When it comes down to loyalty, there is no organization more honorable than the New York Giants in the NFL but, at times, even that true blue devotion comes to a breaking point.
It happened when team president and CEO, John Mara, sat on the team bus after an embarrassing 25-24 loss to the Jaguars on Nov. 30 as he tried to repress what was an overwhelming urge to start from square one.
"When I'm sitting on that bus after the Jacksonville game, I wanted to fire everybody," he said Tuesday, "from the people in the equipment room to the people upstairs [in the front office]."
It was, he said, a "low point" and an "embarrassment." The Giants blew a 21-0 lead against one of the worst teams in the league, and maybe if the season had ended after that game, Mara would have followed through on his tortured instincts.
Instead, after three straight playoff-less seasons, Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese are getting one more chance with the Giants — a make-it-or-break-it season.
“I don’t think that’s an unfair statement,” he said point blank.
Mara said he still has faith in his head coach and general manager and both will return for 2015. And, although he said he is "sick" about a seven-game losing streak and finishing 6-10 this past season, Mara added that there is "reason for optimism" based on how the team finished up the season.
"We need to have another [strong draft]," Mara said. "With that and with another year under this new offense, I think we have a chance to be a good team next year. Obviously, that's a tough sell right now when you go 7-9 and then 6-10, but I still have a very strong belief in this staff and this organization. I think we're going to be a good team next year."
Fair warning everyone.
