John Maras Giants declaration sent clear message in locker room

John Mara did the right thing by making a strong statement for franchise stability. The Giants president, CEO and co-owner made it clear he has no plans to make a change at head coach and general manager, despite his team’s 2-5 record entering its game Monday night in Pittsburgh — where the Giants are underdogs for the 23rd consecutive game dating back to last year. Mara’s message was premeditated, knowing he was making himself available to a handful of reporters after Wednesday night’s advance screening of “The Duke: Wellington Mara’s Giant Life’’ and knowing he was going to be asked about head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. Among a number of powerfully moving moments on display during the screening, one that resonated most, was the beaming look of pride and joy on the face of Wellington Mara, the Giants patriarch, when the team he owned was doing well, winning big games, playoff games, Super Bowls. Wellington’s son, John, was a youngster during those glory days when his beloved dad was overseeing the team.He fondly recalls the good times … times that seem like they took place light years ago with his franchise in free-fall for the past decade-plus. When I brought up to John Mara the look of joy on his father’s face from the movie footage and asked him how much he craves to have that feeling back for himself and the current generation of Giants, he politely interrupted the question and said, “More than you could ever know, believe me.’’ Asked what he took away from his father that he needs to employ in difficult times like the present, Mara said, “Try to be more patient than maybe I’ve been in recent years, because he was patient, he preached that all the time.’’ Mara’s patience has been tested since he moved on from Tom Coughlin as his head coach after 12 seasons in 2015.

Coughlin’s successor, Ben McAdoo, didn’t make it through two full seasons.Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge followed, each getting t...