Ben McAdoo Job At Risk After Giants Plunge to 1-8

49ERS 31 - GIANTS 21 

Put a fork in em. Ben McAdoo's tenure as Giants head coach might be over tonight. In fact, by the time we all wake up Monday morning McAdoo might be cleaning out his office at the Giants Timex Center. Losing is one thing. Losing to a winless 49ers team with C.J. Beathard at quarterback is quiet another.


The Giants once again looked like a team that didn't care. Down 17-13 in the third quarter they played like a team that quit on their coach when he needed them to play at their very best. All of sudden the Giants forgot how to tackle as Beathard did as pleased for most of the day. Later in the third, he sliced and diced the Giants on an 11-play, 61-yard drive that culminated in an 11-yard touchdown run by Beathard himself to give the Niners a 24-13 lead.

Now it was starting to feel like the game was escaping from the Giants. A three-and-out was quickly followed by another Niners score, this one on a 33-yard rush by Matt Berida, who went untouched into the end zone for the score to push San Fran to a 31-13 lead.

Overall the Giants allowed Beathard to tear them apart for 288 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Moreover, Big Blue allowed 186 yards on the ground to a Niners team that was ranked 21st in the NFL in rushing yards. Just embarrassing. Just humiliating.

Want to blame Eli Manning? Go ahead. All he did was throw for 273 yards and two touchdowns inspite of the fact that the team was imploding around him. Yes, Eli had a bad fumble early in the game, but the guy is not the reason this team is playing like a bunch of quitters. He's the only out there trying.

But it doesn't matter who was and who wasn't putting forth the effort on Sunday, because McAoo's time is likely finished.

Principal Owner John Mara was seen pacing back and forth in the owners box. A large scowl could be seen on his face -- as he looked more frustrated than anyone. The Giants are not used to being in this position. Heck when given the chance to fire the likes of Ray Handley and Dan Reeeves, the Giants let them finish out the season first. Firing coaches in season is not the Giants way of business.

But that might change this time. McAdoo is totally lost. He can't motivate his team, his players hate him and bash him in the papers. When asked about Sunday's loss all McAdoo could muster was that he was out-coached and it is time to move on to Kansas City. You're no Bill Belichick, Ben. Give it up.

McAdoo's arrogant personality;
his abrasive way of dealing with players and the media might force Mara and Steve Tisch to make a call they normally don't like making, unless they made that call on the flight back from San Francisco.

If the Giants are to move on from McAdoo after a 1-8 start to the season, who will take over? Steve Spagnoulu has the coaching experience when he was with the then St. Louis Rams, but his defense has been horrible. One could argue that Spags should be fired along with McAdoo. Still, he's the most likely to finish out the string.

Mike Sullivan the offensive coordinator is another possibility. He's been mostly an assistant coach in his career, and has spent all but two years of the past 13 seasons in New York. He jumpstarted the team to its first win when he started calling the offense. Perhaps Sullivan is deserving of taking the reigns should McAdoo be dismissed Monday morning.

We'll find out soon enough.

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