New York Giants: Do They Earn Benefit Of The Doubt?
There is plenty of reasons to doubt the direction of the New York Giants. Back to back losing seasons have been a tough pill to swallow. The Giants have not made the playoffs since 2011 when they won the fourth Super Bowl championship in franchise history. Do the Giants merit the benefit of the doubt?
Bill Parcells famously said that you are what your record says you are. If this is true, than the Giants have been a failure of a football team for the past 2 seasons.
Losing seasons happen in the NFL, only a handful of teams have sustained consistent success in this era. However consecutive losing seasons is surely unacceptable.
Dec 22, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants won it all in 2007 and 2011. The unavoidable truth is that both Super Bowl runs were the result of finding a spark at the right moment and barely scraping into the postseason. The Giants’ championships are no less glorious because of this, but it is an unavoidable truth nonetheless.
The Coughlin era of Giants football is equivalent to a shaky airplane ride through turbulence where the pilot gets you on the ground safely in the end. Nothing is easy, the team has never really been dominant, but it came together when it mattered most.
In a world where you are measured by your greatest accomplishments the Giants are still given much respect. From the ownership down to the coaching staff, the Giants have some of the most respected individuals in the football world.
Aug 3, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; New York Giants co-owner John Mara attends the 2014 Hall of Fame game against the Buffalo Bills at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Ownership has never been a problem. John Mara is as good as it gets. The Mara name is revered and is synonymous with class and dignity. Because the Giants organization has such strong ownership, fans trust that the team will always find a way to bounce back.
The Giants find themselves in an unfamiliar position heading into 2015. If the organization is as strong and respectable as we think it is, this is the time for the rebound. If the Giants fail in 2015 everything must be questioned.
A third losing season would be an indictment on both Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese. It is Reese’s job to build the team on paper. It is Coughlin’s job to get the most out of the team Reese has given him. Therefore losing is either the fault of the general manager or the head coach.
Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
So the question is have the Giants earned our trust? Do they get the benefit of the doubt. The answer is that while two Super Bowl championships speak loudly, the benefit of the doubt is running out. The well is running dry and if things don’t get better, it will be gone.
The Giants are one of the most respected teams in the NFL for a reason. They are a classy organization that has enjoyed a lot of success in its rich history.
That being said, success is the only thing that matters in the NFL. The past is irrelevant in the never-ending pursuit of championships. The Giants must get back to their winning ways or everything should be questioned and changes should be seen.