Paul Finebaum flips script, pumps brakes on Arch Manning hype after 'pedestrian' two weeks

Almost no analyst had a higher opinion of Texas QB Arch Manning coming in than Paul Finebaum. However, even Finebaum is now taking a step back now after his first two games of this season.

Appearing on ‘First Take’ on Tuesday, Finebaum was asked for his current stance on Manning through what’s been just a fine start to the fall for the Longhorns’ quarterback. He went on to say that much of the media might have gotten ahead of themselves with this one as Finebaum said he hadn’t been very impressed by his play “like a pedestrian quarterback” so far.

“I have been leading the parade on Arch Manning. We all know that. I’m backing up a little bit. I am not that impressed,” said Finebaum. “The bottom line is Arch Manning is not playing like an elite quarterback. He’s barely playing like a pedestrian quarterback. He had some good plays in that game (against San José State), but that game doesn’t mean anything and he’s not going to really get a chance for a couple of weeks. But, ultimately, you know, I think we all jumped the gun.

“Is he in the Heisman race? No. Arch Manning is not in the Heisman race as of today.”

For reference, Finebaum has seemingly shifted some of these stances since the weekend. Just since Sunday, Finebaum sounded pretty high on his latest performance on more than one instance and also maintained that he was still in the running for the Heisman Trophy.

That said, Manning has not lived up to those preseason expectations, regardless of how high they were set. That’s with a poor performance in the opener during a loss to Ohio State before playing a better game, albeit against a smaller opponent in the non-conference, against San José State. Combined, Manning is 36-60 (60%) for 465 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions, with 295 yards, five touchdowns with four passing and one rushing, and one pick coming last weekend in their win over the Spartans.

Finebaum looks to have lost some faith, but also isn’t now out on Arch. He still expects him to have a great year as it goes on, but while saying that, if that’s to happen, he’ll need to start showing more soon, with almost four weeks for him to be ready for the start of conference play come October.

“Ultimately, as I said on Labor Day, I’ll say it again a week and two days later. I still think Arch Manning can have a big-time season. When he starts seeing the road games in the SEC, and some of the games like Georgia and others, I think he has a chance,” said Finebaum. “But he better get moving.”

Finebaum calls out Sarkisian for inappropriate response to injury question about Manning

It’s the wince seen ’round The Forty Acres, and sparked arguably one of the strangest press conference responses from a college head coach this season. The health status of Arch Manning has been thrown into question after Texas‘ quarterback appeared in visible pain following a throw in Saturday’s win over San Jose State.

But, when a reporter asked Steve Sarkisian about his quarterback’s wince during a press conference on Monday, the Longhorns’ coach dismissed any suggestion Manning was in pain, and then awkwardly deflected by comparing Manning’s facial contortion to what the assembled media looked like while “using the restroom.”

Bathroom humor aside, that response prompted a public rebuke from Paul Finebaum on Tuesday morning’s episode of First Take. He blasted Sarkisian for his “totally inappropriate” and “disgusting” comments, and pointed out he likely made his quarterback’s apparent pain into a bigger story than necessary.

“I thought they were completely and totally inappropriate. And this is coming from someone who is a big fan of Steve Sarkisian. But, what was the point of that?” Finebaum said. “If Arch isn’t having any health problems, then simply say, ‘He’s fine. We checked him out and we’re happy’. Why go after the media in something that’s just sort of and really, quite frankly, disgusting? He made a much bigger deal out of something that could’ve been answered with a simple, ‘No, he’s fine. He got banged up the first week. He’s a little bit better and he had a good game’. Instead, Steve Sarkisian turned a one-minute story into a four-day escapade.”