Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Los Angeles Chargers
New York Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers
Here are Monday’s reserve/futures contract decisions:
Dallas Cowboys
Los Angeles Chargers
New England Patriots
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle Seahawks
Eli Manning is less-than-certain about his future with the Giants. In a radio interview this week, Manning expressed doubt that he’ll be under center for the G-Men in 2019, as Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com writes.
“I do. I do,” Manning said when asked if he wants to play again. “I love playing football. I like my teammates and the coaches we have.”
However, when Manning was asked if we have seen the last of him, the quarterback simply said, “We’ll see.”
Recently, Giants GM Dave Gettleman had a “very extensive” and “no holds barred” conversation with Manning about his future. It’s not hard to read between the lines: despite Manning’s past success and a quietly solid second half to the 2018 season, the Giants are giving real consideration to cutting ties with the two-time champ.
Here’s more from the Meadowlands:
The Browns were originally scheduled to meet with Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski on Monday, but they’ve moved that interview to today, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Stefanski, who was elevated to offensive coordinator in Minnesota following John DeFilippo‘s firing, is in consideration for Cleveland’s head coaching job. While the Vikings are still interested in retaining Stefanski, he’s no longer under contract. Meanwhile, the Giants — who attempted to lure Stefanski to New York last offseason — won’t pursue Stefanski this year, as head coach Pat Shurmur told Mike Francesa of WFAN (Twitter link via Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com).
At a Wednesday press conference, Giants GM Dave Gettleman reaffirmed that Odell Beckham Jr. remains in the team’s plans. However, he declined to commit to a future with longtime franchise quarterback Eli Manning. 
“We didn’t sign him to trade him,” Gettleman said when asked about the temperamental wide receiver (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY).
When pressed further about OBJ, Gettleman told reporters, “You heard what I said.” However, it’s a different situation when it comes to Manning.
Gettleman said he had a “very extensive” and “no-holds barred” conversation with Manning on Monday, suggesting that Manning could be on his way out.
“We will do what’s in the best interests of the New York Giants. We’re trying to build sustained success. That takes brutal honesty and some tough decisions,” Gettleman said (Twitter link via Vacchiano).
Early in the 2018 season, it seemed certain that Manning wouldn’t be the Giants’ quarterback in 2019. The Giants were 1-7 and the season was circling the drain again, with Manning struggling heavily in his first year in Pat Shurmur’s offense. But, the Giants managed to turn things around by winning four of five games and had a near upset win over the Colts.
Manning, ultimately, finished out with his best statistical season in years, and his yards per attempt was his best posting since 2011. Before the Giants’ home finale, we heard that Manning was still more likely to return as the team’s QB than not. Now, however, that’s very much in question.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
New Year’s Eve marks the first day eliminated teams can sign players to reserve/futures contracts. Here is the first wave of those decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
New York Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
Washington Redskins
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
New York Giants
San Francisco 49ers
Washington Redskins
There was hope that Odell Beckham Jr. would be able to return for the Giants’ final game of the season, but the team is opting to shut him down instead, a source told Jordan Raanan of ESPN (Twitter link).
While the Giants don’t have anything to play for in terms of playoff contention, they’ve been playing with a lot of pride recently and have put forth some great efforts, so it’s not surprising that they were holding out hope Beckham would be able to play. It’ll be the fourth straight missed game for Beckham to end the season, with his last appearance coming in the team’s overtime win against the Bears.
After starting the year 1-7, the Giants have gone 4-3 over their last ten games, and very nearly shocked the Colts as massive underdogs last week. Beckham was active for three of the four wins, but surprisingly didn’t have his best games during that stretch. He averaged only 61 yards in the three recent wins, but did catch four touchdowns.
Beckham suffered a quad injury last month, but was initially able to play through it. One day he suddenly popped back up on the injury report, and was suddenly ruled out for that weekend’s game. His injury was clouded in secrecy and the team wouldn’t elaborate on what happened, until Beckham himself finally cleared the air and revealed he had re-aggravated the injury in practice on his docuseries.
He said it was a quad hematoma, which is a a collection of blood outside a blood vessel. When he talked about the injury, he seemed to hint that the coaching staff was pushing him a little too hard, but nothing ever came of those comments. He’ll finish the year with 77 catches for 1,052 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. Having just signed a megadeal with the team after trade rumors swirled around him this offseason, Beckham will be back in New York in 2019, but it remains to be seen who will be throwing passes to him.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.