Sleepless nights for 1-3 Big Blue heading to Seattle

You're All In. Let's go All In.

The one-word direct message from a longtime New York Giants season ticket holder arrived in my Twitter inbox at 1:30 p.m. With zero context, there was no way of knowing that the most controversial decision made by the franchise in years was going to stun just about everybody in the NFL.

"Geno."

Seven years later, I must admit the entire situation involving the Giants naming Geno Smith their starting quarterback on November 28, 2017 taught me the greatest lesson of my career as a sports reporter, the last 13 years on the beat I continue to hold to this day.

Always expect the unexpected, and never let what you think you know stop the exploration of what you might not.

Nearly two hours went by before the Giants actually made the official announcement, and then all hell broke loose.On a stunning day at 1925 Giants Drive, team brass, with then-coach Ben McAdoo at the forefront, decided that Smith would replace Eli Manning as the starting quarterback, effectively ending the two-time Super Bowl MVP's streak of 210 consecutive starts, the second-longest run by a quarterback in NFL history.

Now Geno will cross paths with the Giants for the third straight year Sunday, this time in Seattle with Smith quarterbacking the Seahawks (3-1) and enjoying the continued resurgence of his previously-maligned career, a campaign that collides with Daniel Jones and Big Blue, who are fighting to keep their season afloat at 1-3.

Here's how former Giants quarterback Davis Webb, now the quarterbacks coach for the Denver Broncos, recalled that fateful Geno-for-Eli day: "I'll never forget Eli coming into the quarterbacks room and telling us he was no longer the starting quarterback, tears still in his eyes. I was a 22-year-old rookie, and part of me wondered if this was going to be something good for me, I'm not gonna lie. But to see a legend, and everything he means to this organization, put in that position, when I look back on that, it's just the uncomfortable nature and cruelty of the business we're in."

Fast forward to today and the Giants are preparing to cross paths with Smith and the Seahawks for the third straight season on Sunday afternoon in Seattle. Smith has gone from bust with the Jets to breakout with the Seahawks when he replaced Russell Wilson to one of the most underappreciated quarterbacks in the league, leading the NFL in passing.

Four Downs with ... LB Micah McFadden

This is our weekly four-part Q&A with Giants players and coaches hitting on a variety of topics. This week's subject: ILB Micah McFadden, who has a 90.2 overall Pro Football Focus grade this season. That ranks second in the NFL among all linebackers behind only San Fransisco 49ers All-Pro Fred Warner. His 90.1 run-defense grade is the second-best in the league at his position, ranking just behind Bobby Wagner of the Washington Commanders.

AS: Somebody over at Pro Football Focus loves you, huh?

MM: [Laughs] I've been paying the guys over there. You see it out there. Grades are great, but wins are wins, and there are other awards at the end of the year that we look at. You appreciate the recognition because of the work you put in, but I'd rather continue being a guy who plays well for this defense and gets recognized for that at the end of the year.

AS: What do you like most about playing linebacker?

MM: For me, it feels natural. Being five yards off the ball, I like how much you get to see and how much goes on in front of you. I like playing downhill and fitting up the run game. We always talk about it in our room, the run game is like a puzzle and we've got to find the pieces to put where. Sometimes just playing fast and explosive and blowing a play up fixes that up.

AS: Who did a young Micah McFadden idolize?

MM: That would have to be Luke Kuechly, for sure. That was somebody I looked up to as a teenager, early high school. I'll admit, I had a couple of his posters up on the wall up in my room. Got them from magazine and I'd cut out pictures. I enjoy playing with instincts, and he played that way. He's the ultimate linebacker because he knew the game through and through, but he was also really talented. He could do everything that was needed of him on the field.

AS: Tell me something people might not know about you.

MM: Some people might know this, but I'm a golfer. I play a lot of golf in the offseason, that's my golf season. I would say I'm Top 3 on the team, possibly Top 2, but I enjoy golf. I went to a camp when I was younger, stopped for a while and when COVID hit in college, there was a lot of free time, so I got a set of clubs. It's an escape, little bit of relaxation out there. I've shot an 81, I'm still on the brink of breaking 80 and that's an offseason goal, maybe. I haven't hit a hole in one yet.

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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Sleepless nights for 1-3 Big Blue heading to Seattle