With a few hours remaining before the New York Giants face the Denver Broncos (4:05 p.m. ET) here are some pre-game thoughts.
Chirp, chirp
I am not a big fan of players wasting time and energy going back-and-forth with opposing players, teams, or even media members on social media. I’m old-school in that way (or, just old!!) and I am a believer in the old Tom Coughlin philosophy (h/t to ‘Talkin’ Giants for posting this):
Absolutely! Don’t talk about it. Go prove it. Or don’t prove it, and then just be quiet and give the other guy credit.
That said, it’s hard not to notice — and enjoy — some of the social media silliness going on between the Giants and Broncos.
There was this quickly-deleted bit of stupidity from Broncos star Nik Bonitto:
Nik, friend, didn’t they teach you in NFL Media Relations 101 to never, never, never go out of your way to challenge a fan base? You’ll never win, and never gain anything from it.
There was Denver edge defender Jonathan Cooper wasting his breath and his energy focusing on Jaxson Dart’s chains:
Dart’s only response was this:
“I think a lot of guys wear chains and dance when they score touchdowns. I appreciate him following my dance touchdowns.”
The Giants have poked back a little, but mostly they have shrugged.
The lesson for me? The Giants are fun again. They are entertaining. People care about them again. NFL players and analysts are noticing and talking about them — in a nice way — again. Even the Kelce’s care.
Trade winds
The Giants are trading for Jaylen Waddle. Oh, wait, the Miami Dolphins are not interested in trading Waddle. They are “big game hunting” for wide receiver help. Or, they “aren’t aggressively working the phones.” What you read at any given time depends on who has been in the ear of NFL insiders most recently, and what you believe depends on which NFL insiders you trust the most.
I believe this. I believe Giants GM Joe Schoen should add a wide receiver who is under contract for a couple of years beyond 2025 if he can do so reasonably, perhaps giving up one of the Giants’ spare parts and lower-round draft capital.
I think Schoen’s ability to make a splashy deal is hampered by not having the 2026 third-round pick he surrendered to get Jaxson Dart. Not having that pick means the GM is unlikely to be willing to give up the 2026 second-round pick, and maybe even the fourth-round pick.
I think that despite that handicap, and regardless of whether or not the Giants win their two games before the Nov. 4 deadline, Schoen will try to find a deal to bring in a player who can help Dart this year, and team with Nabers beyond 2025. Can he get that done? That I don’t know.
Baby factory
There must be something in the air around the Giants’ locker room these days. Offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo is missing Sunday’s game as he awaits the imminent birth of his third child. Bricillo joins Dexter Lawrence, Deonte Banks (twins), Jermaine Eleumunor and Greg Van Roten as Giants who have added to or begun families this year.
Geez! As Dick Vitale might say, the Giants have turned into the ‘Diaper Dandies’ of the NFL.
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