Giants co-owner John Mara “hasn’t given up” on season
John Mara isn’t ready to throw in the towel on the New York Giants’ season although the team’s co-owner isn’t exactly satisfied with the team’s performance thus far.
“I’m very disappointed,” Mara said Wednesday at the NFL owners meeting in New York City. “We’re 1-5. How can I possibly feel good about that?”
Despite his disappointment, Mara still has confidence in both head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese. Both McAdoo and Reese have been blamed for the team’s plummet from Super Bowl contenders to the basement of the National Football Conference.
“I support them both,” he said. “You have to. It’s hard enough to win in this league. If the general manager and head coach don’t have the support of ownership, it makes it almost impossible.”
Mara also clarified statements from co-owner Steve Tisch earlier in the week that they had nothing to do with McAdoo ceding play calling duties to offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan in the Week 6 victory over the Denver Broncos.
“(Reese) probably had that discussion with him (McAdoo),” he said. “But even Jerry would not and did not tell him that he had to give up the play calling duties. That has to be the head coach’s decision.”
Mara did admit that he discussed it with Tisch.
“Steve and I talked about it,” Mara said. “We talk about the games and what goes on. We bitch and moan to one another but neither one of us spoke with the coach about giving up the play calling.”
Last week, McAdoo had to contend with the suspension of cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as well as get the team prepared to play a nationally televised game on the road against the NFL’s top defense. Some called the win over Denver a defining moment for McAdoo but Mara offered another perspective.
“It showed me we are 1-5 instead of 0-6,” he said. “The players played hard on Sunday night. Our defense played the way I thought they were going to play all year. It’s a step in the right direction but it’s just one step…obviously he’s in a difficult situation right now being 1-5. Part of being a head coach is how you deal with situations like that.”
Mara also said he visited wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the hospital after Beckham underwent season-ending surgery to repair his fractured left ankle. He doesn’t think the injury will have any bearing on signing Beckham to a long-term contract.
“I don’t think it will have any effect because I think he will have a full recovery,” he said.
Mara also stressed the team will not need to see Beckham at full strength before making that deal.
“I think our medical people feel pretty strongly that he’ll make a full recovery. Knowing him, he will work hard to get back. He has so much pride,” he said.
At the same time, Mara didn’t hide his feelings about Beckham’s canine touchdown celebration in the Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I was obviously disappointed with his behavior in Philadelphia. I spoke to him about that. He heard me,” he said. “Unfortunately, he got hurt after that. He’s maturing. I think we had all hoped that the maturity would come a little faster than it has been. I’ve spoken to him. I saw him the hospital last week. He’s in a good place and I think he will come back stronger than ever.”
Mara is still optimistic about the Giants’ playoff chances although no team that started off 0-5 has made the postseason since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.
“I’m not going to pull the Jim Mora quote out,” he said, referring to the former Indianapolis Colts head coach’s now famous 2001 “Playoffs?” rant. “I just want to win the next game (against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium). That’s all I’m thinking about. I haven’t given up on anything.”
– Curtis Rawls is a Managing Editor for cover32 and covers the NFL and New York Giants. Please like and follow on Facebook and Twitter. Curtis can be followed on Twitter @CuRawls203.
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