Giants Fans Are Freaking Out Because Ben McAdoo Said Geno Smith Could Be The Giants Long-Term Replacement For Eli Manning

ESPN- The signing of quarterback Geno Smith came at a minimal cost. It comes with a potential large reward in the eyes of the New York Giants as Smith could be the eventual successor to Eli Manning. Smith signed a one-year deal last week that included little guaranteed money after four tumultuous seasons with the New York Jets. Speaking at the NFL owners meetings Tuesday, Giants coach Ben McAdoo said he still believes something substantial can come from the recent marriage.

“I can’t see why not,” McAdoo said when asked about Smith being the Giants’ long-term replacement for Manning, before conceding they’re a long way from that happening. Manning, 36, has another three years remaining on his contract. But the Giants seem intrigued by Smith’s skill set, even after he experienced minimal success as a starter with the Jets. He had a 12-18 record and threw 28 touchdowns compared to 38 interceptions from 2013 to ’17.

So this quote came out last night and I didn’t think it was much. Just a coach giving a typical non-answer to a question but Giants fans seem to be legitimately spooked about it because Geno was a disaster with the Jets. What is Benny Mac supposed to say? That Geno is absolute trash and forever a backup? Hell no. You have to build a guy like Geno up after his Jets career. He is basically a young pup that thought he was an alpha, then got humbled, his jaw broken and laughed at for years. Benny knows that Eli is the QB of this team for the next few years. Benny also knows that Eli isn’t getting any younger, coming off a rough season AND that Geno was trash with the Jets. Would a man that led the Giants to the playoffs his first year, won my imaginary Rookie Head Coach of the Year Award, and has the ability drop knowledge like this blindly believe that Geno Smith could take over for Eli anytime soon?

Fuck no. That quote comes from a man that has the brain of Lombardi, the tongue of Confucius, and the hair of the Gods. McAdoo knows exactly what he is doing. If Geno gets needs some stability, a system that maximizes his strengths, the best receiver on the planet at his dispense, and maybe a few videos of animals eating people, he could become a good quarterback. And if the Giants realize that Geno is truly a tire fire at QB or a real asshole in the locker room and it doesn’t work out? They just cut him and move on. The Giants are going to draft a QB in the first couple of rounds sooner or later. Maybe even this year. Rooting for Eli may be a goddamn roller coaster ride, but it’s much better than playing QB roulette. But while Eli is still around, the GMen might as well bring in quarterbacks that have talent and see if they can get anything out of them before he retires. Because being in the state that the Jets, Bears, Browns, and other teams have been in for years is a death sentence in the NFL.

h/t @shortdolphin for getting my that Madden pic of Geno. I may not be able to trade my game in at the end of the season anymore just so I can create these myself