Report: Protests made Giants' John Mara determined not to bow to mob mentality

If fans of the New York Giants wanted a regime change this offseason, they apparently went about it the wrong way.

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports that Giants co-owner John Mara was determined not to bow to mob mentality after back-to-back weeks of intense fan protest, which included chartering multiple planes that flew critical banners.

It was not money well spent. Mara was completely unmoved by the aerial displays and was not at all intimidated by the messaging. If anything, it made him more determined not to bow to mob mentality pressure to get rid of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

Before a Week 14 loss to the New Orleans Saints, the first plane circled MetLife Stadium with a banner reading, “Mr. Mara, enough. Please fix this dumpster fire!”

Fans also loudly cheered a game-ending blocked field goal in a loss to the Saints that week, which was just the start of things to come.

Ahead of a Week 15 game against the Baltimore Ravens, a different fan chartered a second plane. This time, the banner read, “Mr. Mara Enough — We won’t stop until you fire everyone!”

There were at least three protests scheduled for the team’s Week 17 game against the Indianapolis Colts but inclement weather, high winds, and a low ceiling grounded all the planes.

In Week 18, the banners returned, this time in the city of Philadelphia where a plane carried the message, “TY NY for No. 26.”

Despite the very public outcry, there was reportedly a silent swell of support for both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll that hit Mara’s desk in East Rutherford.

Mara, though, certainly does not turn a deaf ear to the wishes and concerns of the fans. He reads what is sent to him and often replies. Most of the letters were in favor of cleaning house — firing Schoen and Daboll — but there was surprising support for bringing them both back.

In the end, the protests did nothing. Mara expressed his frustration with the team’s futility but ultimately decided to run things back with Schoen and Daboll.