Colt McCoy helped the Giants stay in last year’s playoff race by quarterbacking the team to its top 2020 win — an upset over the eventual NFC West champion Seahawks. But the Giants went in a different direction at backup quarterback in 2021.
This did not always appear to be Big Blue’s plan. They made an extension offer to McCoy during the 2020 season, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, who adds another interested team was told the 35-year-old backup had planned to stay in New York. But no deal came to pass. McCoy ended up in Arizona in late March. The Giants had signed Mike Glennon 11 days earlier to be Daniel Jones‘ backup.
While the Giants offered McCoy last year, they changed their line of thinking this offseason. While the sides expected to stay in touch ahead of free agency, no offer was on the table come March. Citing Glennon’s superior arm strength, the Giants backed away from their McCoy proposal and went with the 6-foot-7 journeyman, Dunleavy adds. The Giants signed Glennon for one year and $1.37MM. McCoy, who made $2.25MM with the Giants, is attached to a one-year, $1.21MM contract with the Cardinals.
The switch has not worked out for the Giants, though the team’s 2021 plan — Glennon and, eventually, Jake Fromm — has certainly improved its 2022 draft position. The Giants are 0-4 without Jones and have lost by at least two scores in each of those games. With his sixth team in six years, Glennon has completed 55% of his passes — down from 62% in five Jaguars games last season — and has thrown four touchdown passes compared to eight interceptions. Glennon’s record as a starter is now 6-24. Glennon or Fromm will be at the helm the rest of the way for the Giants, who have shut Jones down for the season.
McCoy delivered a strong midseason stretch to help the Cardinals during Kyler Murray‘s three-game hiatus. The 12th-year veteran completed 75% of his throws and powered the Cards to two wins — over the 49ers and Seahawks — without DeAndre Hopkins. McCoy completed 61% of his throws, at just 5.7 yards per attempt, during his one-year Giants stay. Given Jones’ neck injury, the Giants will certainly look to upgrade their backup spot in 2022.
LOLGiants
What is LOLGiants about this specific move? They’re a terrible team and if you think Colt McCoy would have been able to do any better than Glennon behind this atrocious offensive line and with every WR getting injured every week, you don’t know much about the Giants.
Yes, another great Giants “braintrust” decision that has Gettleman, Abrams and Pat Marra all over it!
McCoy has been at least adequate any time he has gotten a chance to start over the years, and at times has been solid. Glennon, quite simply, has not been adequate more often than not. This was a very stupid way for the Giants to save a relatively few dollars.
Why was this ‘very stupid’? The surrounding cast is terrible. Jones, Glennon, and Fromm have had zero time to throw the ball all year. McCoy would not have fared any better than Glennon this year.
The offensive line wasn’t very good for McCoy last year and he didn’t exactly sparkle behind it. The Seattle game was a nice story but McCoy was absolutely terrible in that game, going 13-22 for 105 yards. He could barely throw it ten yards downfield.
The offensive line is even worse this year, with two of the better guys from last year missing essentially the whole season and Solder coming back. No way McCoy plays any better than Glennon if he’s on the Giants.
There’s plenty to rip the Giants about, but this move ain’t one of them.
I agree with Monkey’s Uncle, but you are also right, rct. This Giants team is pretty much helpless, and it looks like the players and/or coaches already decided that the current staff in the organization was done at the midway point. Part of that is poor moves by Gettleman, but in fairness to him, a lot of the players just were disappointing. The effort does not seem to be there, either, but it’s tough to say without being in there.
In short, I think extending a familiar face in McCoy would have been a good move, even if the expected production difference between him and Glennon likely is not too great. The biggest question, as always, seems to be the offensive line.
But Glennon is tall
Why try to win games now? Lose out and improve draft stock as much as possible. As much as I hate seeing them lose, I’m perfectly fine with the situation as is
McCoy is a better QB but he can’t stay healthy when he plays – thus you’d be playing your third stringer in a game or two anyway.
He sure stayed healthy enough to play when he was with the Giants……Glennon sucked when he was given the chance to QB the Bears a short time ago and his “strong arm” is counterbalanced by a slow, and obvious to the defense, methodical release that’s usually behind the receiver……anyway, Jones can’t seem to stay healthy either!
If you’re down to your third string QB, its all over for the most part even for the top teams anyway.
“He sure stayed healthy enough to play when he was with the Giants”
He was terrible, though. Look at the film of the games he played and his stats. Glennon’s been terrible, too, but Colt McCoy would not be any better on this team.
I don’t know why teams get cheapo with back up QB’s. A decent one can save your season. Same thing with kickers. That $800,000 you saved doesn’t seem so big a deal when your kicker misses a game winning field goal several times…..
Excellent post.
Another blow for the giants’ management – Gettleman better go. Btw what does the ‘TR’ mean on some people’s profile pictures?
I’m guessing but not sure entirely: they must be paid members of the Trade Rumors sites, which is why they get that badge.