Stresses effort

the 1-8 season before he vented at his players. Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch declared him safe for the rest of the season – a couple more blowouts could change that – but put him on notice once this misery ends Dec. 31.

McAdoo did not give the players who failed to give effort the opportunity to explain themselves. “No, no, no,” DRC said. “You see it on film. You can’t explain some of it. You just got to own up to it.”

The coach did not call players out by name. He just showed them on the big screen. Presumably, the guilty parties were sliding down their chairs. “We had some open conversations,” McAdoo said. “Some hard talks. Some plain talks. Some simple talk. Played some film. Were brutally honest with each other. We’ll see how the players respond.”

Rodgers-Cromartie said McAdoo should have done it earlier in the season. “I think it would put guys in a different attention span, put us on alert,” he said. “Nobody wants to get caught. I don’t care what you say. Ain’t nobody want to have a play up there where you got to come back in the locker room and everybody is looking at you like you’re that guy. So I think it could have helped if it was done earlier or not, but at least it got done.” avis Webb hosted Patrick Mahomes on his visit to Texas Tech i n 2013 and taught the freshman the Red Raiders’ offense i n 2014. And when Webb got hurt, Mahomes repaid him by taking Webb’s starting quarterback job and never giving it back, eventually prompting Webb’s 2016 transfer to Cal. No hard feelings.

“I guess I taught him too much,” Webb, the Giants’ rookie QB, said Wednesday with a smile. “That’s what I always tell him. I say, ‘I taught you too much.’ ”

The dream is one day, when Eli Manning and Alex Smith no longer headline Giants vs. Chiefs, it will be the former college teammates Webb and Mahomes dueling in an NFL tribute to the Air Raid. Webb and Mahomes, believe it or not, remain “very close” despite that unintentional 2014 passing of the Texas Tech torch.

For now, though, they must stay patient. Sunday, when the Giants (1-9) host the Chiefs (6-3) at MetLife Stadium, Mahomes will be Alex Smith’s backup i n uniform, while Webb is expected to remain inactive for a 10th straight game, unless Ben McAdoo finally concedes to see the rookie in-game before the Giants pick in the topfive next spring.

And that’s OK. Because while it’s tough to watch as other rookie QBs get a chance to start — Buffalo’s Nathan Peterman being the fifth to do so this Sunday against the Chargers — Webb has plenty of practice being patient and gracious, thanks to Mahomes.

Webb capped his 2013 freshman year at Tech by throwing for 403 yards, four touchdowns and It’s only human nature that playno interceptions in a 37-23 Holiday ers lose their hunger as the losses Bowl win over Arizona State. But accumulate. Receivers get short in Week 4 of his sophomore season armed over the middle. Defensive he tore the labrum in his left shoulbacks are not as eager to stick their der against Oklahoma State, in head in trying to make a tackle on Week 5 he fractured ractured a 230-pound running back. his ankle against

The eye in the sky doesn’t lie and Kansas State. e. And any player who wants to continue though he played layed his career knows if he dogs it the three more games, ames, lack of effort will show up on film in Week 8 against gainst for the rest of the league to judge. TCU as Webb Is DRC disappointed in some of

tells it, “my anhis teammates not going all out?

kle finally gave ave “Nah, I mean as a player, you

out and then en unday, they’ll never know what’s going on in a

Pat comes in.” .” both be in the player,” he said. “Only thing I can

That is when hen same building. say that’s disappointing is the lack

Webb learned ed the Mahomes will of wanting to after all that we’ve

most about t himself. be in uniform. been through. I’ll take a loss play

As Texas Tech h coach Kliff Will Webb? The Giing hard, flying around, but how

Kingsbury told old the Daily ants should want to we’re losing, no.”

News in April: il: “The year was take a look at their If the same guys fail to give effort

tough on (Webb) Webb) but you would rookie roo out of Cal bethis week,” DRC said, “then it’s go

have never guessed it. He wanted fore being in position ing to be hard to walk in this locker

to be the guy and knew he could be to tto take ta a top QB with room and still have trust for all of

the guy anywhere where else in the couna top-five top pick in next your teammates.” year’I

try, but we had Mahomes, he got year’s draft. cAdoo was asked if he’s

hot and we went with the hot hand. If not, the Webblearned anything about

But Davis continued ontinued to stay after Mahomes Ma NFL rivalhimself in this adversity

practice, work rk hard, help the young ry ryy will wi just have to wait. filled season. “I’m built

guys. He wasn’t n’t pouting and he was “I watched w every game for this. A calm doesn’t

never a nuisance.” ance.” he played pla i n the presuit me. A storm does,” he said.

“That’s probably obably the thing I’m season,” seaason Webb said of “Tougher it gets, the better I’m go

most proud of in my time at Mahomes. Mahhom “I thought he ing to get. The better I expect the

Tech, because e that was not an did a great gr job. He’s in a team to get down the stretch.”

easy dynamic,” ic,” Webb said great greaat place, pl great system. That’s a movie for another day.

Wednesday. “We were both I’m sur sure he’s learning a The McAdoo Years: 2016-17.

good players. s. Obviously it bunch bunnch — just like I am.”

MDh Hills recen th

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