Insider names 'one factor' that could lead to in-season firing of Giants' Brian Daboll

Multiple NFL reporters and analysts suggested after the New York Giants fell to 2-9 via an embarrassing 30-7 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday that Giants co-owner John Mara could part ways with both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll following what will be a second straight losing season for this regime. 

While Giants insider Dan Duggan of The Athletic insisted in a piece published Tuesday that "in-season firings seem unlikely" because "there wouldn’t be any real benefit to making changes during the season," Duggan hinted Mara isn't all-in on giving Daboll at least the rest of the campaign. 

"The one factor that could trigger an in-season firing of Daboll is if it’s deemed that he’s lost the locker room," Duggan wrote. "He seems precariously close to crossing that threshold."

Considering what occurred at MetLife Stadium after the loss to the Buccaneers, it certainly sounds like Daboll will be coaching for his job when the Giants play at the 4-7 Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. 

Multiple players used the word "soft" to describe New York's effort versus Tampa Bay, while offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor questioned whether or not all of his teammates were "giving 100 percent" on game days. 

On Monday, Giants linebacker Micah McFadden and guard Jon Runyan disputed the "soft" claims.

"If Daboll can weather Thursday’s game," Duggan added, "he should be able to survive at least until the end of the season. The rest of the Giants' games will be buried in the 1 p.m. window, and the national media will largely turn its focus to teams in the playoff race. But if the Giants have a repeat of Sunday’s performance in Dallas, Mara could wind up facing decisions he never could have anticipated a month ago."

It remains to be seen exactly what "weather Thursday’s game" means for the Giants. As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Big Blue as a four-point underdog against Dallas. 

Would Mara accept the Giants losing by four or fewer points at AT&T Stadium? Could additional controversial postgame comments result in Mara firing Daboll on Black Friday? 

Daboll's three-year Giants tenure seems to be headed toward an inevitable end. His players could spark a franchise reset by producing another no-show performance, this time in front of a national television audience.