The Blank Stare

Dear Ben, Dave, and PK,

I'm not sure which is more improbable: Eli "shaking off the blank stare" or Coughlin truly becoming a friendlier coach.

That blank stare of his is a permanent facial feature. I don't doubt his effort and commitment. You don't get to be a collegiate all-american, a #1 draft pick, and a starting QB in the NFL without effort and talent - even if your name is "Manning." But I understand why Eli's look is so disconcerting to Giants fans. His expression and entire demeanor don't inspire confidence. Certainly not to the fans, and maybe not even to his teammates, their tepid denials to the contrary. And, honestly, appearances do count for something. It is one of the reasons - among many - that I am so uncomfortable with the Eagles quarterback-in-waiting Kevin Kolb. He looks like a weasel. Very shady. I don't want my starting quarterback to look like he's a street punk, regardless of his arm strength or accuracy. This picture really doesn't do my point justice. But notice him the next time they cut to him during a game and you'll know what I mean.

(Years from now, sports writers will have a field day speculating about why the Mannings were so intent on maneuvering Eli to NY and the fallout from it - both to the NYG and San Diego teams involved but also to young Eli's career. Was the trade demanded to avoid the authoritarian oversight by Marty Schottenheimer? If so, it was a colossal blunder to opt for the even worse martinet Coughlin. Did the Mannings think Tiki a better back than Tomlinson? Surely, it can't have been for the "exposure" and marketing opportunities of the New York area as Peyton's ubiquitous pitch-master presence belies Indy's small market status.)

But I am surprised to read that you think the Giants may need to assess what's out there regarding quarterback talent if the team crashes and burns late in the season again. (As an aside, that road playoff win should in theory be more realistic given that the Giants will likely have a better record than either of the two division winners they might play.).

Last Saturday night our mutual friend and your Giant fan colleague, "the Shuff," (note the two "f's") seemed resigned that what you see with Manning at this point is what you are going to get. He might have even said, "Eli is what he is," – channeling our earlier Bill Parcells’ reference - but I was on my fourth double scotch by then so can't accurately recall. Shuff elaborated – lamented was more like it, that Manning - in his fourth year at this point - is a good quarterback but isn't going to be a superstar. Competent may not be what you had in mind for the overall #1 pick, but it may be adequate enough depending on the surrounding players and coaches. (though I'm not sure Eli, the team or the fans will be able to handle the crushing disappointment of those revised expectations down the road).

Compounding Eli's misery, or is it Giants’ fans’ misery?, is the ascendance of two other young NFC East QBs. Of the three young guns in the East, and I purposely qualify "young" to avoid putting McNabb in the equation, Romo I think is clearly #1, Manning may still be hanging on to #2, but Jason Campbell is coming on strong and may soon surpass him if he hasn't already.

Has playing for Coughlin stunted Eli’s development? I don’t know. But I suspect that it couldn’t hurt Eli to have a change in coaches. But barring another improbable late season collapse it appears very likely the Giants will make the playoffs. Whether they get bounced in the first or second round, it would be hard to fire Coughlin then, wouldn’t it? Is Eli consigned to playing just well enough to continue to preserve the job of the coach who has prevented him from truly flourishing, and keeping him and the team from taking the next championship step? Oh the irony. I doubt it’s lost on Archie Manning.

- Griff