No Way to Treat Eli Manning

     As a Giants fan I don't like this move by the Giants to make him a lame duck QB going in to 2015. 

    "It increasingly looks like the Giants will not give quarterback Eli Manning a contract extension before the 2015 season starts."

    "Manning told Gary Myers of the New York Daily News on Monday that he has yet to engage in any talks with the club about a new deal."

    “No discussions yet,” Manning said. “I don’t know if there will be or not.”

     "He inked a six-year, $97.5 million pact with Big Blue in August 2009, between his first and second Super Bowl wins. Manning will earn $19.75 million in 2015 — just below what he brought home the past two seasons — in the final year of his contract."

      "A big reason the Giants may wait is to see how he performs next season. The 34-year-old threw for 4,410 yards with 30 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions and a career-best 63.1 percent completion rate. However, in 2013 he tossed 27 interceptions with only 18 touchdown passes, his 69.4 passer rating more than 20 points lower than in 2014. These are the two different sides of Manning."

     "I think you’re always proving yourself in this league,” Manning said. “It’s always kind of what have you done lately and you got to prove that you can still play at a high level.”

     "The club would take a significant gamble by not paying him before the Giants kick off their season. Barring disaster, Manning will earn a generous extension no matter how well or how poorly he plays in 2015. But if he improves upon last season's performance, his price will only climb."

     http://nyg.247sports.com/Bolt/Eli-Manning-Giants-still-havent-opened-contract-talks-37672133

     I don't like it at all that they are still questioning his ability to play this game after all he's accomplished. As for what he's done lately, he had statistically at least a career year last year. 

     This year should only be better as Victor Cruz will be back and reportedly he's in very good shape and Odell Beckam will have played a year coming into this season. 

     Hopefully Eli has an even better year-which with OBJ and Cruz is a real likelihood and they have to pay him more. 

      Yes, I agree football is a business but I think treating someone who has contributed this much to your team is bad business. I do think in the case of an Eli Manning some appreciation even for the past is in order and in any case he can certainly play. 

     Another interpretation I've heard is that this is more just a salary cap move: while the Giants could actually improve their salary cap space by giving Eli a long term deal, they don't plan to make any more significant signings. 

    Ultimately, according to this theory, they plan to sign him to the long term deal. They have said they want him to retire a Giant-he has said the same. As important as I as fan want to win now I don't want Eli treated the way Phil Sims go treated by Ray Handley. I think loyalty should have some part to play in the game.