Reese, Coughlin and Eli will sink or swim together

Whatever has been going on, besides 6 weeks still end of 2011 season, it has not been working for a very long time. Besides those six weeks, we have ranged from slightly above average (2010) to mediocre (2009, 2012, most of 2011 season), to downright bad (end of 2009 and 2012, beginning, if not all, of 2013). For me, it is really hard to apportion blame between Reese and TC. So, I agree with OP in the broad sense that these guys should sink or swim together. Eli is a different, though, I still remain convinced he could thrive under right circumstances. People forget he was asked to do a lot under Gillbride system, which led to a lot of turnovers. However, Eli can win games on his own, if he gets minimal protection. Unfortunately, he doesn't even get that anymore.

In comment 11823614 baadbill said:

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when it's still August and not a single game of the 2014 season has been played. Sounds like many have already decided this season isn't worth watching. The Giants may suck this year but, fuck it, I think I'll actually watch the games before thinking about 2015.

I agree baadbill. My post was responding to the theme of the thread, not my opinion of the outcome of the season.

Run the ball decently, don't turn it over as much as the other team, get a few timely 3rd down stops on defense. This team is in the playoffs with whatever 5 O-lineman you put out there...

question is what do Mara and Tisch believe? Do they believe the problem is drafting or drafted players not getting a chance? The Jernigan comments at the end of last season point to the later.

to keep people - not get rid of them...

In comment 11823727 St. Jimmy said:

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question is what do Mara and Tisch believe? Do they believe the problem is drafting or drafted players not getting a chance? The Jernigan comments at the end of last season point to the later.

I honestly do not know the answer. But if you had a team that beat the Falcons (best record in NFC following year), a 15-1 GB at Lambau, the Niners in the first of three straight NFC title games, and Brady and the Pats, shouldn't that tell us we had talent? Shouldn't we have been more consistent than 7-7 going into our 15th game and not get smoked by the Redskins in a meaningless game for them in December. As much as a I respect TC, that tells me a lot about where the blame lays if I HAD to separate them. But, as I said before, I don't think you need to or really can effectively. The OP has it right, they should sink or swim together.

He's still fairly young for a top executive, so there's still reason to think he'll improve at his job. And to date, he hasn't exactly been Matt Millen. Put as many asterisks on his two Super Bowls as you like. He still has the rings.

Tom Coughlin turns 68 on Sunday. Eli turns 34 during wild card weekend. It's open to debate whether they are in decline, but they are both past the age where men in their respective jobs typically improve.

Add in the institutional history element - the Giants not firing a GM for 35 years - and the likelihood of Jerry Reese getting canned seems pretty far-fetched. It's relatively easy to see Coughlin retiring after a rough 2014. I can even imagine the team moving on from Eli after another bad year. But as long as Reese convinces ownership that he has a credible plan for turning things around, he'll almost certainly get a chance to implement it.

receives $17,000,000 next year (2015) - the final one of his contract. Something will have to give.

It doesn't really matter how well he or the team performs. One way or the other, Eli will need to be restructured or told he's in his final year as a Giant in 2015. If he puts up numbers like he did last year, and if the team struggles like it did last year, it will be hard for the team to justify keeping his 34 year-old self for that kind of money.

I am awed by what Eli Manning has done for the Giants, and I would love to see him do it again. But there comes a time when an athlete's body just doesn't hold up to the punishment any more. Watching him try to evade rushers gets more difficult each year - and that's saying something, because he was never one of the nimbler QBs in the league. He's accumulated a variety of foot, leg, and shoulder injuries over the years, and he's bound to get dinged up again this year - especially with the porous OL we have right now.

Everyone has to retire sooner or later. I think Giants fans might have to get used to the idea of not having Eli Manning around forever - and that his exit might be closer at hand than folks realize.

2014 will be a very interesting year in GiantsLand. And probably not a very good one.

In comment 11824615 George said:

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receives $17,000,000 next year (2015) - the final one of his contract. Something will have to give...

I don't see Eli ever giving the Giants a hard time about his contract. He'll do what is best for the team and organization. It's one of the reasons he's a great player for the Giants (just like Simms).

If he's worth $10M a year he should be replaced

In comment 11825037 Bill in UT said:

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If he's worth $10M a year he should be replaced

I want to be clear about my post ... Eli can play lights out and "be worth $20M a year" and he will still restructure his contract if that is what is necessary for the team/organization to succeed (i.e. to have the cap space to sign the players to keep the team successful).

In comment 11825044 baadbill said:

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In comment 11825037 Bill in UT said: Quote: If he's worth $10M a year he should be replaced I want to be clear about my post ... Eli can play lights out and "be worth $20M a year" and he will still restructure his contract if that is what is necessary for the team/organization to succeed (i.e. to have the cap space to sign the players to keep the team successful).

Restructuring doesn't mean taking less money, it just means changing the payout schedule. So I'll stay with my last post once that is figured in