The relationship between the New York Giants and their fans continues to vacillate, like a seventh grade couple.
At this point, we don’t know how to categorize the final month of the season for the New York Giants. Now, the popular theory remains that Big Blue doesn’t tank, and that’s certainly fair. But does the team have a responsibility to the rest of the NFL to stick with veterans?
Or for the betterment of the franchise should the G-Men view December as an early training camp?
With guys like veteran wideout Cody Latimer and washed up running back Jonathan Stewart bouncing around at practice, it seems like the last month of the season will be dedicated to saving face. That sentiment applies to almost every person, from co-owner John Mara to general manager Dave Gettleman to head coach Pat Shurmur to quarterback Eli Manning.
No doubt that everyone has skin in the game, even the fans. But the vast majority of the fanbase has continued to buy into the excuses thundering around 1925 Giants Drive for good five years now.
More sizzle than steak
Going back several years, the fanbase bought into scapegoating the coordinators. So gone were Kevin Gilbride and Perry Fewell. Ownership then placated some fans by bringing back favorite Steve Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator.
How did that end up?
Realistically, for the better part of the 2010’s, the New York Giants have been more sizzle than steak. Remember the Super Bowl clock? It should have been the Jerry Reese countdown clock, yet that same mind-set continues today.
If you say you built it, they will still continue to come.
But having a 3-8 record doesn’t give anyone bragging rights, even if you have the “touched by the hand of God” running back Saquon Barkley. Since Odell Beckham is already locked into a long-term extension, the final games of the season will be dedicated to winning the rookie-of-the-year award for Barkley.
In and of itself, that will be enough for some fans to back off and believe there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Personally, I am going to watch keenly for substantive moves, versus activities strictly used to achieve a short-term goal.
Like most Big Blue fans, I was pumped about new general manager Dave Gettleman taking over. I still believe that Gettleman is a good football man, but simply being “good” shouldn’t cut it in these parts. He needs to be a great football man.
No tanking
You can bet you’re bottom dollar that the G-Men will do everything possible to conclude the season without double-digit losses. It’s a face saving exercise for the franchise. Part and parcel of this exercise centers around propping up quarterback Eli Manning, and getting head coach Pat Shurmur some wins.
Get ready for the statistical defenses of completion percentage, yards per game, etc. Let’s not worry about the win-loss record, that’s not part of the narrative.
There are serious questions about how much the New York Giants have improved in this second straight season of disarray. And let’s be serious, these are legitimate questions that will be dismissed by a portion of the fanbase. some areas have improved, and others have not, that’s simply factual.
When someone is feed scraps continually, they begin to acquire a taste for scraps. So 6-10 is going to be much better than 3-13, even though the NFC East was clearly up for grabs this season.
And as much as a portion of the fanbase likes to make fun of Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, and everyone’s favorite punching bag, Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones, at least these guys are making an honest attempt at improvement.
I don’t normally agree with ESPN’s Max Kellerman, as he tries to hang in with the ever verbose Stephen A. Smith. But Kellerman was right was he said that the New York Giants franchise takes the easy way out.
There’s no doubt that Saquon Barkley will be a star NFL player, but there is no chance at a Super Bowl title unless the quarterback situation gets solved. And we all know that if Barkley gets the rookie award, then the pick is immune from criticism furthermore. Therefore, it’s critical to get him that trophy.
That’s the way it’s been working in these parts for far too long. Makes some moves, declare victory and ignore the win-loss record. Tell the fanbase, don’t believe your eyes, believe what we tell you.
Something’s gotta change in this codependent relationship.