Imagine being the best player on your team, but not having much support from them. Before Odell Beckham became a Giant, Eli Manning was a laughingstock in the NFL with only 18 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. Yes, Eli has two championships and two Super Bowl MVP’s, but he is not a model of consistency like his brother, Peyton.
With Beckham, he has arguably had his two best seasons as a pro, with only his 2011 Super Bowl year being in the discussion. Beckham did not trash Manning’s performance against Washington when Manning only had two back-breaking interceptions to Beckham’s seven catches for 121 yards.
When players go after Beckham on the field, very rarely do his teammates jump in to defend him. You would think protecting one of the NFL’s premier game breakers would be important, but that is not the case. Dealing with Beckham seems like a chore for Giants players, despite what he brings to the team. The Giants better hope they do not push Beckham to the point of him not re-signing because that would be a massive blow to the team.
Sure, Beckham may not be the most mature player, but he has never publicly bashed Manning for Manning’s poor play, or any other teammate for that matter. Beckham would be considered a diva if he spoke out about Manning after he made one of his routine bone-headed decisions.
It is not just Manning, though, as this January, Giants head coach Ben McAdoo said domestic violence is one of the things he will not tolerate as head coach. Fast forward nine months later and he is already not keeping his word.
Eli Manning was part of the "No More" campaign to end domestic violence and sexual assault, but he has remained silent on the issue. You are not above trashing someone who makes you look better on the field, but Josh Brown’s situation causes silence? Manning said he saw new information on the situation was revealed and he was not up to speed with everything. He also said his main focus this week was on beating the Rams, and all he can do is support his teammates during this ongoing case. After doing ads and campaigning over the last two years about how we should combat this scenario, he is not taking his own advice.
While the Giants are doing fairly well so far this season, this is something to keep an eye on as the season progresses. If New York starts losing more, more soundbites could reach the press from the locker room.
