Eli Manning says he deserves “some criticism” after Lions loss
Eli Manning was singled out by head coach Ben McAdoo for “sloppy quarterback play” in the New York Giants’ 24-10 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Manning is in his 14th season with the Giants has experienced the highs and lows that come with playing quarterback in the nation’s biggest media market. As is always the case, No. 10 didn’t shy away or was offended by his coach’s criticism.
“Hey, you lose games, you only score 10 points, you deserve some criticism,” Manning said in a Tuesday interview on WFAN. “Coach McAdoo knows I can handle it.”
McAdoo, who usually deftly answers questions in Coaching English, bluntly called out Manning for a costly delay of game penalty on 4th and goal from the Lions 1. On Tuesday, he didn’t feel as if he was solely picking on his quarterback.
“Did I single (Manning) out?” McAdoo said during a Tuesday conference call. “Well, we needed to get the ball snapped there. So, I thought that the quarterback and the center need to find a way to get the ball snapped before the clock hit zero. I’m not sure what you mean by calling him out; we need to get the ball snapped.”
In McAdoo’s defense, Manning has the ability to signal out of the play call if he doesn’t like what he sees. He was also correct in saying that the quarterback and center needed to get the ball off, especially at that point in the game when the Giants were only down a touchdown.
At the same time, Manning is a two-time Super Bowl champion who deserved something beyond getting individually reamed by his head coach. His resume, reputation, and stature means a different approach could’ve been taken. Of course, this isn’t in line with McAdoo’s philosophy of treating players differently based on their personalities.
McAdoo wasn’t nearly as critical of offensive tackle Ereck Flowers (who allowed three sacks of Manning) or wide receiver Brandon Marshall (who dropped a key pass that led a Lions 88-yard punt return for a touchdown that broke the game open two plays later). He says he’s not worried about losing the team because of his criticism of some players but not others.
Manning can take the criticism, because he’s dealt it with his entire career. He owns up to his part in the losing even his head coach treats other players with kid gloves. The event, win or loss, never seems to change Manning’s disposition. This is why he’s been able to play 14 years in the nation’s largest media market.
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