NFC East Roundup: Will The Giants Rebuild?

Here’s a roundup of what else is going on around the NFC East.

Jordan Raanan of NJ.com believes that the Giants could be very close to going into complete rebuilding mode:

It’s starting to look as if the Giants are content to have [Eli] Manning play on the final year of his deal before making any decision on his and their future. This approach seems logical considering the Giants have missed the playoffs three straight years and coach Tom Coughlin was given a win-or-else mandate.

If the Giants miss the playoffs again in 2015 and Coughlin leaves after the season, it may be time to start over. In the meantime, that decision can wait. We’ll know for sure over the next month if this is the way the Giants are leaning, but right now it appears to be headed in that direction.

Nick Powell of NJ.com looks back at former Giants offensive coordinator Bob Gibson, a man known for one famous play-call blunder:

Former Giants offensive coordinator Bob Gibson knows exactly how Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell must feel.

Gibson, who ran the Giants’ offense in the 1977 and 1978 seasons, was most famous (or infamous) for calling the play during a game on November 19, 1978 against the Eagles that led to the “Miracle at the Meadowlands.”

Until Seattle’s puzzling decision not to run the ball in the end zone with Marshawn Lynch from the one-yard line with under a minute left in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, Gibson’s ill-fated call was hailed as one of the worst in league history.

Except unlike Bevell, whose job likely is not in jeopardy over one play, Gibson would ultimately be fired the day after the Pisarcik fumble, and would never again work in football. He started a new life in Sanibel Island, on the west coast of Florida, opening a bait shop, a liquor store and a restaurant, Gibby’s.

Former Washington TE Chris Cooley gave his thoughts on Washington’s QB situation on his radio show:

“I would put my money on Robert Griffin,” Cooley said. “Now, they may not say ‘No competition!’ They may say ‘Open competition!’ But that open competition would be ‘You have to really lose this job. Really lose this job. We’re not looking for someone to outplay you. It’s your job. We’re saying competition, but you have to really lose this job. You’re a 90 percent chance right now, Kirk is 5, Colt is 5.’ ”

Cooley — who has often been critical of Griffin’s play said he came to this conclusion when he thought about writing down his thoughts about the future of Washington’s quarterbacks.

“And I came to this really really really logical conclusion,” he said. “I may not like this conclusion. But I am going to start to embrace this conclusion: this is what is likely to happen for the Washington Redskins next year. Does anyone disagree with me that this is probably the most likely? There’s no competition. There’s no one else to truly compete.”

And despite Cooley’s bold prediction, Washington apparently doesn’t think RGIII is important enough to name him in its letter to season-ticket holders:

“Dear Premium Club Member,” reads this letter from the Redskins.

“The Washington Redskins thank you for your continued loyalty and support. Redskins fans are the best in the NFL and we greatly appreciate your dedication over the years.”

“Head Coach Jay Gruden, new General Manager Scot McCloughan, and Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry will lead a nucleus of Ryan Kerrigan, DeSean Jackson, plus Pro Bowlers Trent Williams and Alfred Morris. The Redskins are poised to rebound next season!”

You’ll notice there is one prominent position — and one prominent player — not included in that nucleus. (Quarterback and Robert Griffin III, FYI.) Which means the team is now promoting Joe Barry more than the guy who once seemed poised to be among the most popular players in franchise history.

Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com on the decisions facing the Cowboys with CB Brandon Carr:

Cornerback Brandon Carr carries a $12.717 million cap charge and is scheduled to make an $8 million base salary. Only Darrelle Revis ($25 million) and Patrick Peterson ($14.791 million) have higher salary-cap figures than Carr among cornerbacks.

Carr did not have an interception in 2014, but he played much better in the final five games than he did in the first 11. Just not enough to warrant that payday.

The Cowboys will offer Carr a chance to stay at a cheaper rate, like they did with right tackle Doug Free in 2013, or cut him altogether. Making Carr a post-June 1 cut saves the Cowboys $8 million against the cap in 2015, but he would count $7.434 million against the 2016 cap.

Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News wonders if the Cowboys would have run the ball if they were in the same situation as Seattle:

Yes, the Cowboys finally committed to their running game in 2014 with DeMarco Murray leading the league in rushing behind arguably the league’s best offensive line. But, they still liked to pass the football in goal-line situations, especially short fade passes to Dez Bryant. I’m not so sure they would have run the ball there either. Consider this: The Cowboys had 139 short-yardage plays during the 2014 regular season where they needed from one to three yards to gain a first down or score a touchdown. And they favored the pass, throwing the football 77 times in those short-yardage situations (55.4 percent of the time).

Tucker Bagley is a student at Temple University and an intern at Birds 24/7.