Former Giants offensive lineman David Diehl — who spent his entire career (2003-13) with the organization and won two Super Bowl rings — criticized Giants brass Tuesday for its indecisiveness with quarterback Eli Manning.

Instead of cutting Manning this offseason, the Giants opted to keep him with a $23.2 million salary cap figure in his contract’s final year. Manning made it through two games before being benched in favor of rookie Daniel Jones.

“To make this move now, if you weren’t going to let Eli Manning play throughout the year, then you shouldn’t have had him on the roster,” Diehl told WFAN’s Mike Francesa. "I am surprised by this, because Eli Manning is not the reason why the Giants have started 0-2 this season.

“But having said that, you knew they were going to transition at some point. Everybody wants the future. Everybody wants that knee-jerk reaction. And they got it.”

Giants general manager Dave Gettleman kept Manning this offseason, and coach Pat Shurmur refused to open a training camp competition between Manning and Jones. And now, despite all that, Jones will start Sunday at the Buccaneers.

“It signifies to me that they’re playing basically for next season," Diehl said. “When you sit here and look at these last two games, it’s easy to pinpoint and blame Eli. Obviously, on the defensive side of the ball, they’ve got to simplify things."

Diehl noted the Giants’ significant attrition at wide receiver, as another mitigating factor.

But Diehl said the non-quarterback problems go beyond the defense and receivers, because running back Saquon Barkley has just 29 rushes (and 36 total touches) through two weeks.

“That’s an injustice to him and to the Giants football team,” Diehl said. “He’s the reason why you are going to win football games.”

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.