Is this Eli Manning’s hardest day in his 13-year Giants career?
“It’s up there,” Manning said in front of his locker Tuesday, appearing to fight back tears as he spoke to reporters about the Giants’ decision to sit him Sunday — and the rest of the season — against the Raiders.
Manning, New York’s ironman quarterback who brought the Giants two Super Bowls while starting 210 consecutive regular-season games, declined the Giants’ offer to keep the streak alive by leading the team onto the field Sunday before giving way to Geno Smith. The 36-year-old called the option “pointless” without getting the chance to finish the game.
Manning had little else to say about the stunning announcement, but was his usual diplomatic self when answering the tough questions about his Giants’ future.
“It’s hard. It’s been … a hard day to handle this, but, uh, hang in there and figure it out,” Manning said.
When asked if he thought he may have started his last game for the Giants last Thursday, a 20-10 loss to the Redskins, Manning was practically speechless.
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” he said quietly. “Take it one week at a time.”
A handful of Manning’s former teammates did the talking for him Tuesday, criticizing the Giants for their handling of Manning’s situation amid a 2-9 season for which there is plenty of blame to go around.