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To change the game from the end of the season, the evening ended perfectly for Eli Manning and the Giants, who had defeated the 49ers, 27-23, a decisive pass for a winning goal 53 seconds from the end of the game Monday at Levi's. Stadium.
Manning, showered and dressed elegantly in a blue suit, was waiting in an interview room handling his smartphone as reporters entered to tell him what he had to say about the return of the fourth quarter that & He had just organized to ensure victory. 41st of his 15-year career, including the playoffs.
A journalist asked Manning how many texts he had just received.
"I think I have about 50," said Manning softly. "I had a good wife. I can not repeat it, but it made me laugh. "
There have been very few light moments in this giant season, very little laughter.
But that night, with the quarter-veteran in battle who had regained his old prowess in terms of clutches, there was finally a reason to smile, even if it was only for a short time. After all, it was just the second win in nine games this season for the Giants.
So, Manning, who last week received a blurry vote of confidence as starter "for Monday" from head coach Pat Shurmur, will surely face the Buccaneers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
At Tuesday's conference call, Shurmur was lukewarm in his assessment of Manning, stating, "Whenever a player puts a winning performance on the pitch, he should be happy, at least for a day or two. The challenge then is to prepare to do it again in a week. "
Maybe there will be more reasons to smile about Sunday. Or maybe Monday night was just a glimpse of what was for Manning.
Anyway, you have to understand this: the Giants' quarterback plan should not change based on Eli's few extra performances.
The Giants must leave Manning in 2019 at the risk of being a slaughter so soon after the good times of Monday night and with the respect due to one of the most important players in the history of the franchise.
They have to do in 2019 what they did not do last season, that is, take the emotion out of the equation and look to the future with a new franchise quarterback. Of course, it's a risky deal that tries to find a quarter of a franchise. Ask the Jets, Bills, Dolphins, Browns and Cardinals (just to name a few) how they disappeared.
But the process should begin as soon as possible, starting with a look at the fourth round pick, Kyle Lauletta, sometime before the end of the season, before forming a quarter in the spring.
The problem is this: a few other moments of well-being, like Monday night against the 49ers, should not make the Giants owners and leaders believe that they can stay on Manning until 2019, when he plans to accumulate $ 23.2 million against the salary cap. debilitating number to a reconstruction team.
After the match, Manning said the win back "means a lot … just for the team's morale."
"We have gone through a difficult time," Manning said. "It was not a terrible football; it was not enough. Just enough bad games that kept us from winning games. ''
Manning spoke from a team point of view, but he might as well have talked about his own performance this season.
Of course, he is about to produce his highest end-of-career percentage. But until Monday, Manning had not put his team enough in the end zone and his lack of mobility has become a handicap in the world of athletic quarterbacks.
Eli's older brother, Peyton, was at the game on Monday, after coming to town to play golf with friends at the California Golf Club, then to attend the Giants game that night. Peyton has played in a few Eli games this season, which makes him wonder if he thinks it could be a goodbye tour for his youngest brother.
"I could not see him today," Eli told The Post. "But I'm glad he comes to support me. It means a lot.
When asked what advice Peyton gave him in these difficult times, Eli replied, "We are arguing and he just said," Hey, stay on course and keep making good decisions. "
Shortly after the end of the season, the Giants will have a decision to make and, as unpopular as it may be for supporters of Eli, it is obvious.
And following this decision, Eli will have to decide whether he wants to play somewhere else like his older brother did, or as Phil Simms did in the '90s and qualifies it as a career, choosing to close your career in the same uniform. in which he started.
When it's over for Manning, he'll be revered by Giants fans like Simms was. And he will be best remembered as Monday, bringing his fourth-quarter deficit team back on the road with his best clutch performance.
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