Giants, DC Wink Martindale mutually agree to part ways - ESPN

The New York Giants and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced Wednesday.

Martindale is free to sign elsewhere without restrictions, a source told ESPN. The Giants will keep the $3 million he was owed, according to the agreement by both parties, the source said.

A source had told ESPN on Monday that Martindale was expected to resign from his job. That decision came after the team fired two of his closest assistants, moves that prompted Martindale to curse out coach Brian Daboll, a source confirmed to ESPN.

The New York Post reported that Martindale «said his piece, got up, slammed the door and walked out of the building» after the Giants fired outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins. Both had come over with Martindale from Baltimore, and Drew Wilkins was considered Martindale's right-hand man.

The relationship between Martindale and Daboll was severely fractured during the season, and a report in late-November emerged that they might not last the season. It reached a point where Martindale did not want to return, even though Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen left the door open at their season-ending news conference.

Martindale, 60, is expected to have options. The Giants' final two opponents — the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles — spoke glowingly about his scheme after their matchups. Both could be looking for a defensive coordinator at the conclusion of their respective seasons.

The Post reported Daboll was adamant about getting rid of Drew Wilkins and, by association, Kevin Wilkins, because there «was a feeling in the building that Martindale and Drew Wilkins were creating their own fiefdom within the coaching staff,