Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch didn’t expect the backlash that would come from former head coach Ben McAdoo’s decision to bench star quarterback Eli Manning for the reminder of the season. When it became obvious that Giants fans and current and former players were not happy with Manning’s benching, the Giants owners decided to cut bait and fire McAdoo and Reese.

The decision to fire McAdoo and Reese had to do with more than just the benching of Manning. it was a wins and losses decision as well. McAdoo and Reese were dead men walking and probably would have been fired at season’s end anyways. Despite that, the Giants owners decided to cut bait now so that they can save face with Manning and their fan base.

Sure, the decision to bench Manning was the wrong decision. He was made the scapegoat for a bad season. He deserves better given his family name and track record in New York. That being said, I don’t have an issue with benching Manning if you are going to bench him to play rookie Davis Webb. I do have an issue with benching him to play Geno Smith.

Right or wrong, McAdoo made what he felt was the best decision for the team. Unfortunately for him, he is not Bill Belichick. He hasn’t been around long enough and hasn’t won enough games to make a decision like that. Belichick had cache when he traded Drew Bledsoe in 2003. McAdoo has no cache.

It is obvious that Mara and Tisch made the decision to fire McAdoo and Reese so that they can get a head start on next season but to also put out the fires that were blazing around the organization. Firing McAdoo and Reese was an easy way to take the pressure off of them. They appeased the fan base and gave them what they wanted. Giants fans are a fickle lot. They are not afraid to voice their displeasure and Mara and Tisch heard them loud and clear.

It will be interesting to see if the new general manger and coach decide to stick with Manning in 2018 or trade him. My guess is Manning will be back in New York. The Giants don’t rebuild. They simply re-tool.  That is why ownership sided with the quarterback and not the coach and GM. In the end, Manning was more vital to the Giants success moving forward than McAdoo and Reese were. That is why Mara and Tisch were more than willing to make McAdoo and Reese the fall guys.