Did Jason Garrett cost Giants a shot at Bill Callahan?

Did the presence of Jason Garrett in East Rutherford cost the New York Giants a shot to hire Bill Callahan?

The New York Giants were believed to be in the mix for Bill Callahan entering the week, but then news broke on Monday that he opted to sign on with the Cleveland Browns to become their offensive line coach.

That felt like a crushing blow for much of Giants Nation, who had hoped the team would be able to lure Callahan to East Rutherford and not let him go.

But there was one glaring issue… The reported falling out he and Jason Garrett had as his time with the Dallas Cowboys came to an end in 2014.

Whatever that issue was, reports suggest Garrett and Callahan weren’t able to bury it. Accordingly, the moment Callahan joined the Browns, Garrett faced the brunt of the blame in New York.

It’s entirely possible Garrett’s presence in East Rutherford was a deterrent for Callahan. It’s also possible the Giants weren’t as hot on his trail as some have indicated, and that the Browns simply made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reports that Callahan did not immediately shut the Giants down despite Garrett’s presence, which has been much more widely reported (drama sells).

Whether Garrett’s presence cost the Giants a shot at Callahan or not, his addition as offensive coordinator — which was widely praised as a terrific move initially — was the right move for obvious reasons. And it’s not like there aren’t other solid offensive line coaches out there, so this isn’t the end of the world.

[lawrence-related id=638841,638863,638825]