*The Giants meet the media following Sunday's matchup with the Raiders: *

GIANTS HEAD COACH BEN MCADOO

Opening Statement:"I thought the guys competed hard today. They played their tails off. Have to execute better. We came up short, but I'm proud of the way they fought today."

Q: Do you think you'll be head coach for much longer?

Coach McAdoo: "I'm going to coach this team as long my key card works. I've got a great group of players and coaches. Got a great staff to work with. I'm going to show up to work tomorrow and get this thing cleaned up and move on to the next one."

Q: Has the ownership talked to you about your position with the team?

Coach McAdoo:"I'm going to coach this team until I'm told I'm not coaching this team. I'm going to show up tomorrow morning ready to go to work."

Q: Have they told you you're OK?

Coach McAdoo:"I'm not asking and I haven't heard a thing. So I'm going to keep my head down and keep doing my job until I hear otherwise."

Q: How do you think Geno Smith did?

Coach McAdoo:"I thought Geno competed at a high level. There were a couple fumbles, we'll have to take a look at the tape. The one where he was throwing, trying to pull it back, and it got away from him. The one where the ball got ripped out of his hands there. That nice two-minute drive at the end of the ball game, he did something creative and threw a nice ball for the touchdown. I thought he competed."

Q: Are you concerned with how the fans will be at Sunday's home game?

Coach McAdoo:"No, I'm not concerned. Listen I understand where the fans are coming from. If I was on the outside looking in, I'd feel the same way they feel. You know Eli [Manning] and I have a tremendous relationship. I think the world of him and it was hard for me emotionally. The beginning of the week, once you make a decision, you have to stick with it and I appreciate the way Eli handled things this week."

Q: Do you think Geno Smith will have another start?

Coach McAdoo:"We're going to go back and take a look at the tapes and we'll make a decision early in the week."

Q: What happened with Eli Apple?

Coach McAdoo:"Eli Apple had a good day at practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He showed up Friday and was sore and he wasn't able to go through the walk-through that day. He wasn't able to go today. If he had to fight through it, I'm not sure that would have been a good move for us so we aired on the side of caution."

Q: Did Geno Smith not warrant enough for another start?

Coach McAdoo:"We said we're going to take it one week at a time and these games are emotional. So to stand up here and make a decision right here after the football game is not a good way to go about it. We'll take a look at the tape first and put our heads together and see where we want to go with it. Geno didn't do anything today that would have lost him the opportunity, no."

Q: Were you aware before the game of the report that said you were going to lose your job?

Coach McAdoo:"A little birdie told me that something was out there, but again that's not something I'm worried about."

Q: How did that change your game day? That's got to be a distracting thing a couple hours before the game.

Coach McAdoo:"Maybe for weak minded individuals it may be a distraction, but I had a job to do."

Q: Why was QB Davis Webb inactive?

Coach McAdoo:"It was a decision. We put the best 46 up we thought could win the football game this week. We'll take a look at it again next week."

Q: Are you going to give Webb more opportunity this week in terms of reps?

Coach McAdoo:"Again, it's emotional right here after the ballgame. We have to go put our heads together, look at the film and we'll have a plan early in the week."

Q: What kind of game plan did you have for QB Geno Smith? How different was it than you would do for Eli Manning in a normal week?

Coach McAdoo:"Preparation-wise, we put a plan together. We tried to do things that best suit Geno. If he's the guy moving forward this week, we will tweak some more things and have some additions in there for him and subtract some things. You don't want to do too much too early right away when it's his first week but obviously, his skillset allows you to do some different things."

Q: What kind of impact did Manning have on the sideline?

Coach McAdoo:"Yeah Eli was into the ballgame. He did a great job as the number two being a sounding board* *for Geno and [offensive coordinator] Mike Sullivan over there. He was doing everything that he could do as the number two to help us win the ballgame."

Q: When will you make a decision on who will start against Dallas?

Coach McAdoo:"Early in the week. We need to go back. We need to watch the film. Take a look at it. Put our heads together. At some point in time tomorrow, we'll make that call."

Q: But announcing it public like you did this past week?

Coach McAdoo:"We need to put our heads together and make a decision."

Q: With the reports of your job status out there, are you going to go to ownership or do you feel like that's something you'll need to do to move forward here?

Coach McAdoo:"No. I'm going to do my job. I have a job to do. I'm going to put my head down, do my job, put a good plan together and then put these guys into a position to be successful. That's my job."

Q: You said you will put your heads together to decide who starts at QB. Is that you and the coaching staff?

Coach McAdoo:"Yeah, me and the coaching staff and I'm going to bounce it obviously off of GM Jerry Reese."

GIANTS QB GENO SMITH

Q: Geno, you obviously got off to a slow start, but how do you feel the flow went throughout the game and how comfortable were you leading the offense?

Smith: "Early on, we were getting behind the chains and they had a great pass rush, so we knew all along that we had to get the ball out pretty fast. Early on, we tried to hit them with a couple screens just to kind of slow down the pass rush, but I think as the game went along, we started getting into a groove. I think our line did a tremendous job. I mean, they've got two of the best pass rushers in the game but they kind of kept them at a bay for a little bit and we were able to kind of put some drives together late, but we just ran out of time."

Q: What did Ben McAdoo say to you about how your play was today?

Smith: "Usually we talk about that after we watch the tape. He shook my hand and told me he liked the way I competed and that was pretty much it."

Q: What was so frustrating to you with how the game ended?

Smith: "I just hate to lose. I don't want to lose at all, at anything, so I was upset that we lost. I felt like we had some opportunities and we could have taken advantage of them, but you can't really cry over spilled milk, you just have to pick yourself up and get ready for next week."

Q: There was a report this morning that your coach would be fired possibly tomorrow. Did you hear that or see that or did that distract you at all?

Smith: "No, I didn't see that and I love Coach 'Mac' [McAdoo]. I think we all do. I enjoy playing for him, I want to continue to play for him as long as I can. But I did see one of my ex-coaches say he didn't want me to be his quarterback, and that really upset me, you know? A guy that we saved his job in 2013 and we fought our ass for him both years, and for him to come out and say that just shows you how much of a coward he is."

Q: What coach are you talking about?

Smith: "Rex Ryan."

Q: Preparing for Oakland's defense, what were some specifics that they told you to look out for?

Smith:"Man, 52 [Khalil Mack] and 51 [Bruce Irvin]. Two of the best in the game, two of the best pass rushers. They really got after it today. Khalil made two good plays on me. I wish I could have those back, but unfortunately those are things you've got to learn from."

Q: Were you surprised at how fast Khalil Mack was in on the sack-fumble?

Smith:"Yeah, a little bit. You know I was actually caught getting ready to throw a pass to the end zone. I felt like we had a pretty good look there and unfortunately, he got there and got the ball out."

Q: When were you aware of what Rex Ryan said?

Smith:"I was just sitting in my room watching, because we have the time difference, so I am just watching a little bit of football and you know see that happen and it is like wow, the guy, first of all you, drafted me. Second of all, you started me. Third of all, I went out there and I gave you everything I had, and then you go out and say that. It's unfortunate."

Q: Do you ever want to see Rex Ryan and speak your mind to him in person?

Smith:"No, I don't care to speak to him again."

Q: Can you talk about the rapport that you had with Evan Engram today?

Smith:"You know, Evan does a great job, man. He's a rookie, but he is a really good player. He made a tremendous catch, one-handed catch. That was beautiful, and he just continues to make plays. He's a hard worker. He understands the game. He's got a great feel for it, and anytime we can get the ball in his hands, we're trying to, so I think he did a great job."

Q: Did Eli Manning talk to you throughout the game? Did he help you at all?

Smith:"Yeah, Eli does a tremendous job with that throughout the week and throughout the game. We were talking. We always converse back and forth. He did a great job with that today."

Q: Is there anything on your mind about how that crowd might react if you get off to a slow start at home next week against the Dallas Cowboys?

Smith: "I don't think it could be any worse than what I have been through. I remember I got booed at a spring game for throwing an incompletion, so I don't think it could be any worse. I learned how to tune it out. I have been through it all, and I am still standing here, so I'll be ready for next week."

GIANTS QB ELI MANNING

Q:  How tough was this for you today?

Manning: "Hey, I wanted to be out there, I wanted to be playing.  This is kind of the situation we're in. 2-9 and they want to take a look at other guys, I understand.  I'm not mad at anybody.  I think when you're in this situation, whatever happens, there's a reason and you have to accept it."

Q: Is there a way [benching you] could have been done that would have made you feel better, or made it easier?

Manning: "No.  I don't blame anybody for the way it handled.  I think Coach McAdoo tried to do something right by me, by saying they were going to let me play.  But just knowing that I was going to come out of the game, I just couldn't play that way.  You know, I appreciated it.  He was trying to do me a favor, but it's just not the way I could go into a game, knowing I'm going to be pulled out.  I appreciated them giving me that option, but I think he understood when I said I can't do I that way."

Q: Do you prefer it was more open-ended, rather than them saying Geno [Smith] was going to start the second half definitively?

Manning: "I don't know.  Hey, I don't deal with the what-if game, so this is what it is."

Q: What are your thoughts on Coach [Ben] McAdoo possibly getting fired as early as tomorrow?

Manning: "I don't want that.  I don't want anybody to get fired.  When a coach gets fired, it's usually because the team and the players, and myself, haven't performed to our duties.  So I don't want to see that.  So I hope there's no truth to it."

Q: So many people this week have talked about how well you've handled this situation.   Have you reflected on how you would approach today?

Manning:"Well, I knew once it got to today, I would be a good teammate.  I'd be ready to support all the guys, be ready to play if I was called upon.  You know, support Geno [Smith], support the offensive guys, and do what I have to do if I saw something that needed telling.  But I think that the amount of people that reached out to me this week, the importance of being a good teammate, hit it home.  Just the fact that all the old teammates have reached out to me, have called me; I appreciate their support, and the things they say.  And it's helped me get through these past couple days, these tough days.  But it kind of reminded me that I need to be a good teammate to everybody here, and do my part."

Q: Have you had the opportunity to contemplate your future at all?

Manning:"No.  There's no point, I can't control what's going to happen.  We have four games left to finish out this season, and whatever capacity they need me to do, and go from there."

Q: DO you plan on playing next season?  Or is that something you have to think about?

Manning:"Yeah. I plan on playing next season."

Q: Did you know what to do today?  This is new for you.

Manning: "I figured I could figure that out.  Just try to be a good teammate, be helpful, and encourage the guys.  And if [my teammates] needed me, I'd be there for them."

GIANTS S LANDON COLLINS

Q: Has the change in quarterback affected the defense?

Collins:"No, it's just football and we go on with it. It doesn't affect us on the defensive side. Whoever they put on the offensive side, we have their back and we're going to just keep on moving."

Q: Long trip home. You lose three hours

Collins:"Yeah, that's the worst part about it."

Q: Are you just hanging in after a game like this?

Collins:"We come out here. We try to get our win. Do our best as a whole and work together and try to bring home a win in doing so. We try our best."

Q: It was 10-7 for a long time.

Collins:"Right, and that was a good thing. Just couldn't hold it all the way to the end."

Q: How do you handle the reports that there is going to be changes to the coaching staff?

Collins:"If it happens, it happens. I'll have to see if it happens. Right now, it's kind of in the back of my head. I'm not really worried about it because as of right now [Ben] McAdoo is my head coach. For right now that's how I want it."

Q: Was it in your head when you took the field?

Collins:"No. I forgot who brought it up to me today and told me about the reports. I just thought it was just jibber jabber, but I'm guessing it's actually true."

Q: Did Coach McAdoo address it with the team?

Collins:"About what's going on? No. He didn't address it. He didn't bring it up. It shouldn't even be in our head when we're about to play to play a game, worrying about who's going to be our coach."

Q: Do you feel like this might be something real?

Collins:"Yeah, when it's being report and you are all asking me questions about it, it's got to be something real. You got to take into consideration, but until it happens, he's still my coach."

Q: Do you want him to be your coach?

Collins:"Yeah, I want him to be my coach. He does a great job. I know we're having a bad season, but as in keeping us together, as in keeping us as a team and keeping us whole, he's doing a fantastic job."

Q: What happened on the 51-yard rush?

Collins:"Gapped out. Gapped out and couldn't get that personnel in fast enough to make the right call. They got us. They got us on that gap scheme."

GIANTS LS ZAK DeOSSIE

Q: What did you say to Eli Manning?

DeOssie:"I just told him, I'd follow him through heaven or hell. I've been there. Coaching decisions are above our paygrade. It is what it is. At the end of the day we're players and coaches get paid to coach. It's the business we're in. we don't have the luxury to dwell on it."

Q: How tough is it to put it aside?

DeOssie:"It's what we do. We're employees and it's part of the business."

Q: Did you feel like you had to be a better friend to Eli Manning this week?

DeOssie:"I'm the same friend that I've been to Eli. I always will be."

Q: There's talk about some former players coming to the game next week wearing Manning jerseys. What do you think of that?

DeOssie:"I think they have every right to do whatever it is that they want. It'll be good to see them. At the end of the day, these coaching decisions are not for us to dwell on. It is what it is."

Q: There's a report that Ben McAdoo could be fired in the next 24 hours.

DeOssie:"OK. We'll listen, going to wake up, go to work and show up. That's all I know. I'm not aware of that report."

Q: So that's not something that was discussed in here at any point?

DeOssie:"No.

GIANTS WR EVAN ENGRAM

Q:  Describe your perspective on the game today.

Engram: "It was really tough.  The defense gave us some energy.  We drove, had a couple drives.  We had that one drive we scored, and then that other drive we scored.  We had a lot of opportunities to score points, but outside of all that happened this week, we fought and battled.  We had the opportunities to win, and just didn't cash in."

Q: Was it different in the huddle and on the field, not having Eli [Manning] in there with you?

Engram:* *"Definitely, I mean of course.  Total different quarterback, total different person.  But I mean everybody was locked in, we were still focused, and we were still trying to get things going.  So it wasn't any difference in that.  But of course there's going to be a difference."

Q: How would you describe Geno Smith today, on the field and in the locker room?

Engram: "He gave everything he had today.  He made good decisions; he made smart throws, extended some plays.  We just have to execute a little bit better, the X's and O's, make a couple more plays.  But I think Geno came out and did his best.  We had many opportunities to win the game, but we just didn't cash in."

Q: Were you aware of your coach's job security issues?

Engram:"Nah.  I mean I try to stay off my phone as much as possible.  I'm pretty sure a lot of guys do.  We were just focused on winning today."

Q:  Tell me about the catch.

Engram:"Just went up, and tried to make a play.  It was crunch time, we were trying to drive and get a quick score.  Geno [Smith] threw a great ball, I just made the play for the team."

Q:  What's different when you play with Geno Smith?

Engram:"It's definitely a different feel; a different signal caller, a different leader.  But Geno has a little bit more scramble in him, and extended a couple more plays.  So we had to lock in on scramble drills.  But the mission was the same, we were trying to be effective as an offense, score points, and win."

Q: As a young player, how do you block out the noise about the coach's job?

Engram:"It's tough.  I mean it's tough.  But it's easy to stay focused.  I mean as a competitor you want to go win.  As a competitor, distractions keep you from that.  So we just try to keep a tunnel vision today on our assignments, on my assignments.  As a team we're just focused, trying to go win a ball game."