NFL Notes: Eli Manning, 49ers, Browns, Texans

Eli Manning 

Giants HC Ben McAdoo told reporters that the decision to bench Eli Manning in favor of Geno Smith is “not the end of Eli in New York.” McAdoo added: “[A]t this point it’s my responsibility to take a look at Geno Smith and Davis Webb.”

According to McAdoo, they plan to have Manning serve as the team’s No. 2 quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Raiders.

Manning admitted that the news is hard to handle while speaking to reporters shortly after the move was announced.

“It’s hard. Hard day to handle this. Hang in there and figure it out,” Manning said, via the Giants Twitter account. 

Manning said that the option to play one half in order to continue his consecutive starts streak wasn’t worth it to him.

“To go out there knowing you’re coming out, I didn’t think that’s how you prepare…eventually they were going to start working in Davis. I didn’t want to start just to keep a streak alive,” Manning said.

• McAdoo said that they didn’t consider the option of waiving Manning to allow him to sign with another team, per James Kratch.
• Former Giants HC Tom Coughlin was disappointed with the team’s decision: “Surprised is not the word. My sentiments are totally with Eli Manning. … He’s a class act, a two-time Super Bowl champ, one of the finest, most humble men in that locker room. … I was very upset about when I heard that.” (Mike Garafolo)
• As for Manning’s contract, Field Yates points out that he’s owed a $5M roster bonus due on the 5th day of the 2018 league year, a $10.5M base salary in 2018 (non-guaranteed) and will carry a cap figure of $22.2M.
• Should the Giants either release or trade Manning next year, they would incur $12.4M in dead money.

49ers

• The 49ers brought in free agent OL Adam Gettis for a tryout last Wednesday. (Howard Balzer)

Browns

• The Browns brought in P Brock Miller for a tryout last Wednesday. (Howard Balzer)

Texans

• Texans HC Bill O’Brien told reporters on Tuesday that he isn’t considering benching QB Tom Savage: “No, not right now.” (Aaron Wilson)
• However, O’Brien made it clear that changes could be coming at quarterback if Savage continues to turn the ball over: “It has to get corrected. If not, we’ll have to go in a different direction.” (Aaron Wilson)