Scott Robins asks: From reading all the “experts”, the Giants will either fire Daboll and Schoen, keep one or keep both. How about a different scenario – they make them bring in others in order to keep their job. Daboll is considered very good on the offensive side of the ball. However, a head coach is also a CEO who must manage the entire team. To me it is obvious that he can’t turn around the offense and be that CEO. Very few can, witness such offensive geniuses as Josh McDaniel who failed twice as a head coach. (Andy Reid being the exception to this). So require him to bring in a real offensive coordinator who will run the offense and call plays and free Daboll up to be a head coach. If the Giants draft a quarterback, it becomes that much more important since the person who runs the offense will have the time to properly develop the quarterback. I would also not be terrible to bring in an “advisor” for Schoen with GM experience.
Ed says: Scott, let me say that if Brian Daboll is kept on as head coach I think there will be changes in how things are done. Will they force him to give up play-calling/control of the offense? Maybe.
I think Daboll had that offensive person on his staff the last three years in Mike Kafka, and has marginalized him. To Daboll’s detriment, in my view. If Daboll stays, I’m sure Kafka will move on.
As for Joe Schoen, I am not in favor of adding more layers to management. You already have dual ownership and a high-ranking Mara family member (Tim McDonnell) active in the front office. Besides, former Miami Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey is already in the front office. Also, Ryan Cowden, who was interim GM for the Tennessee Titans in 2022, is on staff as “executive advisor to the GM.”
Schoen does not need more advisors.
Gary Rothe asks: Do you think that the problem with Evan Neal could be that he is disgruntled about his salary? I know he played right tackle in college for a year, but spent his final season at left tackle, and perhaps fancied himself as a left tackle in the NFL, aware of the value that NFL teams place on protecting their quarterback’s blind side? And maybe this is why he is so opposed to going to guard for the same reason? It wasn’t his choice to be drafted to a team that already had Andrew Thomas, and the difference between 985k and 10 million is what it is. What are your thoughts?
Ed says: Gary, that has nothing to do with it. Neal is on a rookie contract, and the amounts in those deals are pre-determined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement based on draft slot. Neal was the seventh overall pick in 2022, and he signed the pre-determined fully guaranteed four-year, $24.551 million contract. That would have been the salary for the player drafted in that slot whether he played offensive line, quarterback, safety, or punter.
Video mailbag
I answered a handful of additional questions on Friday’s podcast. Listen below:
Gary Williams asks: I just read the article in BBV about the Giants grabbing Dee Williams from the Seahawks and that while listed as a CB, he is primarily a punt returner. In addition, you quoted the Field Gulls writer describing him as an “unmitigated disaster”. My question is this: whatever happened to Gunner Olszewski? I recall he injured his groin (?) in the preseason, then reinjured it again before the season opener and placed on IR. Hasn’t it healed sufficiently by now and if so, why sign Williams?
Ed says: Gary, yes Olszewski had a groin injury. I have only seen him around the locker room once this season and have not talked to him, but I have to believe he is currently healthy. Thing is, the Giants signed Ihmir Smith-Marsette to replace Olszewski as a backup wide receiver and the primary return man, and Smith-Marsette has done a nice job.
Teams can designate only eight players to return from IR during the course of the season, and using a return designation on a punt returner when you already have a good one on the active roster is a waste. So, Oszewski drew the short straw.
Williams had nothing to do with Olszewski, or with Smith-Marsette. Williams is a punt and kickoff returner, yes, but he is also a cornerback. The Giants added Williams during that time when Deonte Banks, Dru Phillips and Cor’Dale Flott were all injured and they were desperate for depth. They also poached cornerback Divaad Wilson off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.
The Giants have used three of their eight activations from IR this season. Those players are:
- LB Matthew Adams (Week 5)
- K Graham Gano (Week 10)
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Week 12)
The currently have two players designated to return and working within their 21-day practice window. They are:
- LB Dyontae Johnson
- OL Austin Schlottmann
Bob Donnelly asks: Soon the NY Giants Centennial season will come to a merciful end with a long list of negative records set. (I’m sure someone will chronicle them all for us).
Back in October when the Giants record was 2-5 John Mara stated:
“We are not making any changes this season. And I do not anticipate making any changes in the offseason, either.”
Since that time the Giants have not won a single game. Fans are screaming for change on talk shows, social media and banners circling the stadium.
Clearly a similar statement of support from ownership for the GM and HC would go a long way to quell the fans uproar.
How do you view their silence?
Ed says: Bob, I view it very simply. Things have gone awry to an extent they could not have foreseen at the time. They haven’t made up their minds yet how to go forward, and nothing will be said until they do.
Steven Ferry asks: Given the current mess that this franchise is in, could you envision the scenario where Steve Tisch requests the power move… That the Giants hire a President of Football Operations that will make all Football related decisions e.g., the GM, Head Coach etc. It is clear to me that John Mara has influence (what amount I will not guess) that has not worked. And yes, I suggest a small consultant team of some sort, make this hire.
In close, I personally can not digest that this is not a tank, as if it is indeed this bad, almost everything needs to change. If it is a tank, I could be wrong as that suggests that the Giants feel confident that their “QB is in fact in the 2025 draft. Note: I like John Mara, but at this point both he and Tisch need to be silent partners.
Ed says: Steven, the Mara and Tisch families — especially the Mara family — are not going to give up their decision-making powers. They own the franchise. It’s their money. It’s the Mara family business and has been for 100 years.
Mara relied on Ernie Accorsi in the “search” that led to Dave Gettleman. Maybe they will have an outside voice help them this time. I don’t know who that would be or how that would help. There are already a lot of layers to the Giants’ decision-making as they are the only dual-ownership franchise in the NFL. My belief is that adding more complexity isn’t going to help.
Mara and Tisch will make the final choice, regardless.
Ken Moskowitz asks: There is so much focus on the Giants drafting a QB with their first pick. What will that matter if they continue to be inept at building a line to protect. It wouldn’t make a difference who is at the helm. Regardless of what anyone thinks about Daniel Jones, he never had a fighting chance since coming into the league
What can the Giants do at this point to not have another QB go though the same barrage.
Ed says: Ken, let’s be honest — and fair — about the offensive line. The line in 2024 has not been great, but it is much better than what the Giants had a year ago. The free-agent signings of Jon Runyan Jr., Jermaine Eluemunor and Greg Van Roten — three starting-caliber players — have been good moves.
The problem has been the depth, particularly doubling down on the idea that Josh Ezeudu was an acceptable backup left tackle. He was not, and is not. And Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll deserve to be questioned for how they came to the conclusion that he could be.
What has to happen is that the Giants need to continue to build the young talent base on the line. Schoen didn’t select any offensive lineman in the 2024 NFL Draft, and that is problematic. He has selected four in his three drafts, and only John Michael Schmitz thus far looks like he will be at least an adequate starter.
The Giants have to try to build the young talent, and they have to get their picks right more often. That sounds simple, but the last 10-12 years shows that it clearly is not.
Robert Biggerstaff asks: Ed I would like to think outside the box. The GM and HC are competent professionals. They deserve to shown respect. They did not choose Dan Jones which put the Giants in what the former GM said was quarterback hell. They did not overnight become incompetent. Football is not rocket science. To do their jobs well in 2025, which they can, they need the support of ownership and this needs to be clearly and honestly communicated to the players. I would support three-year extensions for both. The only major mistake the team made was not being clear once DJ was benched that the purpose of the remaining games was to evaluate player strengths and start building a foundation. I find it enjoyable watching how individual players progress, particularly the younger ones. I think most true fans would enjoy this realistic perspective and help eliminate the doom and gloom hanging over the HC during each press conference. Would you agree?
Ed says: Robert, I would understand Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll remaining in their jobs. I have said a number of times I could support them staying on. I have also, of course, said there is a solid argument for replacing them.
Giving them extensions now? That’s a bridge too far. To my knowledge, both have five-year contracts. That means they have deals running through 2026, two more seasons. There is no need, or reason, to extend them now.
Seth Weissman asks: My questions this week are about Evan Neal and Azeez Ojulari. Regarding Neal, it seems pretty clear that he just doesn’t have the quickness/footwork to handle quick pass rushers. He is athletic, though, and obviously, a big guy. Do you think the Giants should try him at guard the last two games and/or do you think they will move him in 2025? Regarding Ojulari, obviously, he has talent and when he is healthy, he is a decent pass rusher. I’m guessing there will be a market for him in free agency, albeit a limited one because of his injury history. Do you think the Giants will try and re-sign him or let him go after the season is up?
Ed says: Seth, I am ambivalent about the idea of trying Neal at guard now. Two games aren’t going to prove anything, though it would likely make it clear to him that is where his future is. Moving him there next year is something that has to be done. Now? Doesn’t matter.
As for Ojulari, I have said before that it would be nice if the Giants could keep him. He is a good pass rusher, which is obviously a valuable skill, even if he is a liability as a run defender. He is also a good guy who likes being a Giant. That, too, has value.
There will definitely be a market for him. With Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux already in place, the question for the Giants will be how much of a bidding war they want to get into? Ojulari will have suitors who can likely offer more money and more opportunity than the Giants will be able to.
Edwin Rosenberg asks: Given the many holes in the rester and the lack of depth all over, what is your opinion of the Giants signing a “place-holder QB, trade back their first round pick a few slots to pick up a slew draft picks and get a QB next year when a better crop will be available?
Ed says: Edwin, I understand the theory. There are many times I would endorse the idea of trading down. I think that if Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll remain, they have no choice but to draft a quarterback. They passed on the idea last year, and the best argument they really have for staying is that they haven’t been able to draft and try to develop their own guy. They can’t make that argument, then pass on quarterback again.
Besides, you aren’t always going to be at the top of the draft with the opportunity to get whoever you want.
I think a new GM, or maybe Schoen with a new head coach, might be able to make the “trade down and build the roster” case.
David Silver asks: While watching the Joe Judge press conference rant was my lowest point in Giants press history at the time, I am struck now by how “not good enough” has become an acceptable answer for a young team and fan base that is witnessing a historic collapse in professional sports. From the beginning of the season, the press that covers the Giants never called this or even close to it. As the season has gone on, do you sense the press room feels increasingly duped by a Belichick-like disciple who gives you little real insight, and simply deflects? How do you balance the desire to be insightful journalists with your need for access?
Ed says: David, there is a game that the media and Giants executives and coaches play. We ask questions, they try to say words without giving us real information. Unless, of course, it is about a player or topic the executive or coach wants to talk about.
The whole “access’ thing is, I think, overblown. It’s not our job to be a mouthpiece for the organization. You sometimes have to ask questions people would rather not answer. At the same time, the job should not be to go out of your way to anger the person being interviewed or ask questions simply to try to create a story that doesn’t exist. Unfortunately, in my view, that is how some people do the job.
The reality is that sometimes a question gets asked and you understand from the answer that you aren’t going to get more than that. You can continue to ask in different ways, but those turn into wasted questions. We only get a few minutes with a limited number of questions, and hammering away at something you clearly know the coach/GM is not going to answer becomes a waste.
I am not there every day, but you do always want to be mindful of the fact that whatever day you may be asking a question will not be the last time you need or want something from thaty person.
Sometimes, the simple deflection tells you what you need to know.
BBV mailbag
Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.
