This was always going to be the mandatory part of the process, the walking-in-the-door part, where just being John Harbaugh was going to have to carry the day. The Giants have been an unserious operation for years; from the moment they affixed Harbaugh’s signature to the bottom of his contract, that changed in theory.

After that it was all on Harbaugh himself to make sure it changed in practice, too.

It has changed in practice. Already. Just seven weeks in, heading into the most satisfying bye week imaginable.

The Giants were – pick your adjective – dysfunctional, non-professional, slap-dash, slapstick; you can go on and on. Harbaugh brought a sparkling resume and a gaudy winning percentage and a shiny Super Bowl ring, and that made an impact in all the superficial ways that don’t guarantee a thing, a promising script in need of a director.