NFL Giants ownership "didn’t just respond to their fans by firing" coach Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese on Monday -- President & CEO John Mara and Chair Steve Tisch also "reached out to their fans directly," according to Pat Leonard of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. A letter signed by Mara and Tisch was "sent to the average Joe Giants ticket-holder on Monday," to "empathize with the disgruntled Blue bloods and reassure them that better days are ahead." The letter read in part, "We know you and all of our fans have been frustrated this year, and many of you have voiced your disappointment and displeasure. Your passion for our franchise does not go unnoticed, and we appreciate your continued support as we move forward to provide you with a renewed sense of Giants Pride" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/6). Mara and Tisch in the letter mentioned how "disappointing the season has been and vowed to carry out a 'diligent and thorough' search for a new coach and GM" (SNY.tv, 12/6). On Long Island, Tom Rock notes Reese yesterday, his "first full day in almost 23 full years that he was not employed" by the Giants, issued a "gracious statement of appreciation for his time with the organization" (NEWSDAY, 12/6). In N.Y., Paul Schwartz notes Reese in his statement "sounded as if he is more thankful than bitter" (N.Y. POST, 12/6).
LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES: USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell writes under the header, "Ben McAdoo Fiasco Teaches Giants Owner John Mara Valuable Lesson" (USA TODAY, 12/6). In DC, Thom Loverro writes, "In New York, of all places -- the media capital of the world -- you would think that the landmark NFL franchise would have a clue about the media landscape in 2017." People lost their jobs -- "not because of the goal they had in mind, the end of the [Eli] Manning era, but how they handled it." Loverro: "Those heads might have rolled anyway when the season was over. But it didn’t have to be such a publicly embarrassing bloodletting." This could have been avoided if Mara and Giants brass had "realized this is the 21st century and it is moving quickly and you better have a plan to present publicly for your actions -- football or otherwise" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/6).
ON THE LOOKOUT: In N.Y., Steve Serby notes NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly and former Packers GM Ron Wolf, who headed the search committee that found Jets GM Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles for Owner Woody Johnson, are convinced Mara and Tisch will have "no problem attracting the best and the brightest" GM and head coach (N.Y. POST, 12/6). THE MMQB's Peter King wrote the Giants' new GM and coach "cannot be as media-averse" as Reese and McAdoo were. In N.Y. and New Jersey, the GM of the pro football team "cannot hide for 363 of the 365 days a year." King: "Reese talked twice a year. That’s absurd. McAdoo treated press sessions like root-canal appointments without Novocain" (SI.com, 12/5).
