‘IT’S TIME FOR US TO START WINNING’
Mara shares frustration of Big Blue fans, wants to see Super Bowl-worthy product
John Mara didn’t sugarcoat anything Tuesday, which was refreshing. The Giants’ co-owner didn’t try to sell anyone on unrealized hope. He did the opposite.
He flat-out said he understands the “level of skepticism” that exists about his team. He said the club’s 18-46 record over the last four seasons has been “very tough on our fans and our families.”
He admitted the collective frustration with the Giants’ perennial futility is partially what drove him to sign off on accelerating their rebuild.
“That’s one of the reasons we made the decision to spend so much money in free agency,” Mara said. “Because we believed in the guys that we were spending it on and we desperately want to be back playing in championship games again.”
What is unclear, however, is where Mara’s breaking point lies.
The Giants co-owner was self-aware in recognizing that “we’re all on the hot seat, with our fans in particular. We’ve given them too many losing seasons. It’s time for us to start winning.”
But he also said it’s not accurate to say GM Dave Gettleman is on the hot seat himself.
How that is possible is a complete mystery when Gettleman’s stated priority in December 2017 was to improve the offensive line, and four years later that group still may be this team’s Achilles heel.
Mara at least granted that a regression on the field this season would force some hard conversations.
“Does this group give us a chance to win the Super Bowl?” Mara said. “Are we moving in that direction? If the answer to that is yes [at the end of this season], then we’re not going to consider making any changes. If I feel like we’re going backwards, that’s another discussion.”
But let’s say the Giants go 8-9 and miss the playoffs this season.
It would be two more wins than last year, but would it be meaningful progress?
Mara said “I’m not issuing a playoff mandate,” but frankly, he should be issuing one, if not to the media than inside the building.
In Daniel Jones’ third season, after paying huge money to Kenny Golladay, Adoree Jackson, Leonard Williams and Kyle Rudolph, the Giants should be dramatically improved.
The reality is their roster still looks like it is at least one year away from being a true contender, if it even gets there, but the organization’s decision to push their chips to the middle of the table this spring does up the ante for this fall.
“I certainly think we’re a lot better on paper,” Mara said. “I’d like to see us show that on the field now and win more games and make the playoffs. Obviously that’s the expectation every year.”
A playoff mandate wouldn’t apply to Joe Judge, because two years isn’t long enough for any head coach. Just ask Ben McAdoo, whom Mara fired in Year 2 despite an 11-5 rookie record and a 2016 playoff berth.
Mara seems well aware in hindsight that he did McAdoo wrong and is therefore consciously trying to be more patient now. His confidence in this year’s team also is largely due to his confidence in Judge.
“I’m convinced that we have the right guy at the helm,” Mara said.
But Mara cannot in good conscience have the same long leash for Gettleman, who is entering his fourth season with a 15-33 record as their GM.
Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett faces pressure, too. Still, if a subpar O-line implodes the Giants’ 2021 season, Garrett would have a legitimate qualm that the offense’s struggles were due more to personnel than to scheme.
“We did not have a great year offensively last year, but I feel good about Jason, I know the rest of the people in the building do, as well,” Mara said. “There’s going to be skepticism about our offense until we start scoring points. I think we have more tools to work with this year, certainly than he had when he started with us a year ago.”
Mara only seemed to question his line’s depth, too, and not the starters, which was the only disconnect in his press conference with what has shown up on the field this training camp.
The bottom line here, though, is that Mara oversees all of this. Nothing major happens here without his OK. When he says “we’re all on the hot seat,” he’s right. This interminable losing is on him as much as anyone.
And he takes more pride in anyone in trying to right the ship.
So even if he won’t say it publicly, Mara’s standards for this season must be sky high. It is not good enough to get marginally better. It is not good enough to tread water.
A franchise can’t say it has high expectations if it settles for mediocrity.
And no doubt, Mara doesn’t intend to.