NEW YORK (WFAN) -- If you think Ben McAdoo probably learned his lesson after his botched benching of Eli Manning -- one of his final acts as Giants head coach -- think again.
In an interview with the Daily News, quarterback Geno Smith, the beneficiary of that Manning benching, said moments after being fired McAdoo told him he deserved to be the team's starting quarterback the rest of the season.
"He believed in me," Smith told the newspaper. "A lot of people did. Guys wanted me to do well. But there are some things that are out of your control."
In his lone start of the season, Smith was 21-of-34 passing for 212 yards with one touchdown. He was not intercepted but did lose two fumbles in the 24-17 loss at Oakland.
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After McAdoo was let go, interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo reinstalled Manning at QB for the rest of the year.
"I'm not gonna cry over spilled milk over things I can't control," Smith said. "That's only gonna hinder my success or progress. It just added fuel to fire, made my offseason workouts interesting because I'm working harder. That opportunity was taken away from me for whatever reason, so every time I step on the field or in weight room, that's my motivation."
Smith, who spent his first four seasons with the Jets, is now a free agent.
McAdoo's decision to sit Manning in Week 13 last season, ending the QB's consecutive starts streak at 210, was promptly met by an outcry from fans supporting the two-time Super Bowl MVP. There also seemed to be miscommunication between co-owner John Mara, McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese about how the situation would be handled.
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The day after Smith's start -- and six days after the Manning benching was announced -- the Giants fired McAdoo and Reese. However, Mara insisted the Manning situation was not a factor in his dismissal.
New general manager Dave Gettleman and coach Pat Shurmur have said Manning will go into the season as the Giants' starter.
