Giants need more than just emotional spark
So, what happens after the heartfelt ovation for Eli Manning, after someone in the stands yells, “Give ’em hell, Spags,” and after all those fans who backed off on their plan to protest or hire a plane to haul a banner containing a derisive message settle into their seats Sunday at MetLife Stadium?
What happens if Orleans Darkwa gains 2 yards on first down, Manning hits Evan Engram for 5 yards and then, on third down, Manning is forced to make a hurried throw as the offensive line crumbles and the ball falls at the feet of Shane Vereen?
Ben McAdoo is gone. Jerry Reese is gone. Sadly, the 2017 New York Giants remain.
Perhaps the much-anticipated firings of the head coach and general manager provide a brief spark to what has been a lifeless team. Maybe the message of unity and playing for all Giants, present and past, imparted this week by Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator elevated to interim head coach status, resonates with players who were largely unresponsive to anything the past three months. It could be that the presence of the Cowboys, an NFC East rival on playoff-contention lifesupport, motivates these Giants.
Or it could be more of the same, with a new man in charge. Spagnuolo takes over a battered team, with backups and players recently unemployed not only on the roster, but manning key spots on the field.
Manning, after last week’s unfortunate end to his 210-game starting streak, returns to the huddle for what could be his final four games with the Giants. Before he was sent to the bench, Manning and his offense was dreadful in a loss to the Redskins.
Geno Smith was decent in a 24-17 loss to the Raiders and pushed to the side not because of his performance, but to right a wrong, with Spagnuolo saying his “gut’’ tells him Manning gives the Giants the best chance to win — though the Giants were 2-9 with Manning calling the shots.
Once again, rookie Davis Webb will not play, and it will be a shame if the Giants never see this young quarterback in a real game down the stretch of the season.
The good-will manufactured by ownership’s dismissal of McAdoo and Reese will last only so long with paying customers, who will have to confront the indignity of seeing swaths of Cowboysclad fans invading the Meadowlands.
“Well, we’re going to compete, we’re going to work hard, we’re trying to go beat the Dallas Cowboys,” Manning said. “I appreciate all the support that the fans have given me this past week, it’s been overwhelming. And I appreciate them so much for all the texts, the letters, the way they expressed their appreciation for me, so I’d appreciate it if they came out on Sunday and cheered the team on.’’
They will be there. How long they cheer their team on? Well, that depends on how much, if at all, Manning and his teammates give them anything to cheer for.