Eli Manning’s Emotional Response to Being Benched for Geno Smith Is Tough to Watch

On Monday afternoon, in a move that probably sums up the New York Giants' season as much as any single move can, the team announced they'd be benching 14-year veteran quarterback Eli Manning in favor of Geno Smith. The move will mark the first time in 211 games that Eli won't begin the game under center (which was somewhat quietly the second longest such streak in NFL history) and the development definitely hit the 36-year-old hard.

Additionally, it was revealed by Giants.com that Eli opted not to start even after he was given a chance by the team in order to artificially extend his aforementioned streak.

"Coach McAdoo told me I could continue to start while Geno and [third string quarterback Davis Webb] are given an opportunity to play," Manning said. "My feeling is that if you are going to play the other guys, play them. Starting just to keep the streak going and knowing you won’t finish the game and have a chance to win it is pointless to me, and it tarnishes the streak. Like I always have, I will be ready to play if and when I am needed. I will help Geno and Davis prepare to play as well as they possibly can."

As for the internet, they had Geno jokes:

Smith has started just one game over the past two seasons, while he was still with the New York Jets. In 2015 he made one appearance, and his most notable headline came when he got his jaw broken in an altercation with teammate IK Enemkpali. In 2016 he started one game before he had to leave with what turned out to be a torn ACL. This year he's thrown two passes, both of which have hit the ground. In other words, that No. 2 overall pick is well within reach.