I would like if I may, change one or two perceptions in your story regarding Kurt Warner and the N.Y. Giants.
In 2004, then Giants GM Ernie Accorsi was unable to agree on terms with San Diego's rookie GM before the draft, the Giants had to watch the Chargers take Eli Manning with the first pick in the draft. Everybody knew that the Chargers wanted Phil Rivers and that Accosi coveted Eli. Archie and Eli had already made it clear they wanted the Giants, not the Chargers. Smith the Chargers GM, wanted Osi Umenyiora added to the Giants offer before the draft, a demand the Giants saw as a deal breaker.
Unable to agree on terms of a trade with San Diego during the draft, Accorsi then drafted Phil Rivers with the Giants fourth round pick. But before the night was over, the Giants and Chargers agreed to make the quarterback trade when Smith dropped his demand for Osi. The Giants gave up a third round pick (2004), and first and fifth round picks in 2005.
When Eli became quarterback of the Giants, Kerry Collins, in the final year of his contract knew that his days were numbered. The Giants released Collins who was unhappy with a backup role and signed veteran quarterback Kurt Warner to help groom Eli as their future starter. At the time, Dick Vermeil was head coach of the K.C. Chiefs and had a ring with Super Bowl winner and MVP Kurt Warner in St. Louis. Coach Vermeil expressed his support and said, "Warner was the right quarterback to tutor Eli for the Giants."
Eli took over for Kurt in game 11 of the 2004 season.
The excerpt included here explains why Couch Coughlin made the change:
In April 2004, The New York Times Magazine published an issue featuring a cover story titled "The Eli-Experiment" by Michael Lewis. As a frequent contributor to The New York Times, one of his bestselling books (that I know of), is titled "Moneyball."
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/19/ma...19MANNING.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/...ticle-1.602745