On the day that Eli Manning’s No. 10 is retired, it’s worth remembering that it was a privilege for him to represent the New York Football Giants for 16 seasons.
This is all the more important to emphasize because, after a fifth straight 0-2 start, Giants fans are worried that there aren’t enough Giants who consider it a privilege to wear the uniform.
If the team falls to 0-2 against the Falcons on Sunday, you can bet that head coach Joe Judge will look to replace those who don’t with players who do.
Manning’s emotional farewell will be followed by 60 minutes of football that will determine whether the Giants’ season is successful or not.
A win, be it ugly or not, would stop the bleeding.
A loss would spark a confidence crisis, self-doubt, and the wrath of Giants fans, who will look to general manager Dave Gettleman and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett as scapegoats.
When fans say their final goodbyes to the last and most enduring symbol of New York Giants pride, there will be tears and cheers… And it’d only be right if the Giants players who couldn’t get No. 10, the Giants players who wear numbers that haven’t been retired and should consider themselves lucky to have them, honored the end of the day by inspiring only cheers.
This isn’t the day for fans to abandon their team in the fourth quarter and saunter aimlessly to the parking lots.
Judge has enlisted the help of some of the franchise’s past champions to teach his players about what it means to be a Giant.
The best example is the office of the last Giant to wear No. 10, who is located at 1925 Giants Drive.
Even though Manning’s Super Bowl XLII Giants are 0-2 so far, all is not lost. But, according to John Mara, it was time to win games this season after a string of dreadful seasons in which his team failed to win enough.
Do you recall the Fighting Joe Judges? Speak now — to jittery Giants fans — or forever remain silent.
The 10-year anniversary of Super Bowl XLVI is also being commemorated this year.
Who can blame Giants fans for being tired of living in the past?
The Giants learned not to put their fate in the hands of others on the final night of the 2020 season, when Eagles coach Doug Pederson gifted the Washington Football Team the NFC East title.
They learned not to put their fate in the hands of the officials in their most recent game against Washington.
Enough with the harrowing lessons.
Daniel Jones gave it his all against Washington and deserved better than to enter Sunday with an 8-20 career record.
Judge hasn’t incurred the wrath of the fans, but he should do himself a favor and field a team that is smart, tough, and fundamentally sound, not to mention disciplined, before his record as a head coach falls to 6-13.
Kenny Golladay has played two games for the Giants, and during one of them, he yelled at Garrett from the sidelines.
“One thing I really like about this guy is that he has a lot of fire,” the judge says.
Garrett: “I love the guy.”
If his hip cooperates, we’ll see how hot he is on the field.
Let’s see how Garrett handles first-round receiver Kadarius Toney, who has spent more time on Instagram than in the game plan.
Let’s see how Saquon Barkley responds to a 10-day rest.
