The season is over, and the Giants are about to become NFL newshounds.
Odds are they will find out from a media report or team statement — not some team-wide private text message — whether the Giants are retaining general manager Dave Gettleman or coach Pat Shurmur before they gather at 11 a.m. Monday for final meetings, exit physicals and to clean out lockers.
Maybe Shurmur will be there to preside over the team, maybe not.
“No one knows [what’s next.] We’re waiting to hear like anyone else,” said co-captain Michael Thomas, who had three head coaches during five years with the Dolphins. “Just like most of the time coaches don’t control if the guys they want are here, we don’t control if the coaches are here.”
After losing 34-17 to the Eagles to wrap a 4-12 season and 9-23 start to his tenure, Shurmur said he had no planned meetings with Giants ownership. Gettleman optimistically told reporters, “We’ll talk Tuesday,” as he walked out of the stadium.
“It’s easy to start blaming and pointing fingers and throwing in the towel,” wide receiver Golden Tate said. “[Shurmur] is just a very calm, cool, collected guy, and I really enjoyed it. I hope I have a chance to work with him again.”
Giants players found out about Eli Manning’s benching for rookie quarterback Daniel Jones on their smart phones and television screens during a September off day. They learned about starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins being cut this month in a similar way, just before taking the practice field.
“That burden falls onto the owners and the decision-makers upstairs,” said offensive guard Kevin Zeitler, who experienced a midseason coaching change with the Browns in 2018.
“I know they want to win. I know they are big into football. Whatever they decide to do, I know they are going to think it’s in the best interest of the team. Whatever happens, we are going to roll with it.”
A change means learning a new playbook and a shorter offseason for an extra minicamp in the spring.
“I believe in the coaching staff,” running back Saquon Barkley. “Obviously, it’s a results-based sport and business, but you can’t point the finger at one person. There are a lot of things in this game that I could have done better or this person or that person could have done better.”
Black Monday — the name given to the day after the NFL regular season ends, when coaches are fired league-wide — started late Sunday, when the Browns canned Freddie Kitchens after one season and reports linked Ron Rivera to the Redskins’ vacancy.
A case could be made Shurmur accomplished the top two things he was hired to do: Restore respectability to a locker room that ran afoul under predecessor Ben McAdoo, and identify and develop the future quarterback. But he didn’t do anything above and beyond those charges as impatience mounts from the fan base.
“He’s been instrumental for my growth and development,” Daniel Jones said. “Whether it was a good performance or a bad performance, I felt like he has always been supportive of me this season. I certainly support him and believe in him as a coach.”
Does ownership?
Over the next 12-24 hours the players will be just like you: Anxiously waiting to find out.