Phil Simms played 15 years for the New York Giants in a career that spanned from the Ray Perkins era to the days of Dan Reeves. He knows coaches having played for some the great ones, particularly Bill Parcells, and has been around Bill Belichick for the last 35 years as both a player and a television analyst.
That being said, what does he think of the Giants hiring of one Belichick’s most trusted assistants as their new head coach?
“I haven’t really talked to anyone from the Giants, but I did hear one person tell me about Joe Judge, ‘Oh, man, it’s shaping up down here…he is all over it'” Simms said on WFAN this week.
Simms recalled a conversation on the CBS studio set where it was discussed that Belichick talked more to his special teams and receivers coach Joe Judge than any other person on his staff.
“He (Belichick) loves special teams, he was a receivers coach this past year, too, hut he’s always talking to him. So, I think what we’re gonna get, which there’a lot of them in the NFL…this guy has the natural mentality from what I know, that he is more like Bill Belichick that way. I hope people take it the right way but I think it’s going to be interesting.”
Judge has come across as a no-nonsense guy who will be coaching all 53 players equally and pay specific attention to detail. much like Belichick is famous for.
“I think they found a guy – we all talked about it – he’s an overseer,” said Simms. “He’s going to coach everything. Be involved in everybody and work the team that way. I love that thought, that process. I love coaches that do that and he’s gonna be one that demands the attention of the players, that’s for sure.”
It’s about time the Giants got themselves a full-service head coach. The jury is out on Judge, but Giant fans have to be liking what they’re seeing in the early returns.