Why Giants backed Brian Daboll over split with Wink Martindale

There's more information about why New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen and co-owner John Mara are backing head coach Brian Daboll after issues between Daboll and defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale resulted in Martindale leaving the franchise last week. 

"Make no mistake, Daboll within the organization did not take a hit for how this all went down," Giants beat writer Paul Schwartz of the New York Post explained. "...There is a feeling within the organization that Martindale’s quirks and what increasingly was viewed as his lack of being a team player grew into issues that had to be expunged unless Martindale changed his ways."

Former NFL players and current CBS Sports analysts Tiki Barber and Boomer Esiason are among noteworthy individuals who have suggested that either Martindale or people close to the former Giants coordinator are the anonymous sources mentioned in recent stories that detailed Daboll's alleged "madman" demeanor on gamedays. 

It was previously reported that Martindale cursed Daboll out after the head coach dismissed outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and his brother, defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins, following Week 18. 

"It attracted attention that as almost the entire coaching staff ate together in the team cafeteria, Martindale, Drew and Kevin Wilkins often were in an office, behind closed doors," Schwartz wrote. "That rubbed some the wrong way. There were also incidents that were perceived as undermining the chain of command."

According to Schwartz, one such "incident" involved Martindale planning to have a player elevated from the practice squad for the Christmas Day game at the Philadelphia Eagles without Schoen or Daboll having any knowledge of Martindale's intentions. 

Schwartz revealed last week that Big Blue is sticking with Daboll even though Bill Belichick is available and "holds the Giants in high regard." In his latest piece, Schwartz said that "there are no signs whatsoever that Daboll has a player problem."

It's now on Daboll to prove that not doing anything and everything possible to keep Martindale was the right call for the Giants following a disappointing 6-11 season.