Ben McAdoo

Ben McAdoo handled some of the play-calling duties at spring practices.

(William Hauser | USA TODAY Sports)

EAST RUTHERFORD - There were times this spring when Ben McAdoo walked around the practice fields with a portable, two-way, radio transmitter at Giants minicamp or organized team activities (OTAs). He was using the hand-held device which fit comfortably in the palm of his hand to call plays for quarterback Eli Manning and the offense.

It was on again and off again, here and there, not with any sort of consistency or permanent designation. When McAdoo wasn't calling the offensive plays at Giants practices this spring it was offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan's turn.

"I called some," McAdoo said about a two-minute drill during OTAs earlier this month.

The Giants have been coy about declaring plans for their play-caller this season. McAdoo believes there is a competitive advantage to keep the opposition guessing in this regard.

If they know McAdoo's going to call plays - which he did his first two years with the Giants - they can spend the offseason studying his play-calling tendencies. If they know it's going to be Sullivan's responsibility, they can look at some of the things he favored during his tenure as play-caller and offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, even if it was a different offense.

Nothing the Giants have done in the spring has tipped their hand.

"Through the course of the spring, we've had various phases where I've called it or Ben has called it. We're still in that process," Sullivan said. "Nothing has really changed since the last time we talked about it, and we're still trying to get a sense of what's going to be best for us and getting to know each other.

"At the end of the day, we're going to do what is going to help us win, and there will be 100 percent support from me no matter what happens, and I think Ben will feel the same way. And again, all we care about is wins."

For now, the Giants are making sure both coaches are capable. It will likely come down to whether McAdoo determines the burden outweighs the benefits.

Nobody knows the offense better than the current head coach. McAdoo's been in a similar version of this offense for 12 years. He's developed a feel for calling plays and an effective gameday rapport with Manning over the past two seasons.

If the demands on being a first-time head coach and play-caller aren't overwhelming, it would make the most sense for McAdoo to continue with the duties. His mentor, Mike McCarthy, called plays in Green Bay when he became a head coach. It wasn't until nine years later that he relinquished the responsibility, before reclaiming it before the end of that season.

Considering the precedent, it would be an upset come Week 1 if McAdoo weren't calling the plays. His ability (the Giants had the NFL's eighth-ranked offense last year) is part of what helped him land his current job.

But McAdoo doesn't appear to be in any rush to outline his plans. Who will handle the Giants playcalling is a secret that will likely continue through the summer.

"Someone is going to call [plays] on September 11 [in Week 1 vs. the Cowboys], so we'll see," Sullivan said. "Hopefully a good one, for sure."

Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.