ago?
We all sit here and speculate, we predict and argue with each other, and there is nothing wrong with that, that is what fans do. But sometimes, behind the walls of your favorite team, they have a plan that doesn’t reveal itself for years. It needs room to grow and mature so it can be moved into the spotlight.
We’ve sat here for months debating Eli’s cap number and his contract extension, his past accomplishments. And we’ve made predictions for his future, some good, some bad. But none of us know for sure the thinking going on in the front office. We can speculate and argue til we are Big Blue in the face, but sooner rather then later the Giants will have to extend, release or trade our two time Super Bowl MVP…it’s inevitable, and it’s approaching quickly.
Russ Lande said “This week, I had a higher up in NFL tell me none of this year’s QB’s are as good as (Ryan) Nassib” …What if Eli isn’t as good as Nassib either, and the Giants know it.
Maybe Nassib wasn’t thrown into the fire because they didn’t want the kid shell shocked or ending up getting murdered behind that line. I mean, was there really any reason for Curtis Painter to be in uniform at all?…It didn’t make sense at the time, but after reading that quote from Russ, it makes more sense now.
The Giants decisions about Eli, whether to extend him or not, could come down to the development of a 4th round pick who ran the Saints offense in Syracuse with now Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone, and if the kid can play, how long do wait? Aaron Rodgers sat on the pine for 4 years before he got his chance to play. Did that help Rodgers or did the Packers cost themselves by waiting to long to hand over the keys to the NKOTB?…
Eli can not play QB forever, and hopefully the Giants stole the future in the 4th round last year…only time will tell.
Steve Young replaced Broadway Joe. Andrew Luck replaced Peyton. Aaron Rodgers replaced that Brett Faar-vra guy. Someone someday is going to replace Eli Manning, the only questions are who?…and when?
Do you think the Giants might be setting up a situation where Ryan Nassib takes over for Eli Manning?…Would you extend Eli? Let’s go Bleed Big Bluers…What are your thoughts?

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1 comment

Wilson March 6, 2014 - 10:20 pm

First, if this ends up being true it’s only a matter of time until the cat is out of the bag. Then what, is Eli going to play hard knowing he’s on the way out?
Also, when are we ever going to see this Nassib guy play? I was with you that he should have gotten some time last season.
Finally, you have two choices – Manziel or Nassib – who is Mr. James Doino taking?

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