The Giants are moving players, but not the one that absolutely has to go

When Eli Manning was drafted by San Diego, then traded to the Giants, in 2004, I felt like the Giants should've used Three Dog Night's "Eli's Coming" to promote his pending arrival.

Fourteen years later, Manning feels now like the punch-drunk fighter lingering on too long. At least his brother, Peyton, knew when to hang up the cleats, although he still needs acting lessons, if his annoying Nationwide Insurance ads with Brad Paisley are any indication. The Giants are 1-6, most likely won't make the playoffs---again---and the team is starting to make wholesale changes at every position except the most important one.

2015 draft pick Ereck Flowers was cut a few weeks back, and has since signed with Jacksonville. In the last two days, the Giants have parted with a pair of defensive players. Eli Apple, a 1st round pick in 2016, was shipped to New Orleans for draft picks. Yesterday, defensive lineman Damon "Snacks" Harrison was sent to Detroit for draft picks. Kyle Lauletta, a rookie drafted out of Richmond, was inactive in Monday's loss to Atlanta. Last year's backup, Davis Webb, at last check, was on the Jets' practice squad.

People were complaining during baseball season about the Mets keeping an over-the-hill Jose Reyes on the roster, rather than bring up a top prospect. It's pretty much the same thing with Eli. Now in his 15th season, Manning isn't the same quarterback who led the Giants to two Super Bowl wins over the hated New England Patriots. The offensive line, despite changes in the offseason, including signing ex-Patriot Nate Solder as a free agent, is still a sieve. Management is stubbornly too loyal to Manning, as the Mets were to Reyes, to put him on the bench in favor of Lauletta. When Ben McAdoo tried to bench Manning last season, it ultimately led to his dismissal. Current coach Pat Shurmur, whose son, Kyle, is a QB at Vanderbilt, has said Manning's not going anywhere.

Wrong answer, Pat. For the good of the team, Manning has to cede some playing time. The team's stubborn loyalty led to Webb, and before him, Ryan Nassib, being run off. Lauletta could suffer the same fate if nothing is done over the final ten weeks of the season.

For all the hype surrounding this year's first round pick, Saquon Barkley of Penn State, it's been negated by the team's poor performance. Poor decision making cost them Monday night against Atlanta, and, truth be told, it won't get any easier against the Washington Trumpets on Sunday.

Ownership dismissed GM Jerry Reese last year, and brought Dave Gettleman in from Carolina. That hasn't solved anything. Receiver and shampoo salesman Odell Beckham, Jr. played the diva card and got a big pay raise. Unfortunately, that hasn't translated so well on the field nearly halfway through the season.

Beckham, for now, and Barkley, as well as 3rd year receiver Sterling Shepard, are untouchable. They need a QB with a fresh perspective to throw to them.

Kyle Shurmur, the coach's son, will be in the draft next year. I'd say pops is waiting to bring him in, then figure out what to do with Eli, who caddied Kurt Warner before taking the starting job all those years ago. Here's an idea. Pull the plug. Now.