Is Eli’s time in New York winding down? Giants GM, Jerry Reese, admits that the 36 year old QB will be grooming his successor soon.
After a disappointing playoff loss to the Packers, the Giants are now focused on the offseason and their first look might be at their aging quarterback. Manning has spent his entire 14 year career with the Giants, grabbing them two Super Bowls and four Pro Bowl appearances, but is it time for him to hang his cleats? During a press conference, Giants GM, Jerry Reese, stated that,
Jerry Reese on 36-year old Eli Manning: "He's probably on the back nine but I don't think it's ancient for a quarterback.''
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) January 9, 2017
“We always think about every position, but Eli is 36,” general manager Jerry Reese conceded, via the New York Daily News, in Monday’s season-ending press conference. “We have started to think about who’s the next quarterback, who’s in line. So we’ll look into that as we move through the offseason.”
And if you’re not hip to the lingo, “back nine” is a golf term used by NFL execs aware of the decline of a veteran quarterback. With a deep QB draft in 2017, it won’t hurt the Giants to grab one or even look to trading for one (here’s looking at you NE). Does Eli have more left in the tank? I think so, maybe about two years tops with the possibility of one more Super Bowl run. Either way, Giants fans, its time to start looking for a new leader.