Ending weeks of feverish speculation, New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel was told today he would be let go at the end of the season, in a meeting with management that Fassel had requested. The Giants, who blew a 24 point lead in a playoff game with the 49ers last year, fell well below expectations this year. They are currently in the midst of a six game losing streak and are last in the NFC East. Fassel requested and will be allowed to coach the remaining two games on the Giants schedule.Fassel, who was an offensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals before he came to New York, is expected to find work next year, possibly with those same Cardinals. Regardless of the outcome of the two remaining games, Fassel will finish his career in New York as the third-winningest coach in franchise history. Although his career in New York included a Super Bowl appearance three years ago (where they were summarily destroyed by the Baltimore Ravens), Fassel was under pressure almost from the minute this season started. The team suffered a number of early injuries, including Tight End Jeremy Shockey, and attendence began to suffer toward the end of the season.
The Giants are looking at a number of replacements, including LSU coach Nick Saban, former Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin, and the Patriots' two coordinators: Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis. Coughlin, Crennel and Weis were Giants assistants under Bill Parcells.
Tony
