Eli Manning: Former New York Giants sound off on Twitter about benching

Nov. 29 (UPI) -- New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was benched on Tuesday. His former teammates are not happy about it.

Coach Ben McAdoo announced the decision. The Giants will roll with Geno Smith, instead of the two-time Super Bowl champion, for their final five games.

The move puts an end to Manning's streak of 210 consecutive starts, the second-longest in NFL history. The Giants are 2-9 this season.

"Surprised is not the world," Manning's former coach Tom Coughlin said Tuesday on 1010 XL. "My sentiments are totally with Eli Manning. I love the kid. He is a class act".

"He is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He is the finest, most humblest young man in that locker room. I haven't followed the Giants. I know it's a disappointing year, but my thoughts are strictly with Eli. I was very upset about when I heard that."

Manning's teammates, including Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Plaxico Burress and others, were fired up about the decision.

"I'm honestly at a lost for words," Tuck tweeted. "As a person that has seen Eli the QB but also Eli the Man, I'm truly pissed about what has taking place today. This decision is one of the STUPIDEST I've seen in my time being asap with pro sports #noloyalty #14years."

"Eli deserves much better than that. Much better. Class person, class player. That's absurd," Umenyiora tweeted.

Burress questioned the move by saying Manning showed up every week for 14 years.

Speculation also swirled on social media about Manning leaving the Giants after this season. Manning, 36, isn't a free agent until 2020. The 14-year veteran completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 2,411 yards, 14 scores and seven interceptions before his benching. Manning threw for a career-best 35 touchdowns in 2015. He is a four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Smith takes his 72.3 career quarterback rating on the road in Week 13 against an Oakland Raiders.