The mail’s here!
Doug Mollin asks: BBV’s Chris Pflum currently ranks Ward as QB4 and Sanders as QB7 if the past two years’ QB draft classes were combined.
The Giants passed on QB4 last draft. If they are thinking like Chris, do you believe they pass on Ward and Sanders this draft? Potentially sign a veteran like Darnold in free agency and then trade down from what should be a top 3 pick to a QB desperate team? Fill in the roster holes and maybe draft a developmental QB in a later round.
Ed says: Doug, I think any of those scenarios is possible. Let’s see where they land in the draft order.
Dave Hollister asks: I have been a fan since about ‘78 and I was young then so I may not have realized how bad the Giants were then but this is certainly the low point for me as a Giants fan. My question for you is I know Schoen and Daboll are running things but how much blame should John Mara, Chris Mara and other Mara family members have in this mess? It seems no matter who is on the field or who is in charge the results are the same, and players leave and get better. The constant? Maras.
Ed says: Dave, I’m not going to get into the Chris Mara and other family members in the front office stuff. Tim McDonnell is John Mara’s son-in-law, but by all accounts he has the scouting chops to be in the position he has.
Yes, there is plenty of blame for ownership. Bottom line is ownership does the hiring and firing and signs off on the major decisions. If ownership wanted Saquon Barkley, for example, to be a Giant he would still be a Giant.
Also, everyone forgets that the Mara family only owns 50% of the Giants. The Tisch family owns the other 50%, and John Mara and Steve Tisch are equal decision-making partners. Yes, Steve Tisch is somewhat of an absentee owner, but his voice in hirings and firings is equal to Mara’s. That often leads to compromises and a lack of clear direction.
Just remember that when you want to point the finger at John Mara he doesn’t have Jerry Jones-like control over the Giants. He can’t do whatever he wants. He and Steve Tisch have to come to some type of agreement.
Simon Hines asks: I have generally been in favor of keeping continuity with Daboll and Schoen, but over the past 3 weeks I have begun to change my mind. If things continue to go the same way they did against the Buccaneers, then it’s difficult to see how both can stay. I started to think about who I would prefer as a HC. I think someone who was a previous HC and can command respect is mandatory, the 2 names I keep coming back to are Mike Vrabel and Brian Flores. I would much prefer Flores, what do you think? GMs are harder to identify as a fan, but I’ve been impressed with Brandon Brown whenever I’ve heard him speak to media.
Ed says: Simon, I think Vrabel and Flores would be on the list of Daboll replacements. I think Brown would be on the list of Schoen replacements, but I’m curious to see if ownership would want a clean break from the Schoen front office.
Raymond Dansereau asks: I hindsight, I wonder if the Giants should have declared Jones’ benching a week earlier, that way all the negative media coverage, the release could have been gotten over with sooner. Whatever they say, it’s hard to argue that wasn’t hanging over them and affecting morale.
And that brings me to my question: Did you miss a Wet Willie after the Bucs game? The fans. I know, I know, the fans are off limits, the customer is always right, you pay your money and have a right to boo, be frustrated etc. I know. But, you also don’t have a right to have your team win every game; teams have bad games and bad seasons, and if you are a fan, shouldn’t there be an element of supporting your team? The effect of encouragement or discouragement on morale isn’t exactly a secret; it’s why there’s usually home field advantage. If the Giants haven’t had that at Metlife this year, maybe it’s fair to ask why. Maybe if you’re booing your team off the field at half-time, that’s part of the problem?
These guys are human beings and pretty young men. Worth keeping that in mind.
Ed says: Raymond, you’re a fan and you should know the answer to this one. Fans want to cheer. They want to have something to be proud of, to brag about.
What are fans supposed to do when their team is 2-8 and behind 23-0 at halftime to a middle of the road team? When they are 8-19 over the past two years? When they are 10-24-1 since a 7-2 start in 2022? When the team just cut the starting quarterback and replaced him with a UDFA? When they keep getting blown out at home?
Booing doesn’t help players, and they don’t like it. Nobody likes being told — loudly — that they stink at their job. But, what are fans supposed to do.
I’d argue that I should give ‘Kudos’ to the ones who keep showing up, keep wearing the jerseys, keep trying to support an expensive, yet embarrassing product.
Buzz Hofmann asks: Any chance Belichick returns as head coach, Daboll reverts to OC and Schoen remains GM. Yes, Bill would not have his usual GM duties, so a big give on his part, although he would have a free hand with the defense, including DC retention or selection, and maybe he can co-exist with Schoen. Maybe give him an additional title such as President of something. And yes, Daboll takes a demotion (for now), but would be HC heir apparent if things go well. I think Mara would like it, as would fans. Long shot?
Ed says: Long shot? Buzz, there is no shot. Forget whether Bill Belichick would come to the Giants. If he did, he would want all of his own people. When have you seen a head coach take a demotion? This is fantasy land.
Brian Misdom asks: My question is to what extent do you believe the Schoen/Daboll pairing remains a package deal? If Daboll is out, will Schoen be fired as well?
Ed says: Brian, in the interest of brevity I am only using your actual question and not everything around it.
I don’t know for certain. I will say that I have always believed, and still believe, that IF ownership can separate the GM and head coach that I think Schoen is on more solid ground than Daboll. Whether you like all of the decisions the GM has made or not, there is an argument to be made that the team should be better than 2-10 and would be with better quarterback play.
John Mara has said he could separate the two. I’m not so sure, but we might find out.
Steven Alessandrini asks: In your “Things I think” article on Monday you wrote all about Daboll and the increasing likelihood he has lost the team and his job. But you did not share your thoughts about Joe Schoen. What are your thoughts on his return? To me, it seems virtually impossible he can survive this season. John Mara warned him that his nightmare was seeing Saquon end up in Philly. He also reminded him how popular Barkley was. Mara clearly was worried about the fan reaction to losing a beloved player and having to watch him succeed with an arch rival. On that front, it couldn’t have gone worse. I give Mara credit for ultimately letting Schoen do the job the way he wanted. But with the team at an all time low, facing yet another rebuild and seeing Barkley have an MVP caliber season, how can Mara stick with Schoen? It’s gotta be so frustrating for Mara that this was exactly what he warned Schoen about. Schoen will always be the GM that let Barkley go and fans will never have faith in him or the organization again under his leadership.
Ed says: Steven, like I said above I am curious to see if ownership can separate Schoen from Daboll. I still believe that if they can there is a chance Schoen stays and Daboll goes. I’m not sure I would like that, but it’s possible.
There is also still the argument that this regime should be allowed to choose its quarterback, and I know that is a divisive argument itself. But, it is part of the calculus.
It is a difficult decision for ownership and it will be fascinating to see what happens.
Jeff Jacobs asks: For the past decade – ever since he fired Tom Coughlin (but not Jerry Reese), John Mara has made one colossal mistake after another. We all know that he’s not going to sell the team, nor will he give up his role as CEO & pater familias, but do you think he’d ever agree to hire someone – perhaps Dawn Aponte – as Team President and allow her to actually make the call on the coach & GM? I think he SHOULD, but I don’t think he ever WOULD. What do you think?
Ed says: Jeff, no I do not think the Giants would add yet another layer to their front office. The Giants are the Mara family business, and the family will always have a say.
Also, like I pointed out above, don’t forget that Mara does not have unilateral authority. The Tisch family owns an equal 50% and Steve Tisch has an equal voice in decision-making. I think sometimes that is a problem because when they disagree there has to be compromise. That sometimes leads to decisions neither one is thrilled with, and can lead to lack of a clear vision/direction.
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