Will Giants wait to see if Bill Belichick, Patriots are headed for divorce?

The Giants are scheduled to interview the Patriots' coordinators on Friday for their head coaching vacancy.

They may want to see if they can get a moment to see where their boss stands, too.

The end of the Patriot dynasty may be here, according to an ESPN report, due to a complicated power struggle between owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. The author, Seth Wickersham, writes, "those interviewed describe a palpable sense in the building that this might be the last year together for this group."

From the report:

The Patriots, in the only statement anyone associated with the team would make on the record for this story, responded to specific questions by saying that there are "several inaccuracies and multiple examples given that absolutely did not occur," though they declined to go into detail. But according to interviews with more than a dozen New England staffers, executives, players and league sources with knowledge of the team's inner workings, the three most powerful people in the franchise -- Belichick, Brady and owner Robert Kraft -- have had serious disagreements. They differ on Brady's trainer, body coach and business partner Alex Guerrero; over the team's long-term plans at quarterback; over Belichick's bracing coaching style; and most of all, over who will be the last man standing.

If the situation in Foxborough is as potentially dire as presented, it breathes life into a hypothetical previously reserved for daydreaming fans and sports talk radio banter: Would Belichick ever leave the Patriots to coach the Giants?

And if there's even a remote chance he would, will the Giants delay their coaching search until they can find out for sure?

Belichick's affinity for the Giants is well-documented. He was an assistant with the team from 1979-90, and served as defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl XXI- and XXV-winning teams under Bill Parcells. He is known to be close with the Mara family, as well as former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, who is a resource for the team. Many have speculated the Giants' job is the only one Belichick would ever consider leaving the Patriots for.

Well, is this it?

The Giants could wait to see how this Patriots season plays out, and go from there. It would be a risk, but one likely mitigated by the fact they, of any NFL team, should be able to get a read on what Belichick thinks will happen after the team either is eliminated from the postseason or completes the Super Bowl, win or lose. Moreover, the fact they hired Dave Gettleman as general manager - it's hard to see Belichick coming here to just coach, or Gettleman suddenly giving up his front office control to accommodate him - suggests this is not something the Giants had considered or been aware of.

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The Giants would need some sort of fallback plan - retain Steve Spagnuolo? Roll the dice on a young assistant who doesn't get a coaching job? Tentatively agree with either Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels or defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, assuming they would get the Pats' job if Belichick leaves? - but with a general manager already in place, they can conceivably operate without a head coach for a few more weeks if need be.

If someone is going to lose the power struggle in New England, the ESPN report paints the assumption it will be Belichick. Kraft owns the team, so he's not going anywhere, and the fact Brady appears to have influenced the trade of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers for a below-market return of a second-round pick - either directly or simply with his presence - indicates Kraft considers Brady untouchable and plans to have him play for him until he hangs it up, whenever that may be.

The biggest issue the Giants have to consider: Even if Belichick leaves the Patriots, that doesn't mean he will continue coaching. Wickersham details some anecdotes that could be interpreted as signs Belichick is preparing to walk away. McDaniels and Patricia are expected to take head coaching jobs, leading to an inevitable dissolution of Belichick's staff.

Belichick has reportedly been assisting his coaches as they prepare to interview for other jobs - something he has not always done. He has taken pride in Garoppolo's strong start with the Niners. He has helped his sons get their coaching careers underway. Et cetera. Belichick is 66 in April, and he may just decide to call it a day.

So yes, the Giants can wait. And yes, Belichick may be interested in coaching the Giants. But chances are they won't wait, and he won't coach here, no matter how things end with the Patriots. Some things are too good to be true for a reason.