“We’re going to win again with Eli.’’
Proclamations from head coaches do not come more defiant and definitive than those words Giants coach Tom Coughlin delivered Thursday in the wake of Eli Manning’s colossal struggles and with questions now surfacing about whether he should be benched with his confidence seemingly shattered.
This was not exactly a whisper becoming a scream, but on Wednesday during a conference call with Minnesota media, Coughlin was asked the inevitable question that comes to head coaches of teams struggling as badly as the 0-6 Giants are: “Have you considered benching Eli?’’
“I believe I said, ‘If I heard you correctly, no,’ ’’ Coughlin said Thursday, recounting the conversation.
“He’s the guy,’’ Coughlin said. “We’re going to win again with Eli.’’
We are presuming Coughlin did not mean the Giants are merely going to win a few more games this season with Manning than the zero they have now, beginning with Monday night’s game against the 1-4 Vikings at MetLife Stadium.
We are presuming Coughlin meant the Giants are going to be winners again with Manning at quarterback, the way they were during the 2007 and 2011 seasons that ended with Super Bowl parades down Broadway.
The reality for Coughlin is his head coaching future — however much time remains of it — is tied to Manning’s success.
Coughlin, who will be 68 next season while in the final year of his contract, is inextricably tied to Manning for as long as he continues coaching, because the chances of him being the head coach to groom the next Giants franchise quarterback are as good as him benching Manning.
Coughlin has lived with Manning and celebrated two Super Bowl titles with him and, even if Manning somehow never recovers from this inexplicable slump he is in this year, Coughlin’s coaching career will end with Manning.
“It’s good to know that the coach has my back,’’ Manning said. “I have to go out there and do my part and play the way that I know and he knows that I can play. I’m not listening to what’s being said [about being benched]. I know in the NFL it’s always a case of what have you done for me lately. Obviously, I have to play better at a higher level, but I know I can do that.’’
As word the question was even being posed about benching Manning circulated around the Giants locker room Thursday, players reacted incredulously.
“My reaction to that is this: Are we at Caroline’s?’’ Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said, referring to the venerable Manhattan comedy club. “Is that a joke? I’m not even entertaining that. That’s just BS. I would pick no other quarterback over him — especially being 0-6 and in the situation we’re in now. There is no guy better to bring us out of this than him.’’
Giants receiver Victor Cruz used the word “preposterous’’ when the Manning benching topic was broached, adding, “Some more catastrophic things have to happen for them to even consider that. Eli is our guy no matter what he’s going through. As a teammate, I wouldn’t want any other guy at the helm.’’
Despite the cachet he has banked, including two Super Bowl MVPs, Manning leads the NFL with 15 interceptions, eight of which have come in the fourth quarter, and is ranked 33rd in league in completion percentage (53.7), 35th in interceptions and 33rd in passer rating (64.0).
Making matters more pressing — if that’s even possible at 0-6 — is Manning’s horrible history against the Vikings, against whom he is 1-4 as a starter with three TDs and 11 INTs, a 53.4 completion percentage and a 50.2 career passer rating that’s the worst versus any opponent.
Nevertheless, the Giants believe they will win again with Eli.
“I’d go to war with that guy in any circumstance,’’ Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said. “Without any question about it.’’