A losing effort by the Giants in Cleveland on Sunday could make Brian Daboll’s future interactions with the media the most entertaining aspect of the team.
Unfortunately, 0-3 misfortune would make Daboll’s postgame press conference, no matter where you consume it, a must-see production. Last week, after the Giants’ 21-18 loss to Washington, the session didn’t disappoint.
After the second game of the season, Daboll, in his third season as Giants coach, was asked about his own future.
He was also grilled extensively on his handling of the kicking situation, leaving the cupboard bare by not activating another kicker in case Graham Gano, still nursing a groin injury, was unable to play.
The questions skewed negative, tilting toward those believing the coach, who took responsibility for the move, bungled the situation by not having a contingency plan. Gano wound up injuring a hamstring on the first play of the game when trying to chase down Washington’s kick returner. That left Daboll with punter Jamie Gillan. That option went down the tubes after the Giants first touchdown when Gillan missed the PAT.
On MSG’s Giants postgame show, Amani Toomer, analyst and former Big Blue wideout, threw Daboll a verbal life-preserver. Toomer, sarcastically, asked “how many times” do kickers get hurt?
“…I just think the reporters went down a wrong vain,” Toomer told anchor Madelyn Burke. “There was just so much that happened in this game that was way more important, more significant than the kicker getting hurt. … These reporters, they’re talking about things that are not really as significant as what really happened on the field.”
Toomer was not asked, and did not comment, on the question about Daboll’s job security. Daily News Giants beat reporter/NFL columnist Pat Leonard had asked Daboll: “Brian, are you concerned about your job if the results don’t change here?”
Daboll: “Yeah, I mean, I’ve done this thing for a long time, Pat. My focus is on our football team.”
While far from explosive, the exchange apparently inspired veteran sportscaster Russ Salzberg to use a portion of his “Get a Load of This” podcast to quote from the Bill Parcells manifesto. The Tuna, according to Salzberg, said three things can beat a team: 1) The opponent, 2) Division within, 3) The media.
“I’m not suggesting, right now, the current media is beating the Giants,” Salzberg said on the podcast. “But I will say this, there are some members of the media who would like nothing more than to beat the Giants down.”
That’s a rather harsh/subjective take. Yet if the Giants lose Sunday in the Dawg Pound, and find themselves facing a nationally televised Thursday nighter with Dallas in Jersey, all eyes (OK, at least ours) will be on Daboll handling a media firestorm directed at him and his 0-3 club.
We fully expect Daboll to continue his habit of providing a minimum number of unrevealing crumbs when he’s required to feed the media seals. On his WFAN show, former Giants running back Tiki Barber said he doesn’t even watch Daboll’s press conferences “because he doesn’t say anything and he does it purposely.”
Nonetheless, from a TV perspective, the most negative emotion Daboll displays comes while maintaining his poker face as he glares at a reporter. If the losing continues, that glare will only become more intense.
PLAYOFF DREAMS
With under a minute left on the clock in Jersey Thursday night, Bob Wischusen was dreaming.
We saw it on the radio (Q104.3).
As seconds clicked off toward the end of the Jets’ 24-3 win over New England, Wischusen, the veteran Gang Green radiocaster, fantasized about the Jets hosting a playoff game on home turf, the first one since 2003 in the old Giants Stadium.
He believed “the fans were envisioning” MetLife Stadium filled in January 2025 like it was Thursday night, but with even more emotion.
In a few seconds the voice described what a sight that would be before snapping back into a reality, that didn’t escape anyone, reminding those still listening there’s a lot of football to play before that dream can be realized.
EASE UP ON METS FANS
As it reached a point where Valley of the Stupid Gasbags feel so entitled they try and dictate where suckers, er, listeners spend their money.
The mouths do it while reading advertisements for sports gambling services. And they recently decided it was a righteous cause to rip into Mets fans who didn’t show up at Citi Field to watch the opener of the Nats-Mets series last Monday.
Apparently, the Gasbags mission was to make Mets fans feel guilty for not spending their own money. Money they might not even have. Or money they need for necessities, which are not Mets tickets, parking, food, etc.
Don’t look now, but those Gasbags heard chastising fans often bloviate about how many games they attend and what they spend at games.
According to these Wind Machines, you are either not a true Mets fan, or some sort traitor, if you don’t put MORE money into their multi-billionaire owner’s pocket.
OBSERVING THE ‘NEW’ TEAM
A few observations after watching last Sunday’s edition of CBS’ “new” The NFL Today.
1: Was confused as to who is the host of the show. Is it James Brown or Nate Burleson?
2: The cast featured “new” member Matt Ryan. There was no J.J. Watt. Did he have the week off? Or is Watt alternating weeks with Ryan?
3: The show was less conversational than it has been in the past. The “new” The NFL Today, featured more soliloquies from individual cast members than interactions.
AROUND THE DIAL
Deion Sanders, aka Coach Whine, has been doing just that. He claims the media covering college football is ripping “kids” because they are “envious and jealous” of the NIL loot they are cashing in on, “so you’re on the attack.” His beef is hard to process, considering a big chunk of that media was in favor, and campaigned, for college athletes to cash in on the moo-la-dee. … While reports have once again surfaced speculating on Mariners voice Dave Sims being a candidate for the Yankees radio booth we would not count out the “retired” incumbent, John (Pa Pinstripe) Sterling, returning to the booth, in some capacity in 2025. Audacy management opened the door — wide — by bringing Sterling back for the playoffs. Once Sterling gets a taste of that action does anyone think he’s going to want to stay on the couch? … Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Megan Olivi scheduled to work Sunday’s Giants-Browns tilt on Fox.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: MIKE McDANIEL
For declining to offer Tua Tagovailoa advice after the QB suffered a concussion. While the football world offered its counsel, the Dolphins coach said: “I don’t think those types of conversations when you’re talking about somebody’s career — it probably is only fair that their career should be decided by them.”
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
It’s a team award. A whole bunch of production people at ESPN decided to make the MNF game (Falcons-Eagles) The Jason Kelce Soiree. So, it was fitting that Atlanta stole the show with a dramatic win.
DOUBLE TALK
What Brian Burns said: “When we have somebody by the throat, we have to finish them off. I feel like our competitive stamina needs to heighten in that aspect.”
What Brian Burns meant to say: “We need to play harder.”
