Ex-coach, player take shots at stumbling New York Giants

Wink Martindale, Jon Feliciano throw shade at former team

The New York Giants weren’t expected to be a powerhouse in 2024. But even so, few saw their 2-7 start coming and the Giants’ ugly start has opened the door for criticism.

While most of the criticism has come from around the NFL media, usually pointing out the team’s issues on offense or stopping the run, some former members of the Giants have started taking shots at the beleaguered team.

On Sunday, San Francisco 49ers interior offensive lineman Jon Feliciano had an observation regarding the Washington Commanders and the Giants’ former offensive line coach Bobby Johnson.

This came after Washington defeated the Giants, rushing for 149 yards and giving up no sacks in the process. The Giants fired Bobby Johnson after the 2023 season and the Giants’ lack of development on the offensive line was the commonly cited reason.

But while the Commanders’ offensive line was expected to be poor under Johnson’s tutelage, they have thrived and are one of the NFL’s best pass protecting and run blocking lines.

Former Giants defensive coordinator, and current Michigan DC, Wink Martindale had a barb of his own.

Martindale was asked about his future coaching the Michigan defense, and responded that it’s a lot better being at 6-1 Michigan than “some places that are 2-7.”

The Giants also parted was with Martindale following 2023, though this was in a very public and very ugly divorce. By all reports there were hard feelings on both sides, and Martindale seems to be indulging in some schadenfreud. We had hints that things had gotten ugly behind the scenes after last year, and the comments of both Feliciano and Martindale give us another window into some lingering resentment from the way that went down.

But were they out of bounds?