N.Y. Giants: Head Coach Joe Judge is Now in Session

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

F-Bombs and First Downs, The Joe Judge Era Begins

The broader the view, the more Big Blue you see ...

Ray Perkins was a disciplinarian.  Hired in 1979, he gets the Giants back into the post-season in 1981 for the first time in eighteen years.

Bill Parcells follows.  He is also a disciplinarian and leads the Giants to Super Bowl victories in 1986 and 1990 and very well should have won another in 1989 were it not for Flipper Anderson.

I digress...

After realizing their mistake in handing over the reins to Ray Handley, George Young one day picks up his phone.  Hello?  Hey George, it me Dan Reeves, how bout giving me a crack at the Giants?  Okay you're hired.  To his credit, Dan Reeves in 1993 squeezes the last bit of goodness out of Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms, Rodney Hampton and the smash mouth era with one last playoff push and victory over the Vikings.  Dan Reeves wasn't one to take much crap either.  He was a serious guy and remained instrumental over the next two seasons whilst George Young went about restocking talent.  It was Reeves who switched Michael Strahan from right to left defensive end.  Strahan was of course resistant at first, but the rest is football history.

Once the team is rebuilt to a satisfactory level, George Young tells Dan Reeves thank you and hires Jim Fassell who is nowhere near the disciplinarian his predecessors were.  It's actually an odd hire.  However, he benefits from good coordinators.  Fassell connects with his players and together they turn the Giants into a viable contender again.  In 1998, new general manager Ernie Accorsi picks up where retiring executive George Young leaves off.  Fassell marches forward to capture an NFC title and gets the Giants back into the Super Bowl.  But an underwhelming performance against the Baltimore Ravens is the line a demarcation.  For the fun stops there.  The Giants unyielding recklessness, undisciplined play and mounting losses, some ponderous, ultimately costs Fassell his job.

Ernie Accorsi reverts back to disciplinarian with the appointment of Tom Coughlin.  Two Super Bowls later new general manager Jerry Reese, unlike George Young, fails to draft well and rebuild the Giants (offensive line) in a timely manner.  In turn the Giants spend the last decade mired with futility, reactive faulty reasoning, bad cap economics, successive poor coaching hires, scapegoating, Mara's micromanagement and a mountain of losses.  The Giants are 55-77 since winning Super Bowl XLVI and have posted double-digit losses in five of the last six seasons.  That's a lot of stimulus for repeatedly making bad decisions.  The teams constructed by Jerry Reese during the latter years of Eli Manning's career were nothing short of a disservice to his legacy.  Matters compound when Gettlemen is derailed by Mara's insistence to win now while Eli is still under contract.  If sometimes Gettleman seemed in control of the situation and other times he seemed absolutely clueless, this is why.  It's part of being the front man.  Jerry Reese's hiring of Ben McAdoo and Gettleman's hiring of Pat Shurmur were specifically selected with Eli in mind.  Mara's fingerprints have since been uncovered everywhere.  Disciplinarians?  Don't make me laugh.

Years of giving it one more go for the Gipper are finally over.  With Eli Manning out of the picture, this finally becomes Dave Gettleman's team, albeit two years too late.  Take that with a grain of salt.  But he no longer must fret the owner derailing his best laid plans.  In fact, he moves forward with a new head coach and a quarterback and running back in place, and a first round offensive lineman selection that hints at the course Gettleman is setting.  Both sides of the ball are also collectively very young.  I'm not one to declare fresh starts for peace sake, but in Gettleman's case and the Giants present condition it may be warranted.

Hopefully Joe Judge brings law and order to the Giants.  They've clearly reverted back to hiring a disciplinarian.  The question is will players buy in?  Off the top of my head I say yes.  This is a very young team throughout the lineup, all seeking to establish themselves same as their rookie head coach.  There's every reason for them to come together as one.  It's called camaraderie on a rebuilding club.  But if you're a rookie coach looking to bully your way through the bingo parlor, you better know what you're doing.  If we've learned anything about him so far, it's that he's an F-bomber.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Lest we forget how winning trumps all.

Joe Judge was part of three New England Patriots Super Bowls.  But if his resume seems a little shy of experience, that's because it is.  His NFL career consists of eight years, all with the Patriots, as special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach.  That's it, and he's only 38-years old.

Once upon a time Tom Coughlin was a wide receivers coach with the Giants when Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick still ran the room.  Difference is he would go on to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to back-to-back AFC title games prior to becoming head coach of the Giants.  Once upon a time Bill Belichick also started out as a special teams and wide receivers coach prior to his employment with the Giants.

Apparently Joe Judge has Bill Belichick's blessings.  That was not the case when Eric Mangini left the Patriots Trust to accept the New York Jets head coaching position.  He meets my approval as well.

Judge is going to be tough and structured, or so he thinks.  But I do believe he will be better than Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur put together.

So, let's be hopeful.

Improvement speaks louder than f-bombs.

Just saying ...

N.Y. Giants: Big Blue Brass Pull Plug on Eli Manning's Swan Song

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

MANN vs. WORLD

The Continuing Saga of Eli's Swan Song

After Two Games Giants Announce Plan to Start Daniel Jones in Week Three

ELI MANNING:

• Two Games: 56 attempts/89 completions (63%) for 556 yards; two touchdowns; one INT; two sacks, 10 QB hits.

Cut the music!

After just two verses, Eli's swan song is over.

Manning is not the sole reason, or even a top three reason, why the 2018 Giants post a 3-13 record.  Nor is he a primary reason why the Giants are 47-67 over the last seven seasons.  They're certainly not off to an 0-2 start this season on account of Eli.  For that you must start with a novice defense which has so far allowed 60-plus points through two games with no hope of improvement in the foreseeable future.  Of course there's much more to this burgeoning nightmare.  But I digress ...

Eli is the last vestige of Ernie Accorsi's legacy as general manager of the New York Giants.  It is Accorsi who builds a Super Bowl contender with Eli being the final piece of the puzzle.  However those Giants first need to wait out Eli's maturation process.  By 2007 Eli Manning transforms before our very eyes into Mr. Freeze at Green Bay and goes on to win MVP of Super Bowl XLII.  By 2011 the Giants are squeezing the last bit of goodness out of Accorsi's creation en route to winning Super Bowl XLVI.  Eli Manning is again named game MVP.

In the seasons following 2011 the shelf life of an elite defense, a record setting offensive line, and once formidable running game all expire.  But because Eli was the last piece of the puzzle, he is also the last to remain.  In the meantime, Jerry Reese presides over the complete and utter deterioration of the New York Giants.  His drafting over his last five seasons as general manager bear no fruit, thus fostering a failed if not ruinous over reliance on free agency.  The impact on the field is self evident: sub par records.

Former offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride together with his friend and Giants head coach Tom Coughlin are as aggressive as they come.  When the Giants still field a competent offensive line and formidable running game, Gilbride maintains effective balance between rushing and passing.  But when it comes to passing, the triumvirate of Gilbride, Coach Coughlin, and Eli Manning, are all about high risk and high reward.  As a result they routinely lead the league in most yards attempted per pass!  That partly explains why Eli appears prone to throwing interceptions.  But Coughlin effectively signs off on each and every INT.  They just didn't care.  However as the talent level deteriorates along the offensive line and the running game comes to a halt, Gilbride becomes Jerry Reese's first scapegoat.  The continuing deterioration of talent over the next two seasons likewise causes Tom Coughlin into coaching more desperately.  He then becomes Jerry Reese scapegoat number two.

In truth, Gilbride, Coughlin, or even Ben McAdoo, were never the problem, per se.  The primary factor causing the Giants spiraling into irrelevance is John Mara's unyielding support for Jerry Reese.

Sure, Eli deserves his fair share of blame.  His performance can be ponderous at times.  Everyone deserves their fair share for this mess.  Some just deserve more than others.

Upon accepting positions with the Giants Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur know they are being tasked with putting Eli out to pasture.  Indeed, an unenviable position to be in.  Yet the process continues to wreak of indecisiveness and lack of conviction.  I'm not sure what they're thinking.  But it needs to stop.  Because the less sense this makes the more I'm inclined to believe John Mara still has his fingerprints all over this.  And why would that be?  Because he completely botches Eli's benching in favor of Geno Smith.  What a slap in the face, made worse by how the front office continues mishandling the aftermath.  Moreover because I believe Archie Manning commands Mara's respect and attention.  And if I'm Archie, I'm on the phone to John Mara blaming him, Jerry Reese, and Dave Gettleman, for essentially ruining the second half of his son's career.

It appears push has finally come to shove.  Eli is facing one of three choices: retire a Giant; waive his no trade clause; or stay and tutor Daniel Jones.  Concerned parties had better reserve a large conference room because I'm sure John Mara, Dave Gettleman, Pat Shurmur, Eli Manning, his agent, and Archie Manning, will all have something to say about this.

N.Y. Giants: Eli Manning's Swan Song Begins at Dallas

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

No Matter What Happens This Season, 

Eli Will Always Be the Mann

Cue the music ... Eli Manning's swan song begins now.

One way or another this is the end, right?  The only lingering question is how exactly does this go down.

Most relationships with few exceptions almost never end amicably.  This is especially true in football.  Look no further than Phil Simms.  After leading the Giants to the 1993 playoffs, the front office called him into the office and cut him.

It's a ruthless business.  And very few people understands this better than former NFL quarterback of the New Orleans Saints; father of two Hall of Fame caliber quarterbacks; and de facto representative for his sons; Archie Manning.  I can name three NFL owners he squeezed by the pigskins.  Lest we forget what happened to the Chargers when they originally drafted Eli Manning.  If I'm Archie, yeah, I hold Jerry Reese largely responsible for ruining the latter part of my son's New York Giants career.  I'm sure Archie is just as amazed as us fans that in all Eli's years he never missed a game to injury.  In fact the only thing that ever came between Eli and great feats of consistency and durability were the Giants themselves.  Make no mistake, both Archie and Eli took the Geno Smith BenchGate fiasco personally.  It is why I say with great confidence since that day Archie has been orchestrating Eli's exit from the Giants and the NFL on his own terms.  He will not tolerate having his son disrespected, again.  That means exactly what you think it means: Archie > Mara.  Therein lies my conspiracy theory if Eli starts the entire season.

The more sensible scenario is Eli plays as long as the Giants remain viable playoff contenders.  But that, like the U.S. constitution, is a matter open for wide ranging interpretation.  Parity is lay of the NFL landscape, which is to say .500 teams these days make viable wild card contenders.  Are we being led to believe if the Giants are 4-4 at the midway point that Eli remains in play?  How would a 3-5 record sway opinion?  What if the Giants are 3-5 but the Eagles and/or Cowboys also falter with 4-4 records respectively?

I know one thing and one thing only about Daniel Jones: he was the Giants first round selection in the 2019 draft.  Otherwise, he's been performing against the dregs of training camp left trying to win positions, most of whom were likely cut when rosters were paired down to 53-players.  But I also know that at some point the Giants must transition away from Eli Manning.  That's just the way it works.

My hope is he goes out in a blaze of glory.  But history, and the pitiful state of the Giants defense, may dictate otherwise.  Imperfect as Eli is, he is still the greatest quarterback in Giants history, and I'm grateful to have witnessed his career.

He'll always be Mr. Freeze to me ...

N.Y. Giants: Stop The Madness

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

On The Giants Way

New York Football Giants: With History and Experience as His Teacher, No Person Should Understand the Need for a Complete Rebuild Better Than John Mara.

My rooting interest in the Giants goes back more than 40-years.  Therefore I'm in no mood for being sold on false hope.  That's why I say back-to-back victories be damned.  Watching the Giants defeat the Niners and Buccaneers did nothing to sway my opinion.  An arguably gamely effort against the Eagles on Sunday only confirms my position.

I maintain the belief this team must finally commit to a full blown rebuild.  When a football team manages just six victories over their last 27 games, not only are major changes in order, reconciliation between emotions and opinion versus cold critical analysis and corrective action are prerequisite.

What I find slightly bewildering is that John Mara understands this.  He is a third-generation football man, born in a football world, raised by a football family.  He is a witness, and therefore knows exactly what both building and rebuilding sustained success entails.  He's been through this before and understands the process perfectly.  Yet, John Mara presently makes no clear distinction between rebuilding and retooling.  To be fair, John Mara's father was never burdened by costs involved with building a new stadium.  Thus when you consider Giants Football is indeed the family's primary business enterprise, calling for a full blown rebuild understandably poses a resistible proposition.  Nevertheless, I believe there's only one manner at this juncture in which Mr. Mara can correct this huge mistake, and that's by moving forward with unwavering conviction.

Mistake?

The mess Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur are presently charged with cleaning up was created by John Mara's unyielding loyalty to former general manager Jerry Reese.  And for good reason: Jerry Reese begins his Giants career in 1994 as a college scout at a time when Wellington Mara is still hanging out at practice, George Young is still general manager, and Dan Reeves is head coach.  John Mara is also around, serving in his sixth year as a team executive.  Meanwhile, Ernie Accorsi is beginning his first season as assistant general manager.  When George Young in 1997 hands the reigns over to Accorsi, Jerry Reese spends the next decade serving as pro scout and director of player personnel.  When The Duke passes away in 2005, John Mara assumes the role of team president.  In 2007, Jerry Reese succeeds Accorsi as general manager.

We fans call this, the Giants Way.  And we appreciate the organization's respective families greatly for it.

Giants history further speaks for itself ...

When Ray Perkins accepts the head coach position at Alabama, George Young elects to promote from within by elevating defensive coordinator Bill Parcells.  Two Super Bowls later, Parcells retires.  Pitifully, the Giants have no plan in place geared towards retaining Bill Belichick.  Two miserable seasons under Ray Handley lay ahead.  Former Broncos head coach Dan Reeves watches from afar, and calls George Young offering his services.  Young accepts, and in 1993 Reeves squeezes the last bit of goodness out of that old school Giants team in the form of a playoff victory over the Vikings.

How do the Giants follow up?  They cut Phil Simms, as George Young and Dan Reeves commit to a full blown rebuild.  Three years later, Ernie Accorsi and new head coach Jim Fassel pick up where Young and Reeves leave off.  By the late 1990s the Giants are contending again, and by 2000 they're back in the Super Bowl.  After which, the team culture goes somewhat awry.  But Accorsi medicates the situation with an apple picked off the old Bill Parcells tree.

Enter head coach Tom Coughlin, and the dawn of the Eli Manning era.  The stage is set for a second run on Super Bowls (eerily reminiscent of the first).  Only this time, the Giants woefully mismanage the aftermath.  John Mara above and beyond the dictates of today's colder impersonal NFL remains paralyzed by loyalty and commitment to Jerry Reese.  As such, Mara allows Reese to oversee the deconstruction of a championship operation.  Draft results, salary cap management, and the team's overall level of success since 2011 all speak for themselves.  The list of scapegoats is also numerous: Kevin Gilbride to Tom Coughlin, Perry Fewell and even Ben McAdoo.  When truth be told, the fall from Super Bowl contender to NFL bottom feeder starts with Reese.

Ben McAdoo is this era's Ray Handley.  And the Giants reappearance in the 2016 playoffs turns out being less than that of their 1993 playoff victory under Dan Reeves.  However, whereas George Young recognizes the time to rebuild has come; whereas Ernie Accorsi recognizes a need for culture change has come; Jerry Reese fails to recognize either.  And unless John Mara further clarifies his intentions for the team's future, he likewise remains guilty as charged.

Trading JPP during the off-season, trading Snacks Harrison and Eli Apple in-season, are trivial salary cap maneuvers.  Whereas the Giants present deficiencies and future needs are great.  After Odell Beckham, Saquon Barkley, Landon Collins, and even Will Hernandez, who else is worthy of debate and/or retention?  Janoris Jenkins?

I agree with naysayers insofar Eli Manning deserves his full share of criticism.  However, I feel at times as if he receives too much blame for the team's greater malfunction and misfortunes.  I'm on record saying that if the Giants had no intention of selecting Eli Manning's replacement during the most recent draft, I would have preferred they trade out of the number two pick.  Because far beyond Eli's own personal decline, the depletion of complimentary talent and deterioration of supportive play have been far more debilitating.

Eli is who he has always been, which is a non-elusive pocket passer.  Once upon a time, he was allowed to develop behind a record-setting offensive line constructed by Ernie Accorsi.  Jerry Reese however would inexplicably stick through thick and thin with a woefully inept cast of replacements, or lack thereof.  Dave Gettleman after just one year on the job has now employed at least ten different offensive linemen to date with little variance in results.  The signing of Nate Solder is again demonstrating how throwing money at a problem often proves ineffectual.  Hence, no other quarterback in the NFL this season has been sacked more than Eli Manning (3.6 times per game according to TeamRankings.com).

Eli surpasses 3,000 yards passing this Sunday against the Eagles.  With a slightly better performance of late from the offensive line, he demonstrates that he indeed is still a very capable NFL quarterback.  I've said it before: in light of a new generation of quarterbacks, I still trust him.  I'm merely calling it like I see it.

• WIN vs. Niners: 19/31 for 188 yards; 3 touchdowns; no INT; 1 sack; 4 QB hits.
• WIN vs. Bucs: 17/18 for 231 yards; 2 touchdowns; no INT; 4 sacks; 6 QB hits.
• LOSS vs. Eagles: 26/37 for 297 yards; 1 touchdown; 1 INT; 2 sacks; 5 QB hits.

Make of it what you will.  But, is it coincidence the Giants, Packers, and Ravens, have absurd portions of respective salary cap devoted to quarterbacks, while everything else is collapsing around them (if it hasn't already)?  The Falcons are arguably making the same mistake.

Tom Brady has throughout his career worked out financial deals with the Patriots for sake of greater quality turnover.  And lest we forget Bill Belichick routinely trades top talent a too early (rather than too late) for sake of draft picks and maintaining quality control.  How has that worked out for them?

Drafting is still the way to lay and build upon a solid foundation.  Meanwhile, young quarterbacks are proving extremely cost effective in today's NFL.  In turn, that money theoretically gets spent elsewhere.  In the most recent draft, however, the Giants arguably had one or two available quarterbacks for the taking.  They select a running back instead.  In lieu of a quarterback I would have swapped the number two overall pick (in return for two picks) and devoted them towards reestablishing a dominant line of scrimmage (which in part involves drafting a potential Pro-Bowl caliber center).

I love Saquon Barkley, by the way.  And it's a shame that both he and Odell Beckham are such superior talents.  I can not say the same about 80% of starting players on either side of the ball.

The Giants lacking a legitimate pass rusher is just one example.  That said, how well are the huge sums of cash Jerry Reese poured into the defense serving the team now?  How did that work out Sunday against the Eagles?

Again, spending bad money while simultaneously accumulating dead money is not the answer.  Initiating a rebuild breaks this vicious cycle.  The resulting byproduct of drafting and development is replenishment of salary cap reserves.  Talent and spending are reset, together.

Contending in a weak NFC East is also false justification.  It's nothing short of complete folly.  This team is ill-equipped to go up against any of the NFL's other division leaders; not last season; not this season; not next season.  Exactly when, is up to Mr. Mara (and Mr. Tisch), for I believe vision and directive come from the top.  In turn, the executive's responsibility lies in planning and execution.

For all these reasons I believe Dave Gettleman needs orders post haste to begin rebuilding anew ... like Ernie Accorsi did, and George Young did before him.

Do It For The Duke.

N.Y. Giants: Big Blue Quarterback Dilemma Nothing New

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

"Torn Between Two Lovers ... 

Feeling Like a Fool"

New York Giants: A Tale of Two Franchise Quarterbacks ...

Once upon a time, a general manager named George Young drafts an unknown quarterback from Morehead St., named Phil Simms.  Then NFL commissioner Pete Rozell even laughs in stunned disbelief as he announces the Giants selection.  Seven years later Simms leads the Giants to their first ever Super Bowl championship.  His own record setting performance earns him MVP honors.  Four years later, Simms and Jeff Hostetler lead them to a second Super Bowl championship.  However, the sudden departure of Bill Parcells hastens the end of the Giants glory days.  Yet, Phil Simms is still able to lead Big Blue to one more playoff victory in 1993 over the Vikings.  After which, the 38-year old Phil Simms is informed his contract would not be renewed by the organization.  His time as quarterback for the New York Giants, and his playing career effectively end right then.  The organization then commits to a full blown rebuild.  Enter Dave Brown, Kent Graham, et al.

Fast forward ...

The Giants trade for Eli Manning in a draft day acquisition.  Guess that makes him somewhat of an adoptive son.  After all, he was Ernie Accorsi's guy all along.  Point is fans embrace him, always have.  He's our blue bleeding Mr. Freeze.  And despite the continuing devolution of the Giants I still trust Eli - deficiencies and all - provided his is afforded safer working conditions.

Four years into his career, he leads the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII and is named game MVP.  Four years later he again leads the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLVI, and for a second time is named game MVP.  After which, the overall talent level around him begins its precipitous decline.  The Giants glory years are clearly behind them, and it takes another five years before Eli and the Giants would again participate in post-season play. 

Sound familiar?

That was two seasons ago.  The Giants have won just four of their last 23 regular games.  Manning turns 38-years old this coming January, and his replacement is nowhere in sight.  That makes it rather unclear whether Dave Gettleman is leaning towards a full blown rebuild despite this week trading Eli Apple and Snacks.

Here we have a Giant tale in the handling of two franchise quarterbacks.  George Young handled Phil Simms with conviction.  The manner in which Jerry Reese, Dave Gettleman, and John Mara himself have handled Eli Manning's end of years, not so much.  And there's the rub, George Young acted on behalf of Wellington Mara.  I've never been inclined to blame John Mara for much.  But it's time for resistant fans to admit this present mess falls squarely in his lap.  Eli-Gate started with him, not to mention his loyalty to Jerry Reese.

Outside of drafting a quarterback, the only other way of acquiring one of any quality is via the rare trade.  Another way is capitalizing on another team's bad situation as the Giants did with their opportunistic acquisition of Kerry Collins.

If I'm the Giants, I'm paying close attention to the developing situation at Oakland between Derek Carr and the Raiders.  John Gruden is in the midst of trading assets for picks.  In other words, he's gutting the roster, and I couldn't applaud him more.  He's already amassed five first round draft picks.  As such, I feel Carr would be a great acquisition to get the Giants through some rebuilding years.  The Giants should at least be interested, but in no way should they overpay.  They'll also need to find Eli another home first, perhaps reuniting him with Tom Coughlin at Jacksonville.

If John Mara orders Dave Gettleman to gut this once and for all, much of the drama surrounding the Giants will go away.  I say that because more and more over the last two seasons, they've become the Jets, and Knicks, and Mets, as main suppliers of back page fodder.

N.Y. Giants: The New Blue Administration

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

All Scapegoats Have Left The Building

New York Football Giants: The Four Men Responsible For Correcting John Mara's Recent Mistakes.

I've been a witness to some fairly bad Giants seasons.  Of course, there are generations who've endured more than me.  Others not so much.

Only five times previous to last year did the Giants ever lose as many as twelves games in a season: 1966, 1974, 1980, 1983, 2003.

The first time they ever achieve double-digit losses comes in 1964 with a 2-10-2 record.  I was not yet born in 1966, and still too young when in 1974 they post a 2-12 record.  But the team goes 3-11 in 1976, the first year I can recall bleeding blue.  A few years later, Ray Perkins coaches the Giants to the first twelve-loss season of my recollection.  Three years later Bill Parcells in his first season as head coach leads the Giants to a 3-12-1 season.  Then twenty years pass until 2003 when Jim Fassell coaches the Giants to a 4-12 record.

No New York Football Giants fan, dating back to 1925, had ever been made to endure a thirteen loss season.  Then last year happened.  Today, our multiple generations of Giants fans are now united as one in so far that we all saw them together at their very worst.

High-five!

Since everything starts at the top, how does John Mara proceed forward after the worst season in the history of his family business?  The simple answer is hiring a new general manager, selecting a new head coach, assembling a new staff, collectively working to cut the dead weight, targeting key free agents, and ultimately marching forward with a roster purged of at least 45% of last year's personnel.

But nothing is ever that clear cut and dry, is it?

After all, John Mara himself played an uncharacteristically large role as a meddler and enabler, not only last season, but over the last few seasons.  We know John Mara is a loyal person, and that long relationships do not usually end well, and saying good-bye is hardly ever easy.  In the case of Jerry Reese, perhaps he was a bit too loyal.  He and Jerry Reese scapegoated Tom Coughlin.  Mara in turn then took the lead in scapegoating Ben McAdoo.  With no more scapegoats to be found, the time finally come for them both to part ways.

In addition to Reese's departure, John Mara also humbles himself.  Any effective owner or executive understands the value of self-reflection and accountability.  So he admits recently to being solely responsible for orchestrating last year's Eli Manning consecutive starts streak fiasco, and completely miscalculating the resulting backlash.

For better or worse, the changes that should have been exacted several years ago are now in place.  To what lengths and to whom's satisfaction will be an ongoing matter for debate.

Dave Gettleman is the new general manager.  I didn't necessarily agree at the time with all his draft selections, but he nevertheless has a supporter in me.  He preaches about playing the brand of Giants football I feel for too long has been lacking around these parts.  At the same time, I find his previous body of work for the Carolina Panthers commendable.  I like the way he generally handles his business, and the press in particular.  There are concerns regarding his health, although he says everything is fine.  I'll nonetheless be preoccupied with his condition throughout the season because I believe in Gettleman, and want for him to see his transformation of the Giants through to completion.

Next on the totem pole is Pat Shurmur, hired back in January to replace outcast Ben McAdoo as head coach of the New York Giants.  I'm not going to pretend I know much, if anything about him.  I will say to this point he has exhibited more depth of knowledge, an undeniable self-confidence, superior presentation, and a noticeably better command of outside interference and/or unnecessary distractions than did his predecessor.

Shurmur serves last year as Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator with positive results.  He spends his first ten seasons coaching with the Philadelphia Eagles.  After which, he serves two seasons as St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator.  He then moves on to become head coach of the Cleveland Browns under then executive Mike Holmgren.  And later returns to Philadelphia for three more seasons until landing at Minnesota where in 2016 he starts out as tight ends coach, and by 2017 is back to serving as offensive coordinator.

This all makes him an offensive schooled head coach, just like McAdoo, Coughlin, and Fassell, before him.  On the one hand, we'll see how he interacts with his own offensive coordinator, and how in turn he manages and trusts defensive delegation, and lastly his ability to fuse both together into effective overall game management.

Mike Shula is the new offensive coordinator.  I don't care who his father is, the guy has thirty years of coaching experience.  Moreover, he's a Shurmur guy.  If you recall, with Kevin Gilbride (and Tom Coughlin) it was always high risk/high reward, and interceptions be damned.  Under Ben McAdoo, Eli was coached in shorter yard higher percentage passing, albeit with lower rates of interceptions, but was stymied the whole time by poor game-planning, a substandard offensive line, and the Giants woeful inability to rush the ball.  Dave Gettlman has enacted changes to the offensive line, drafted a highly touted college back, and re-signed a healthy Odell Beckham Jr. to a new contract, all of which might help Mike Shula and Eli Manning manage a potentially well balanced attack.

The new defensive coordinator is James Bettcher who comes to the Giants via the Arizona Cardinals.  He took over an outstanding Cardinals defense former coordinator Todd Bowles left behind in order to accept the New York Jets head coaching position.  However, under Bettcher, the Cardinals nevertheless remained a stout, league respected unit.  Year in and year out, they've been among the league leaders in fewest rushing yards allowed.  That much can not be denied.  But the true common denominator with regards to Arizona's defensive prowess is more a matter of personnel than perhaps their two former coordinators.  The Giants defensive unit Bettcher is inheriting, quite frankly, has more problems than a math book, and I wish him luck figuring it out.

N.Y. Giants: Owners Pull Plug On Ben McAdoo and Jerry Reese

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Cleaning House!

New York Giants: Owners John Mara and Steve Tisch Decide It's Time To Make Wholesale Changes.

John Mara confirmed what many fans like myself suspected - it was Ben McAdoo's idea to bench Eli Manning all along.

Sure, Mr. Mara acknowledged he could have easily put a stop to it, and took full responsibility for the poor manner in which things were handled.  In fact, he went as far as consulting with partner Steven Tisch, and together they decided it was time to make wholesale changes!

Giants President John Mara announced on Monday Ben McAdoo and Jerry Reese have been dismissed respectively as head coach and general manager of the New York Giants.

ICYMI: 

Ben McAdoo Decides Eli No Longer The Mann..

Heaven forbid Ben McAdoo tailor a system more suitable to Eli Manning's style.

Good coaches do that.  Stubborn, ideological ones, do not.

Since his first day as offensive coordinator, Ben McAdoo has been pushing his West Coast dope on Eli Manning, and till the very end sniveled when things went badly.

McAdoo seemingly didn't have much to say last season when Eli led the Giants to an 11-5 record and a return to the playoffs.  He somehow had even less to say regarding his wide receivers' ill advised trip to South Beach just before said playoff game, then offered absolutely nothing during the post-game in response to Odell turning in his worst performance as a professional.

He once again refused this season to take up issue with Beckham after infamously impersonating a dog peeing in the end zone during a game against Philadelphia.  McAdoo has also steadfastly refused to acknowledge any hints of poor play on behalf of the offensive line, and tried minimizing the numerous injuries among the receivers at every turn.

Instead, McAdoo used his words to levy criticism after criticism against Eli Manning.  He even seemly threw his proverbial hands in the air by handing off play calling duties to offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan.  But at no time did McAdoo ever once claim responsibility for his own flawed methodology.  He'd much rather have blamed Eli Manning for not carrying the Giants offense like Aaron Rogers carries that of the Packers ... when Rogers is on the field, that is.

Eli, on the other hand, started 210 straight games until Ben McAdoo stepped in.

Once the Giants were mathematically eliminated from this year's playoffs, Ben the Outsider with no real connection to Giants tradition and history, thought it wise to suggest benching the organization's greatest ever quarterback in favor of Geno Smith, or perhaps more accurately, someone better suited to play his awkward style of West Coast nonsense.

All that being said, Jerry Reese signed off on McAdoo's folly.  Generally speaking, though, he put Ben McAdoo in a position to fail, just as he put Kevin Gilbride and Tom Coughlin in positions to fail during their latter days as OC and head coach of the New York Giants.

What started well for Jerry Reese has ended horribly.  The organizational torch was passed to him after the 2006 season by former general manager Ernie Accorsi.  After a fruitful 2007 draft the Giants promptly won a Super Bowl.  Four years later Reese squeezed out the last bit of goodness from the fruits of Ernie Accorsi's labors in capturing yet another Super Bowl.  After which, Jerry Reese failed to sustain the organization's competitiveness.

The Giants indeed spiraled out of relevance.  Ineffective drafting, prohibitive manipulation of the salary cap, and Jerry Reese's over-reliance on free agency have cost the organization dearly.  His inability to replenish and resupply the roster with representative talent has resulted in a 41-51 record since 2012 through the present time, three times posting double-digit losses.

Ben McAdoo deserved to get fired based on the merits of his own shortcomings.  Jerry Reese, because he set the conditions.

BIG BLUE

SHAME ON YOU

That's what the billboard along Route 80 in New Jersey said, and John Mara heard it loud and clear. 

I'll hold off on critiquing his performance during all this for another post. 

In the mean time, Mara is a business man.  Four games remain in the Giants season, and three are at home.  Mara is no fool either, and knew better to stave off a Big Blue maelstrom.  Prominent former Giants players were threatening to parade the sidelines this week wearing Eli Manning #10 jerseys.  Ownership also ran the risk of season ticket holders selling the balance of their games, thus turning MetLife Stadium into the Big Blue Pit of Misery.  It may already be too late for some.  I'm sure in the coming games there will be more Cowboys and Redskins jerseys than usual. 

The question now becomes, how many more than usual?

N.Y. Giants: Big Blue Blight

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Creatures of the Blue Lagoon

New York Giants: We've Arrived at the Pit of Misery.

Dilly, Dilly!

What more can the Chiefs, Skins, Raiders, Cowboys, Eagles, and Cardinals, possibly do to make this any worse?

Let the Giants win?  Pfft!  That would be a real kick in the posterior, wouldn't it?

When the New York Giants start a season 1-8 for the first time since 1980, in part by losing to the previously winless (0-9) San Francisco 49ers, you know your season has officially hit rock bottom.

Under Ray Perkins at least the Giants had already begun the process of deconstruction and reconstruction.  After recognizing the err of their (Wellington Mara's) ways, new general manager George Young began drafting the likes of Phil Simms, and Lawrence Taylor, and continued further resetting the organization's future course.

San Francisco likewise knows exactly where rock bottom is, but unlike the Giants, have already begun the process of putting these days behind them.  They presently have a locker room filled with high draft picks that before long will likely have the Niners playing competitive football again.

The Giants, however, are still a piano falling out of the sky.  It behooves them to finally acknowledge that they've arrived at the end of another long cycle, and that it's time for another reset.

That decision, however, can not come from general manager Jerry Reese.  He'll only continue spinning the team bus wheels in the mud; throwing bad money here, and wasting another draft pick there.

A new direction must be decided upon by John Mara, who was on hand for Sunday's game at Levi's Stadium watching his grandfather's and father's team lose in rather embarrassing fashion, again.

In consecutive weeks, the Giants have now faced arguably the best and worst teams in the NFL.  Yet, their performance from game to game deviated very little.

With a fairly equal amount of offensive opportunity, the Giants gained 374 total yards in 29:30 minutes of possession against the Rams, then gained 310 total yards in 31:00 minutes against the Niners.  The Rams on the other hand amassed 473 total yards in 30:30 minutes of possession, while the Niners similarly totaled 474 yards in 29:00 minutes.  Both teams would join to defeat the Giants by a combined 82-38 disparity.

The respective outcome of these last two games are not a coincidence.  The numbers scream indifference; apathy; defeatism.

Otherwise, the entire 2017 season has indeed been a Big Blue Blight.

N.Y. Giants: Dysfunction, Junction, What's Your Malfunction?

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Lunatics Are Ruling The Asylum, Again

New York Football Giants: Dysfunction Tends To Slip Into Every Team's Locker Room From Time to Time; How John Mara Intends To Address This Is What Most Interests Me.

When I think back upon instances of Big Blue dysfunction, Wellington Mara's 30-year rebuilding plan comes to mind.  That era was highlighted the very first fan inspired/hired prop plane towing a sign in protest over the Giants practice field.

Then there's Wellington's rift with his brother, necessitating the NFL Commissioner to intercede, and force the Giants into hiring George Young as their general manager.  On that note, there was Pete Rozell laughing it up over Young's selection of an unknown quarterback named Phil Simms out of Morehead State.

Soon thereafter, Bill Parcells went just 3-12-1 in his first season as head coach, and almost got fired as a result.

Lawrence Taylor ... no comment.

When I think dysfunction, I think back on two disastrous seasons under former head coach Ray Handley.

Fast forward a few years to the Jim Fassel era, when he gladly let the lunatics run the asylum.  There was the infamous mental meltdown against the Minnesota Vikings in the 1997 playoffs, in which Giants players starting fighting among themselves on the field, as well as on the sidelines.  Then there was the far more egregious mental meltdown during the 2002 playoffs in San Francisco against the 49ers, in which they blew a 38-16 lead with less than five minutes left in the third quarter.

Jim Fassel wound up leaving a veritable Animal House behind led by Michael Strahan, Keith Hamilton, Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, and a few other prominent frat house pledges.

Tiki Barber's relationship with new coach Tom Coughlin, as well as that of Michael Strahan's with  Coughlin and Jerry Reese devolved to cantankerous levels, and absolutely wreaked of dysfunction.

We also saw what happened in 2007 when Jeremy Shockey sustained a season ending injury, thus freeing the Giants from his dysfunctional oppression of Eli Manning.

These days, the very mention of Odell Beckham's name has become a divisive issue because of the very dysfunction he's perceived to have brought to the team.  His history of immaturity, questionable behavior, and complete lack of professionalism prior to his injury continued undeterred.  Therefore, Coughlin and McAdoo both enabling Beckham the whole time is yet another level of dysfunction.

Dysfunction is Eli Apple saying the club needs a culture change; it's players leaving the field during games; and it's the odd circumstances surrounding Coach McAdoo suspension of Dominique-Rogers Cromartie.

Dysfunction is the background scuttlebutt suggesting Coach McAdoo is losing the team's respect.

There's only one man whom can rectify, or even eliminate, this entire current state of dysfunction presently afflicting the New York Giants - that's John Mara.

With this season already all but lost, when will his patience run out?  Mr. Mara is not afraid to draw a line in the sand and hold his employees to it.  He also possesses reasonable cause to blow this thing up.

The Giants have been hampered by the salary cap, and have drafted poorly for years.  Posting an aggregate record of 39-46 with one playoff appearance since the confetti stopped raining on Super Bowl XLVI, should indeed be making Jerry Reese feel very uncomfortably.

I know Mr. Mara will let Ben McAdoo and Jerry Reese finish out the season.  Mr. Mara is going to make them own this debacle.  After which, should the team finish the season under similar circumstances, I can almost guarantee the owner will make the next move.

N.Y. Giants: Odell Beckham's Dog Day Afternoon

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

"I'm a dog, so I acted like a dog."- Odell Beckham Jr.

New York Giants: Owner Speaks Out; John Mara Pissed Off.

Tuesday's New York Post reported Giants owner John Mara said he's very unhappy with Odell's behavior on Sunday.  He also said the team will handle the matter internally.

I guess that takes the pressure off Jerry Reese and Coach McAdoo to speak out against their best player.

Coach McAdoo refuses to criticize his offensive line, refuses to take exception with Odell Beckham over Sunday's behavior, yet Eli Manning is fair game?  Funny how Coach's big blue marble spins, if not curiously.

For someone who is only three games into his fourth NFL season, OBJ's shameless acts of self-promotion are many.  Topping the list of incidences is a full blown feud with cornerback Josh Norman; his initial assault and subsequent love affair with a kicking net; another meltdown against Minnesota which included bumping a referee; taking the Giants receivers corp on an ill-timed trip to South Beach just before last year's playoff game against the Packers; then putting forth one of his worst ever performances in said playoff game.

The Giants have enabled it all, including Sunday's episode.  The only (person) people who can stop such antics are other players.  Winning locker rooms police themselves.  That being said, Landon Collins was recently on New York City radio condoning Odell's celebration antic.

So there's that ...

Here's the thing - prior to Sunday's game against the Eagles, I believed Odell Beckham's conduct and level of professionalism left himself wide open for public criticism.

What he did Sunday, however, is different.  If we are to take Odell at his word in believing he acted out with a personal protest directed at POTUS, then that's fine by me because protest is the American way.  We The People will settle these issues on our own - thank you - because when the establishment and their conventional wisdom continually fail its citizens; when promises of change and improvement never come; protest is in order.  In turn, protest comes in many and sometimes creative forms.  Sometimes protest even occurs on a football field.

Odell is a smart guy.  He knows exactly what he's doing, and doesn't seemed burdened by potential consequences.  He makes no apologies, and will continue marching to his own beat.  But at the end of the day, we're still talking about football, aren't we?  At least I am.  And as a Giants fan, I do not appreciate the things Odell does.

In all fairness to OBJ, though, I grew up dealing with Lawrence Taylor's issues.  I remember Bill Parcells and George Young cringing whenever their best player did something wrong, forcing them into damage control mode.  Like Taylor, Odell is presently one of the highest profile stars in the NFL There's no denying he's a superior talent, but his self-promotion is increasingly becoming a detriment to the team.  Unfortunately, all those highlight catches have not yet served as a catalyst for elevating Giants success.  Taylor at least helped lead the Giants to a pair of Super Bowl victories.

Odell is a game changing talent, and in the very near future this organization must decide whether committing a king's ransom in order to retain him will be in their best interest.

On that note, there are reasons why Odell Beckham became the fasted receiver to reach 300 receptions in NFL history this past Sunday.  The talent/skill level of the Giants offensive line has been far below par during Odell's three first three seasons with the team.  They've had no tight end to speak of.  In turn, the running game has been futile at best.  Therefore, the Eli/Odell connection continues being the lone extent of recent Giants offensive capabilities.

Knuckleheads abound in life.

In a game they once led against the Vikings, I watched the 1997 Giants defense breakout into a fight against each other while on the field, then lose in ponderous fashion.

Jeremy Shockey was just as problematic as Odell, if not more so because he often worked against a younger Eli Manning instead of with him.  Can't say that about Odell.  He never lambasted his coach to the media either like Tiki Barber did with Tom Coughlin.

It is what it is ...

Some things never change, like older fans wrangling with and against younger sensibilities; debating levels of tolerance or lack thereof; or arguing over personal accountability.

New York Giants: Jerry Reese's Last Stand

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Year of the Reese

New York Football Giants: Jerry Reese's Turn to Sink or Swim.

The Giants own a sub par 28-36 record over the four years since winning Super Bowl XLVI.

They're no doubt seeking to snap a streak of three consecutive losing seasons since going 9-7 during their Super Bowl follow up.  It's been roughly 35 years since the Giants last strung together this many losing campaigns.  Back in 1981, Ray Perkins finally put an end to eight straight losing seasons with the ever temperamental 9-7 record.

The Giants are additionally coming off back-to-back 6-10 seasons.  They have not suffered back-to-back seasons of double-digit losses since Jim Fassel's last stand in 2003 and Tom Coughlin's first year in 2004.

There have been ramifications for all this losing.  Since winning their last Lombardi Trophy, the Giants have jettisoned two defensive coordinators, one offensive coordinator, and a future HOF head coach.

This means all eyes will be on Jerry Reese.  Under him, the Giants have strayed from their traditional core values of strong defense and a ball control running game.  Rather, the running game is non existent, while the defense has allowed in excess of 400 points in each of the last two seasons.

Jerry Reese, then, is next on the chopping block.  He knows it.  Mr. Mara knows it.  And fans know it.
By season's end, John Mara in turn will be faced with a potentially team altering decision.

Will the Giants continue forward with Jerry Reese as their general manager?

The 53 players he fields will ultimately decide.

N.Y. Giants: Dean Coughlin Cleaned Up Animal House

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

The man who put down a Giant insurrection...

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Thank you, Tom Coughlin, for all you've done as Head Coach of Big Blue.

I remember John McVay's last season as head coach in 1976, then grew into my Giants fandom under the stern guidance of Ray Perkins.

Years later, the Giants won Super Bowl XXV, I turned 24-years old, Bill Parcells left, in turn leaving me despondent, and thinking the Giants would never win ever again.

It's true.

Then Ray Handley happened, making Dan Reeves a necessary, and welcome sight for sore eyes.   Thankfully, the 1993 season served as somewhat of a healer.  Despite the departures and respective retirements of many former Big Blue champions, Reeves helped me move on with life.

Then came Jim Fassel, and what I dub the Delta House years (lots of fun, but riddled with typical frat house consequences).

What a bunch of knuckleheads - really - the whole lot of 'em.  For better or worse, guys like Jesse Armstead, Amani Toomer, Jason Sehorn, Jeremy Shockey, Keith Hamilton, Kerry Collins, Michael Strahan and Tiki Barker made Giants football exciting again, but in the most undisciplined manner conceivable.

Wellington Mara, however, was getting on in years, and so the renewed success of the Giants under Jim Fassel, and winning the 2000 NFC championship became perhaps one of the happiest moments of his life.

In truth, that Giants edition was extremely likable.  It took me nearly 10 years, but I was finally over the departure of Bill Parcells (kinda) because of these guys.

Make no mistake, however, Fassel was the ultimate player's coach.  Allowing the inmates to run the asylum ultimately cost the Giants greater glories, that sometimes were lost in quite embarrassing fashion.  Jim Fassel earned his dismissal.  There's little debate there.  Change was clearly needed.

Enter Tom Coughlin - chewing barbed wire and spitting napalm at reporters during his introductory presser.

The unruly Giants didn't take too well to their new commander and controller.

Foolish me sided with the players in those first two years - all but Tiki Barber that is.  I did not appreciate Barber's unrepentant, open defiance and denunciation of Coughlin.  That's not how I want my team's players behaving.  Therefore, in Tiki's case I was totally on board with the head coach.   Otherwise, my son chastised me for my initial lack of Coughlin acceptance.  Then by 2010, I was the one staunchly defending him against naysayers calling for his firing.

Jerry Reese was made to deal with Michael Strahan, and I applauded Reese's dismissive treatment of Strahan at the time.  But, what has transpired over the last few years falls mainly on him, not Coughlin.

Did the Giants suffer from poor coaching decisions this season?  Yes, but, that would necessitate expanding this conversation to include Eli Manning's play changing at the line within this new west coast system.

Sure, there's more to this than just that.  That said, somewhere between the seemingly ceaseless litany of criticisms levied upon Tom Coughlin by Tiki Barber, and the two Lombardi trophies added to the Giants collection under Tom Coughlin, lies the truth regarding his long tenure as head coach.

Do I think Tom Coughlin quit ... because it was right for the Giants?

No.  The Giants resorted to replacing both their offensive and defensive coordinators first.  Naturally, the head coach is next in line for modification.  I think Coughlin was respectfully squeezed out, and given the opportunity to leave under his own terms with class, and his dignity in tact.

Steve Tisch quietly wanted Coughlin gone last season.  If you remember, Steve Tisch publicly lashed out again midway through this season.  Suffice to say, he has not been happy.  Then again, we all know John Mara is the real shot caller, and even he couldn't be dissuaded from enacting reform - not this time.

Tom Coughlin restored order to Giants football.  Looking back on the Jim Fassel years, I say that with confidence.

Now, the time is right for change.

My lasting images of Tom Coughlin are three: his frostbitten face during the 2007 NFC championship game in the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, and the two times his float passed me by during the Super Bowl victory parades down the Canyon of Heroes.

I've had my issues with Tom Coughlin.  I stated them clearly to open the season.

Tiki Barber still disparages his former coach till this day, recently saying Coughlin took the will to continue playing football from him.  To that I say, the Giants wound up better for it.

That's life in the NFL, Tiki.  Get over it.

Tom Coughlin was a great coach.

He'll be difficult to replace.

N.Y. Giants: Reese's Pieces and Defensive Malfeasance

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

First Half Report Card

D-

DEFENSELESS

NEW YORK GIANTS: The Defense Rests, Every Sunday!

What did we learn last Sunday?  That if left unattended, the Saints can score 52 points.

With every passing week since his dismissal, Perry Fewell must snicker with satisfaction in the bowels of FedEx Stadium as the Giants defense sinks deeper into the abyss.

That by no means absolves Fewell from implementing an utterly ponderous system which fostered mass confusion, but he nonetheless squeezed out the very last bit of goodness Ernie Accorsi's old defense had to offer (or was the beneficiary thereof).

The unfortunate irony for Giants fans is that we got Coach Spagnuolo's system back - which I've always been a proponent of - but now lack personnel with which to execute a simple game of checkers.

The enduring poor state of this defense is 100% a personnel issue, which in turn, makes this Jerry Reese's problem.

How bad is this defense?  Let us count the ways:

• The second most total yards allowed.
• The most total yards allowed per game.
• The 6th most total points allowed.
• The 9th most points allowed per game

• The most total passing yards allowed.
• The most passing yards allowed per game.

• The 9th most total rushing yards allowed.
• The 14th most rushing yards allowed per game.

• Last in QB sacks.
• First in INTs.
• Forced 6th most fumbles.
• Recovered 16th most fumbles.
• First in Give/Take ratio.

That last stat, if you remember, is very indicative of Coach Spagnuolo's style.  Everything else about the Giants first half defensive performance, though, is forgettable.

Look around - there's nothing left of Ernie Accorsi's defensive leftovers.  They're all retired, or should be.  Ernie and The Duke seeded the previous run for the new regime, with Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning being their only remaining legacies.

This era of Giants Football belongs to Jerry Reese and John Mara.  That said, the Giants owner must sit in his office at Snoopy Central thinking how he watched the Giants win four Super Bowls with either Hall of Fame caliber linebackers, or with likewise elite pass rushers, and wondering why he presently has neither.

In truth, the Giants issues go far beyond JPP's situation.  Simply put, Jerry Reese has failed to sustain the talent level of the Giants, particularly on defense.  And after watching Drew Brees and Saints tight end Ben Watson go buck wild, perhaps no one on the Giants realizes that more than John Mara.

In fact, the defense has been in a state of devolution since 2011, with JPP serving as the prime example.  That's not a mutation crack  - when JPP was a rookie, he was surrounded by three other elite pass rushers, and had two quality linebackers behind him, with Webster and Ross on the corners. The choreography between pass coverage and the pass rush back then was championship caliber.

They aren't even Snow Day caliber at the moment.

Did injuries help ruin the Giants best laid plans?  Yep, that's what they do - in more ways than one.

The GM gave large sums of money to a linebacker whom repeatedly demonstrated an inability to stay healthy.  When feeling well and contributing, Jon Beason is an actual difference maker.  But, at this juncture, he couldn't make a difference for my local bar's flag football team.  He's given fans less than zero since his arrival.  They say he's great in the locker room.  So, keep him there!  Jon Beason's body obviously does not respond well to prolonged NFL level physicality anymore.

• Is JB tough?  I'm sure.  
• Is JB fragile?  Without question.  
• Is that ideal for linebacker?  Obviously not.

Cut him!

Then there's poor rookie Landon Collins.  Drew Brees stuck it to him good last Sunday, didn't he?   He's going to have a hard time shedding last week's stink (that was permeable stuff). That said, Prince Amukamara can't get back on the field soon enough.  In the mean time, Dominique Rogers Cromartie is so alone in the secondary he might as well be on Revis Island.

Jerry Reese is inside his 8th season as general manager.  Over the last four years, his drafting is proving largely inconsequential, while his reliance of free agency has steadily increased.  That in turn has inspired some curious salary cap maneuvering.

It's Week Nine and the Giants are faced with a must win situation.

At some point, objective analysis must compartmentalize two Lombardi Trophies away from Reese's trending body of work.  Jerry Reese has been with the Giants since 1994, therefore he will be treated with the utmost dignity and respect by ownership.

But John Mara is not going to appreciate an 8-8 NFC East title, or worse.

N.Y. Giants: A Big Blue Crucible Built For Two

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

When GIANTS ruled the world...!

New York Football Giants: Gone are Scapegoat One and Scapegoat Two. Will the axe fall next on Who One or Who Two?

It should read like Dr. Seuss...!  Because somewhere between the Cat in the Hat and the Isle of Dr. Moreau lies my opening statement with regards to the upcoming season.

I watched pre-season game #1; three words ~ What a Mess!

Otherwise I have nothing constructive to offer regarding the game.  

In fact, the Football Giants should count their blessings,

 the Baseball Mets are presently doing well and have me distracted.

But I Got Your Pre-Season Right Here!

General manager Jerry Reese's window for winning a third Vince Lombardi trophy with Eli Manning is closing fast.  That would also suggest the window remains open.

Right?

In truth, all Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin can do is look at each other dismayed over what Jerry Reese has done to the House of Mara.

• Remember how proud Wellington was when his much maligned Giants won the 2000 NFC Championship Game on a field of green painted mud?  There's always that chance, which is exactly why I exhort the Giants to always DO IT FOR THE DUKE!

Unfortunately, the Giants have Big Blue issues my friends.  So, be afraid.  Be very afraid.

THIRD and LONG: If at first, second, or third you do not succeed, try, try and try again, and again, and again...

I'm being kind when declaring the New York Giants are at a crossroad.  According to Albert Einstein's definition, Big Blue is a team bordering on insanity for repeatedly facing the same fork in the road over the last 3 seasons, and veering toward the wayward path each time.

Subsequent to 2011, a series of unremarkable drafts and pedestrian free agent signings failed to effectively replace prominent retiring players.  In fact, center Shaun O'Hara still serves as a prime example of the inability to back fill positions with any type of quality, much less any continuity.

Moreover, Jerry Reese's reliance on free agency consequently reached its zenith over the last two seasons.  In my book, that's called straying from your core values.  But in terms of modern football economics, the salary cap ramifications have proven prohibitive.

That said, injuries continue sabotaging Reese's best laid plans as well.  He has spent several drafts exhausting numerous picks attempting to remedy the secondary, yet, at this very moment injuries continue ruling, if not ruining the day (see Bengals game).

Ironically, Tom Coughlin vehemently denounced injuries upon assuming head coaching duties back in 2004.  But mounting casualties at key positions already stand poised to compromise a fourth straight season, while also threatening to end Coughlin's Big Blue career on a sour note.

Make no mistake, Tom Coughlin is indeed winding down his career as head coach of the Giants.  He is 68-years old now, and his recent record will not allow a continuance unless something special happens at Giants Stadium this season.

To that I say, good luck.

As Bill Parcells used to say - You are what your record says you are.  Translated, that means the Giants are in regression.  They posted their second straight losing record last year, and failed to make the playoffs in each of Coughlin's last 3 seasons.

Moreover, the Giants have posted a 22-26 record since their last trip down Broadway's Canyon of Heroes after winning Super Bowl XLVI.

No one needs reminding, Tom Coughlin is an offensive minded coach.  But it was his friend, and former O.C. Kevin Gilbride that got scapegoated for the Giants 7-9 record and overall disappointing 2013 season.  Outwardly, we know the situation was made to appear as if Gilbride initiated his own retirement.  Our (my) better sense, however, says he paid the price in lieu of firing Coughlin.

And so the Giants moved forward last year with new Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo.

There is considerably less debate with regards to scapegoat number two.  Former defensive coordinator Perry Fewell earned his dismissal with honors.  Injuries took a heavy toll on Fewell's unit as well, but his philosophy and (secondary) schemes were overly confusing and wholly ineffective. Most disheartening and unbearable to watch was their absolute failure to stop the run.  That was an insult to the great history of this organization.  Perry Fewell's dismissal came years later than I had hoped, but it finally came nonetheless.

Perry Fewell is now out, and Steve Spagnuolo is back in.

The next bell, therefore, will toll for Tom Coughlin.  The Giants are not an organization that deals in lame duck coaching.  They treated Coughlin with dignity, extending him through the 2016 season.   They also provided him two new lieutenants with which to march forward.  Whether Tom Coughlin realizes the final year of his contract, however, will be decided this season.

That circles things back to Jerry Reese.

PUNT: If I'm thinking it, John Mara already knows it..!

If there's anyone within the Giants organization keenly adept at recognizing trends, whom understands the business and cyclical nature of football, that instinctively senses when proactive measures are in order, and likewise knows when to pounce, it would be the general manager's boss.

John Mara possesses what Jerry Reese does not - the ultimate bird's eye view, family DNA, a pigskin resume that dates back to the club's days at the Polo Grounds, and most importantly, the final say in all things Giants.

Jerry Reese has yet to hire a head coach during his tenure as general manager.  Tom Coughlin was Ernie Accorsi's doing.  In fact, much of what Ernie Accorsi left behind was what Reese smartly supplemented, and ultimately parlayed into a pair of Super Bowl victories... back then.

But outside of Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning, Ernie Accorsi's New York Giants narrative is complete.  The Giants 22-26 record since 2012 largely falls on the shoulders of Jerry Reese.

Not only did Ernie Accorsi assemble one of the most formidable offensive lines in Giants history, they became an NFL record setting line at that.  The Giants became and remained one of the most feared rushing teams in football in the years prior to Eli's acquisition, through his rookie and early years, and right up until the winter of 2011/2012.

Under Jerry Reese, the focused then shifted towards providing a mature Eli Manning with more down field weapons.  Many receivers have come and gone, but Reese has largely remained successful in that respect.  However, he was slow to address the offensive line, which is now the team's most worrisome liability.  In turn, the Giants running game likewise became and remains among the worst in all the NFL.

Defensively, Jerry Reese continually ignored the position of linebacker by his own design.  He no longer boasts an elite pass rusher up front, while his efforts to upgrade the secondary have been constantly stymied by injury.

Put another way, when a punter (Steve Weatherford) becomes your team's MVP by default, that team is in big trouble.  If Wellington Mara were still around, he'd agree.  But I'm positive John Mara remembers well how Dave Jennings became a Big Blue MVP punting for his Pop's ponderously bad teams of the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Presently, Jerry Reese's primary focus is rebuilding the Giants into a Super Bowl contender one last time during Eli Manning's post-prime seasons.  Eli is now 34-years old; not old by any stretch.  In terms of rebuilding this football team, however, time is of the essence.

John Mara has never been one to act hastily.  Jerry Reese is still very well respected, but I'm starting to question whether John Mara will let Jerry Reese continue his mission beyond the 2015 season.

As a Giants fan, no running game, no linebackers, poor defense - that freaks me out.

I digress.

Free from the influence of Ernie Accorsi, Jerry Reese's record is what it is.  The Giants would have to post a 10-6 record this season in order to achieve .500 since winning XLVI.

Signed,

a staunch Reese supporter...

N.Y. Giants: They Are What Their Record Says

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Being outdone by Jerry Jones?

New York Giants Football: John Mara makes it difficult to determine whether or not Jerry Reese is on the hot seat.

With Monday night's loss to the D.C. Hogs, the Dallas Cowboys graciously afforded the Giants one last chance at turning their season around, albeit a slim one.

Of course, good teams do not rely on their competition for creating their opportunities.  Good teams create their own situations and opportunity.

So what does that make the Giants?

At 3-4, Bill Parcells would say - you are what you're record says you are.

Their in-conference record says they are not contenders.  Losses to the Eagles and Cowboys were preceded by losses to the Lions and Cardinals.  Their two conference victories came against the lowly Falcons and Hogs, whom sport a combined 5-11 record.

Although 3 of their next 4 games are at home, they must face the COLTS, @Seahawks, 49ERS, and COWBOYS.  That's four weeks against top contenders.

The last five games:
@Jaguars
@Titans
D.C. Hogs
@Rams
EAGLES

If the Giants season didn't end in Dallas last week, it could very well be over by the time the Cowboys come to Giants Stadium.

The Giants need 5 more victories (in 9 games) in order to finish the season with an 8-8 record.

Catching up with the Eagles and Cowboys is obviously priority number one.  Otherwise, they need to keep pace with the Packers/Lions, Panthers/Saints, and Cardinals/49ers/Seahawks.

At 3-4, the Saints find themselves in the same predicament as the Giants.  But, in order for the Giants to run with the pack, they must overcome much.

This is just the very short list:

I. Offensively

• an ineffective offensive line;
• Rashad Jennings still injured;
• no tight end to speak of;
• No Victor Cruz.

II. Defensively

• no pass rush to speak of;
• Jon Beason is out for the rest of the season;
• a beleaguered secondary;
• a defensive coordinator that needs to be replaced.

Giants Football was devolving even before their Super Bowl XLVI victory.  That was just their last hurrah.  

They no longer have that stable of talent they once did (on either side of the ball) which they built primarily through the draft.  Free agency was always used to fortify the roster.

In previous years free agency indeed proved a much more effective tool as they relied on it less.   However, since their last ring, Jerry Reese has annually shuffled the deck in an attempt at keeping the team competitive during Eli Manning's remaining years.  There's the rub.  If it weren't for Eli, a full blown rebuilding would be in order, lest we forget Manning was a rookie on a very veteran team.  

That said, Jerry Reese's reliance on free agency has increased every season since 2011.  He was clearly at his most aggressive during this past off-season, and was generally commended for addressing specific needs.  Above all, he managed to purchase fan confidence heading into the 2014 season.  

At 3-2, they looked fine heading into Philadelphia.  Or, so we thought.  They got shut out 27-0 by the Eagles, and looked even worse than that.

So, the question again begged to be asked - how good are the Giants?

We should look no further than at the NFC East division leading Dallas Cowboys for the answer.   Plain and simple, Dallas' offensive line, back field, tight end, and receivers, are all superior to those of the Giants.  And it showed in a 31-21 defeat in Dallas.

That must have had Jerry Jones doing cartwheels in the hallways of AT&T Stadium.

That should have had John Mara contemplating his general manager's future as well.

During the pre-season Coach Coughlin said he had no plan on retiring.  But at this rate, this is likely his last season as Giants head coach.  The Giants are also in dire need of a change in defensive coordinators.

Giants ownership, we know does nothing hastily.  And, Reese is widely believed to be held in high esteem by the organization.  One can't help but wonder, however, if Jerry Reese will be the one making those determinations heading into next season.

As a result of their most recent defeat against the Cowboys, the Giants are now 19-20 since winning their last Super Bowl.  They only posted a  9-7 regular season that year, and followed that with another 9-7 record in 2012 before falling to 7-9 last season.

The Giants haven't fired a general manager since Wellington Mara replaced Andy Robustelli after the 1978 season with George Young.  The baton was then passed, so to say, to Ernie Accorsi, whom then passed it to Jerry Reese.

Giants history says Reese will still be calling the shots next season.  But John Mara was born into this game, and perhaps knows better than anyone when to make such a move.

Mike

N.Y. Giants: Do It For The Duke, or Else

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

 

Proceed With Caution!

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: That's Not Erie Silence You Hear Emanating From The Owner's Box - It's John Mara Grinding His Teeth and Seething.  Memo To Big Blue Players, There Is Only One True GIANT, And You Work For Him.

John Mara is his own person, and runs the Giants organization admiringly as far as I'm concerned.  He certainly has his own way about him, and wouldn't hesitate imparting some knowledge upon this team if he felt it was warranted.  His father's influence (rest his soul) has most likely, if not assuredly spared, or should I say saved, the uniformed members of this football team from such an episode - so far.

Wellington Mara was a patient man, and before he passed away, he taught his son the fine art of temperance.  The younger John was somewhat of a hot head.  If you saw how Ann reprimanded Terry Bradshaw after SBVLVI, it's easy to understands where he may have gotten that from.  Joking aside, but at the same time in all seriousness, that's not necessarily my observation or opinion.  They're John Mara's, forwarded by himself through the years.  Make no mistake.  John Mara is the alpha of this Big Blue organization, and players are well aware of the family history.  It comes with being a Giant, so there is no way of it eluding or escaping anyone who dons the uniform.  That said, in their current state, these players will never feel the really truly embarrassment of having to look into Wellington Mara's eyes.  To that I say, what a shame!  It was hard not taking one his looks to heart.  The modern environment of football is much more cold and impersonal than the days of shame and accountability.  These days, you just get cut.  That's Jerry Reese's department.  But in the land of Giants, a glare from the owner is just as relevant, and as potent as it ever was under Tim Mara, his son, or presently under Tim's grandson.

Jon Mara doesn't speak publicly much, although he is quite available.  Be sure.  Instead, he is very adept at choosing his moments.  When he does speak, the uniformed members of this team had better listen very intently.  He makes it easy on the listener, because he doesn't mince words.  He's commented publically regarding team performance before in less dire straights than the current dilemma facing the team.  I expect the New York Football Giants to make an appearance on the local airways soon, or not.  But for the players sake, let me be wrong.

Hence, the Giants portion of my blog is titled:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE..!

And another thing for those who've strayed - don't you know, that in one form or another Coach Tom Coughlin is enmeshed in all this team's history of the last twenty-five years as well?  With two SB trophies to his credit as Head Coach, this organization will not be forcing Coach out the door.  The Giants suffer personnel issues, not head coaching issues.  It is understandable for us fans to be upset.  But dumping on Coughlin as a first resort will no longer be excused.  Now shape up, and get back in line.



Mike.BTB