Everyone expected Ben McAdoo to be relieved of his duties as the New York Giants head coach after their loss to the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday. It was rumored that if the 49ers (1-9) achieved their first win of the season against the Giants (1-8), McAdoo would be fired. There were also strong rumors that McAdoo has lost the locker room and players are ready for a change in the head coaching department. Yet, here we are with McAdoo still head coach and fans frustrated more than ever.
Delaying The Inevitable
Earlier this week Giants’ owners John Mara and Steve Tisch released a statement saying “Ben McAdoo is our head coach and has our support.” In all seriousness, what exactly has McAdoo done this season to earn the support of Mara and Tisch? It continues, “We are in the midst of an extremely disappointing season. Our performance this year, particularly the past two weeks, is inexcusable and frustrating. While we appreciate that our fans are unhappy with what has occurred, nobody is more upset than we are. Our plan is to do what we have always done, which is to not offer a running commentary on the season. It is our responsibility to determine the reasons for our poor performance and at the end of the year, we will evaluate the 2017 season in its entirety and make a determination on how we move forward.”
This statement by Mara and Tisch seems to give off the feeling that they’re delaying the inevitable of McAdoo being fired. Assuming their mindset is like everyone else’s and they understand that the season is over, firing McAdoo could actually be a poor move. This situation with the Giants is much to dysfunctional to hand over to a new head coach. Mara and Tisch may have been sincere with what they said about having McAdoo’s back. Although, that support will probably disappear once the season is over.
Nov 5, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo walks the sidelines during the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
The Future Of Ben McAdoo
It’s hard to see Ben McAdoo having any future with the Giants. Parting ways will be best for both sides and a new head coach can be sought out and evaluated before the start of the 2018-2019 season. If the Giants do send McAdoo packing, it wouldn’t surprise me if Jerry Reese is fired as well. If McAdoo does remain the head coach of the Giants, don’t be surprised if another dysfunctional season occurs.
The Giants have been a team heavily influenced by momentum for as long as I can remember. Positive or negative plays in the beginning of games have determined the outcome more times than not in the past. If they continue to have issues in the locker room next season, that will not translate well on the field.