Wary of ruling too much with his gut, John Mara stood where his eyes and ears could not betray him.

To the right of Mara’s spot between two practice fields in East Rutherford late last season, Evan Engram sprinted from drill to drill. To the left, Jabrill Peppers channeled rap music over the speakers into contagious energy. Assistant coaches to both sides never stopped instructing.

Encouraging signs everywhere…but these Giants were 1-7 for the third time in four years. Under three different coaches to boot.

“I kept thinking that I’m seeing a team that’s practicing hard,” the Giants’ co-owner later recalled. “I’m seeing a good attitude out there. Nobody’s quitting. But where are the results? Where are the results?”