The New York Giants (4-11) face the Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in a game that might have more significance to the Giants then it does to the Eagles, who are on the apron of the NFC East title.
The Giants’ three coordinators could all be facing their final games in East Rutherford and on Thursday spoke to the media about the upcoming game against the Eagles.
Offensive coordinator Mike Shula
Sunday being the last game of the 2019 season is also the final game of veteran quarterback Eli Manning’s current contract. The Giants, with Daniel Jones now the new franchise quarterback, will not be re-signing Manning, so he’ll be suiting up for the final time in Giant Blue.
Shula talked about what is was like to coach a consummate pro such as Eli Manning.
“I feel really lucky. I feel really lucky to be here for a lot of reasons, with our ownership, with Coach Shurmur, with Dave (Gettleman), but especially coaching a guy like Eli,” said Shula. “I’ve coached a lot of really good players. I’ve been really fortunate to be around, and he is really special for a lot of the reasons that won’t ever go down on a stat sheet, in my opinion. The kind of guy he is, the way he handles things, watching him how he is with you all, with his teammates, with coaches, handling the situation earlier this year. It’s just unbelievable. I’ll never forget it. I’ve learned a lot from him in all areas of my life.”
Defensive coordinator James Bettcher
When the Giants signed outside linebacker Markus Golden in the offseason, it was thought that Golden just might get back to his old form when he played under Bettcher in Arizona. where he had a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2016.
This week, the Elias Sports Bureau awarded Golden with a full sack of Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins on the first play of the third quarter. The sack was originally split between Golden and teammate Lorenzo Carter.
That elevated Golden to 10.0 sacks on the season making him the first Giants player with double-digit sacks since Jason Pierre-Paul had 12.5 in 2014. He is also the first Giants linebacker to reach that milestone since Lawrence Taylor had 10.5 sacks in 1990.
“For me, that one is personal because I have such a great relationship with him,’ said Bettcher of Golden. “Having worked with him when he as a rookie coming in and seeing that first year, how hard he worked. To go from just being a 4-3 defensive end at Missouri to learning how to do some different things in this league, whether that’s dropping or understanding leverage or just picking up the scheme. I saw how hard he worked and how important it is to him.
“To watch the injury going into a year where he had big plans for himself in Arizona and we had big plans for him. Then coming off that injury and continuing to battle and a knee turns into an ankle turns into another injury. Seeing him come into this season and just have the chance to play the game healthy. Have a chance to play as long as he can, as hard as he can during the course of the game. I’ll forever be a Markus Golden fan and be one of his biggest supporters. He’s done a heck of a job for us this year and I think he is anxious to go finish.”
Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey
Eli Manning does not play on special teams — never has — but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t made an impression on the Giants players who do. Or the coaches.
McGaughey first worked for the Giants from 2007-2010 as their assistant special teams coordinator, meaning he earned a Super Bowl ring and knows what Eli means to this organization. He spoke about his experience with Manning the impact he’s had.
“Eli, he is a pro’s pro. From the first day I stepped in here in ’07 to now, he’s been the same exact guy every day,” McGaughey said. “Every morning, he’s the first guy in the building, eating breakfast at 6:15 or 6:30. He gets out here, he works, he does what he’s supposed to do. He’s always a willing helper. He’s just one of the funniest cats you’ll ever be around. You guys don’t (know), some of you do, but he’s a big-time practical joker. He is a great guy, great teammate, and he’s going to be definitely missed around here.
“He’s a legend in his own right. I’ve got to thank him before he gets out of here for giving me a ring, because he did a heck of a job in that ’07 season. All of the memories and just being around E all of time, especially back then when I first got here, just watching him grow as a quarterback and now just to come back and just to see him as the old man in the building, just the old grizzly veteran who is a guy that just loves ball. He just loves ball.
“He’s a great teammate, and just to see the transformation being the starter to being the backup and how he’s helped Daniel (Jones), and how good of a teammate he’s been to Daniel. I’ll tell you what, it’s a beautiful thing because I promise you it doesn’t happen like that all of time. This is his building. He was the first quarterback to move into this building and he’s been the guy here ever since we walked into the building. To be able to make that transition and do it so graciously and with class is typical Eli Manning.”
