The Monday Morning Quarterback: Sean Payton

Coughlin Resigns!

January 4, 2016
Peter Solari Follow @4PeteSakeNY

BREAKING NEWS: Tom Coughlin has resigned as head coach of the New York Giants after 12 seasons at the helm, and the team's search for his replacement has officially begun. Coughlin compiles a 102-90 record and won two Super Bowls in New York. The embattled coach is reportedly not retiring, and is open to other coaching opportunities.

There are a ton of names swirling around right now, as is to be expected, but one thing is for sure: Unless the Giants trade for Saints coach Sean Payton, or promote offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, quarterback Eli Manning will be in his third different offense, in the past four seasons.

Manning has thrived in McAdoo's system and, despite the team's struggles, has statistically put up the best performance of his career. Payton's system is similar to the one McAdoo runs and Manning would likely have very little trouble transitioning into it. Payton, who called the Giants' opening a "dream job," is an offensive innovator with the ability to take Manning, Odell Beckham, and the Giants' offense to another level. He also served as the team's quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator under coach Jim Fassel, from 1999 through 2002. He, however, comes at a cost. He's currently under contract with New Orleans, and the Giants would have to compensate the Saints for them to release him. New Orleans is reportedly seeking a second-round pick in return for Payton.

McAdoo has had a lot of success with the Giants, but a ton of questions about his readiness to be a head coach, still surround him. He's only been a play-caller in the NFL for two seasons, and despite his successes, there have been some blunders, too. McAdoo was in charge of a Giants' offense whose crucial, late-game mistakes, were well documented this season. McAdoo is drawing interest from some other teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, for their coaching vacancies as well, so promoting him is likely the Giants' only chance of retaining him.

Unless the Giants make a run at Payton, a coaching change at this point can only be looked at as a downgrade. The Monday Morning Quarterback has written extensively on the lack of viable coaching candidates available, and why the Giants should stay away from them. Links to those pieces are available below.

Former Eagles' coach Chip Kelly's name has resurfaced as a potential Coughlin replacement, but he does little to excite the fanbase. He was awful in Philadelphia and his offensive scheme belongs in college. Furthermore, Kelly has been accused of racism from some of his players in the past. Kelly's hiring would be a step in the wrong direction for the organization.

Current Patriots' offensive coordinator and former Broncos' head coach Josh McDaniels can be put in the same category as Kelly. He was a disaster in Denver and will always be remembered for wasting a first round draft pick on Tim Tebow. The Giants shouldn't even let him in the building after that. Like many Bill Belichick assistants, McDaniels just isn't cut out to be a coach in the NFL, and New York should look to avoid him.

Of course the Giants can look to the college ranks at guys like Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, but then you run the risk of going down the same road Philadelphia took with regards to Chip Kelly. I'm always skeptical about college coaches moving to the pros. For every Dick Vermeil, Jimmy Johnson and Pete Carroll, there seem to be just as many Steve Spurriers, Nick Sabans, or Greg Schianos. The risk of failure is too high for the Giants, who are looking to move up fast.

I recently wrote that the Giants could also opt to promote defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to head coach, as a stop-gap measure, to give McAdoo more time to develop, but with McAdoo drawing interest from other clubs, that won't happen.

If the Giants' front office could get Sean Payton to New York, it would be ideal for the organization. A second-round pick is a hefty price for a coach, but isn't too high a fee to avoid a mistake, like Chip Kelly or McDaniels, that could set the franchise back for years.

A Payton-Giants marriage doesn't come without reservations, however. His Saints teams have never been known for their defense, which is a staple of the Giants organization, and currently their most glaring hole.

Payton, or any new coach, would likely mean the end of Spagnuolo's second stint with the Giants, which is unfair. Interestingly enough, Spagnuolo served under Payton as New Orleans defensive coordinator in 2012, though Payton was suspended for the season for his role in bountygate. In New Orleans, Spagnuolo's defense was one of the worst in football history, but it's worth noting that the Giants' front office loves him, and knows how good of a coach he is when given the tools needed to succeed. This past season in New York, and in 2012 with the Saints, Spagnuolo simply didn't have the personnel needed on this level. When equipped with the right talent, all Spagnuolo does is build championship defenses (See the 2007 New York Giants). Needless to say at this point, I'd like to see him return to the Giants, regardless of who the head coach is in 2016.

General manager Jerry Reese, the man responsible for the inferior rosters mentioned above, has managed once again, to avoid being relieved of his duties. How that's possible, is beyond me. He must have some dirt on the organization or something.

Make no mistake, today is a sad day for the Giants organization. They've lost a coach who has been part of three championship teams for them, including two as a head coach. There's just no scenario that I see, in which the Giants will be a better team in 2016, than they were in 2015. Even a Sean Payton hiring, which is far from a given, doesn't necessarily represent an upgrade over Coughlin, regardless of the fact that he's the team's best option.

Before the announcement, Manning, fighting back tears, to the media, "We failed him [Coughlin]." Unfortunately for the coach, his quarterback's tears are too little, too late.

There will undoubtedly be a flurry of activity surrounding the Giants in the coming days, weeks, and months, so stay tuned for more.

THE MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK - GIANTS' COACHING COVERAGE:

McAdoo Up For Eagles Head Coaching Job - 01/04/2016

Tom Coughlin's Future Remains Unclear - 01/03/2016

Is Ben McAdoo The Giants' Next Coach? - 01/02/2016

This Is Exactly Why The Giants Shouldn't Fire Tom Coughlin - 12/31/2015

With Washington's Win, Tom Coughlin's Future Is Officially Up In The Air - 12/27/2015

In Defense Of Tom Coughlin - 12/08/2015