‘Spiraling’ Giants fire McAdoo, GM Reese
As interim coach, Spagnuolo to decide if Manning returns.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Believing the team was spiraling out of control, the New York Giants went out of character by making two major in-season moves, firing coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese.
With the team 2-10 in a season where most felt it was capable of challenging for a Super Bowl, co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch reached the decision Monday morning. It came less than a day after the Giants lost in Oakland, with quarterback Eli Manning benched and the offensively inept team performing poorly again.
“We agreed that wholesale changes to this organization needed to be made to get us back to the team we expect it to be,” Mara said at a news conference. “We also agreed it was pointless to wait any longer to make these changes.”
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will take over as interim coach. He coached the St. Louis Rams from 2009-11.
Mara did not say whether Manning will return as the starter this weekend against Dallas, saying it would be Spagnuolo’s decision.
In a radio interview, Manning said he told Spagnuolo that he wants to start the last four games.
“I want to be out there and help us go win these four games,” Manning said. “I hope I’m out there on Sunday playing against the Cowboys.”
Mara said neither McAdoo nor Reese was surprised by the decision. He said his meeting with Reese was more emotional because the two had worked together since 1994.
“I don’t think there was any one final straw,” Mara said. “I just think that where we are as a franchise right now, you know, we’re 2-10. We’ve kind of been spiraling out of control. I just felt like we needed a complete overhaul. I don’t think there was any one event or one final act to precipitate that.”
Many felt the benching earlier last week of the wellliked Manning, the face of the franchise and a two-time Super Bowl MVP, was the deciding factor.
McAdoo also would have been subjected to howls from fans with three of the final four games at home, starting this weekend.
The moves come less than a year after the 40-year-old McAdoo ended a four-year Giants playoff drought in his first season, going 11-6. That record was aided in large part by Reese’s outstanding work in the free agent market that rebuilt the defense.
While the 2016 season ended in a loss to Green Bay in the wild-card game, this year was supposed to be better.
The offense was bolstered by signing receiver Brandon Marshall and drafting tight end Evan Engram in the first round. The defense was back with the exception of defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins.
It fizzled from the start. The Giants lost their first five games, then injuries decimated the roster.
“This has been the perfect storm this season,” Mara said. “Everything that could have gone wrong this season has gone wrong.”
Assistant general manager Kevin Abrams is taking the top GM job an interim basis.
Sunday’s Games Monday’s Games
(At) Pacers 115, Knicks 97: Thaddeus Young scored 20 points to lead seven in double figures for Indiana, which led by 26 at half and 95-65 after three quarters.
Suns 115, (at) 76ers 101: Devin Booker scored 32 of his 46 points in the second half for Phoenix. He shot 17 of 32 and hit four 3-pointers. JJ Redick scored 25 for Philadelphia.
(At) Hornets 104, Magic 94: Kemba Walker, who missed the previous two games with a shoulder injury, scored 29 points as Charlotte snapped a four-game losing streak.
Nets 110, (at) Hawks 90: Caris LeVert scored a seasonhigh 17 points, and Brooklyn broke the game open with a 17-0 run to open the second half.
(At) Celtics 111, Bucks 100: Kyrie Irving scored 32, and Al Horford had 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Boston. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 40 for Milwaukee.
Cavaliers 113, (at) Bulls 91: Dwyane Wade and Kevin Love each scored 24 points and LeBron James had 23 as Cleveland won its 12th straight. Point guard Derrick
Rose returned to the team to resume rehabilitation for a sprained left ankle. He left the Cavs on Nov. 9 to contemplate retirement.
(At) Grizzlies 95, Timberwolves 92: Marc Gasol scored 21 points as Memphis snapped an 11-game losing streak. Jimmy Butler scored 30 for Minnesota.
Warriors 125, (at) Pelicans 115: Stephen Curry had 31 points and 11 assists before leaving late in the game to get X-rays on a sprained right ankle, and Golden State came back from a 69-49 halftime deficit. Curry used crutches to leave the arena. Jrue Holiday scored 34 and E’Twaun Moore added a career-high 27 for the Pelicans, who played a second straight game without Anthony Davis (adductor strain).
(At) Mavericks 122, Nuggets 105: Harrison Barnes had 22 points for Dallas, which led by 21 in the first quarter and had its highest-scoring game of the season.
(At) Spurs 96, Pistons 93: LaMarcus Aldridge scored 17 and Rudy Gay had 12, including a go-ahead 3-point play with 3:39 left. Reggie Jackson scored 27 for Detroit.
(At) Jazz 116, Wizards 69: Alec Burks scored 27 for the Jazz, whose 47-point margin was one shy of the club record. Center Rudy Gobert had 10 rebounds in 21 minutes after missing the past 11 games with a bone bruise in his right leg.