Before I write this, I must give a (dis)honorable mention to Dan Reeves since he cut Phil Simms after a 1993 season where Simms made the Pro Bowl in order to insert Dave Brown as the starter. Not to mention that horrible series of play-calls he issued when we had first and 10 at the Cowboy 14 with the NFC East and number one seed only a Phil Simms TD pass away. He ran three times. I still shudder when I think about it.
Anyway . . .
I believe Ben has released Handley from the rank of the most hated head coach in recent Giant history. Ray was inept and in over his head, but as a guy whose sole job it was to manage the clock before he was thrust into the position of head coach, I can feel sorry for him with hindsight. There is a more "finger-nails-scrapping-across-the-blackboard" feeling that McAdoo leaves behind.
He benched Eli. Seriously?? The arrogance. The pulled back hair. The grease. Did he really wear shorts and sneakers to the stadium today?
Good bye and good riddance M*****
Maybe but they were an aging champion.
Funny that the nothing-special Dan Reeves managed to get that aging 6-10 team to 11-5 and the playoffs.
Handley retains the #1 spot for the reason Greg mentions.
Best. Handle. Ever.
And George Young was responsible for the Simms debacle not Reeves.
Parcells almost quit the team after the '89 season because he thought it was likely headed for downturn. He stuck around and we won the Super Bowl, but the '91 Giants were the team that Parcells was concerned the '90 Giants were going to be.
For all McAdoo's flaws, he at least didn't go out of his way to wreck the defense. Remember that Handley took guys like LT and Pepper Johnson and threw them into Rod Rust's read and react.
Parcells almost quit the team after the '89 season because he thought it was likely headed for downturn. He stuck around and we won the Super Bowl, but the '91 Giants were the team that Parcells was concerned the '90 Giants were going to be.
The problem with that argument is the second Dan Reeves took over, they won 11 games with Simms and LT on fumes. The following season, they won 9 games (more than Handley won) with a QB with absolutely zero NFL experience.