Good morning, New York Giants' fans! Let's start today's notebook in a place that will make many of you rejoice after an offensive performance coach Tom Coughlin called "pathetic" in Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. We are going to start with Jordan Ranaan of the Star-Ledger saying Kevin Gilbride won't be back as offensive coordinator next season.
If Giants coach Tom Coughlin returns next season -- and all indications to this point have been that he will unless the Giants suffer more meltdowns over the final two games -- it's not going to be with one of his top lieutenants at his side.
The signs are clear: After Sunday's embarrassing 23-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, there is no way the Giants can, and will, bring back Kevin Gilbride as offensive coordinator.
With every interception quarterback Eli Manning threw to the white jerseys, the chances of Gilbride having the same job he's had for the past seven-plus seasons lessened. By the time Manning reached a full handful, the odds dipped close to nil. The franchise quarterback has regressed badly this season, and the Giants, to get Manning back into elite status, must make a change -- and they should do so as soon as possible.
Gilbride's on his way out the door. Book it. The "pathetic" offensive performance on Sunday, the weekly wilting of Manning right in front of our very eyes, the pointing of the fingers at the offense, this was all just the final nail in the coffin.
Dave D'Alessandro of the Star-Ledger chimed in by calling Manning "the worst-coached quarterback in the NFL."
Valentine's View: Anyone who has been around BBV for a while knows I have defended Gilbride for years. No more. The quarterback is broken. He doesn't trust his protection. He doesn't trust his receivers. Nothing is thrown on time or on target. Manning isn't going anywhere, he is the franchise. He needs to be fixed, however, because he's just a shell of what the guy who won two Super Bowls. Manning has been reduced to throwing and praying that something, anything, good might happen. Watch this offense and it's clear the quarterback really has no chance. It is painfully clear that Gilbride and quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan don't have the answers. The time for a new approach on offense has arrived.
Eli Manning doesn't deserve free pass with NY Giants' disaster of season - NY Daily News
Manning started off with an interception on the first play in the opener in Dallas just seven seconds into the season, and it has only gotten worse. Through the 0-6 start with 15 interceptions and the inaccurate throws and bad decisions, Manning’s trophies provided him better protection than his offensive line. But not anymore.
Tom Coughlin calls NY Giants effort vs. Seahawks 'pathetic' - and he is right - NY Daily News
Antrel Rolle says players need to shoulder the blame, not the coach, and many of his teammates agree.
Giants notes: Seattle star CB says Eli Manning fanned flames - NorthJersey.com
Seahawks CB Richard Sherman is a master at trash talking the opposition.
And Seattle's All-Pro believes the Giants did too much this week, although Eli Manning's assertion that the aggressive "Legion of Boom" secondary could create chances downfield did not exactly leap off the page as bulletin-board material.
"There was a few things said throughout the week, that Eli said we're overaggressive and that they were going to take advantage of that," said Sherman, who twice intercepted Manning and tipped another to teammate Earl Thomas. "And I think we showed them we are overaggressive, but it's hard to take advantage of it. It's easier said than done.
"We don't like people coming at us in the media and saying negative things about us. So we wanted to put that on tape, and we were happy that we did so."
Notes
-- This is the second time the Giants have been shut out this season, the first being a 38-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. The last time the Giants were shut out twice in a season was 1996, when they went 6-10 in Dan Reeves' final season as head coach.
-- The Giants are 5-9 and will finish under .500 for the first time since 2004, Tom Coughlin's first year as head coach.
-- Manning's five interceptions tied the franchise record for interceptions thrown in a single game. The last Giants' quarterback to throw five picks in a game was Jeff Rutledge in 1987.
-- Here is more Manning futility. His 25 interceptions ties not only his personal single-season worst, but that ties the franchise record. Charlie Conerly (1953) and frank Filchock (1946) also threw 25 interceptions in a season.
Valentine's View: It is entirely appropriate in a morbid sort of way that Manning tied all of those other dubious records on the same day he passed Conerly for the franchise lead in interceptions. He now has 169 to Conerly's 167.