Tag: Chris Pettit

Giants’ Joe Judge doesn’t want Andrew Thomas talking Super Bowl

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge laid some blunt ground rules for OT Andrew Thomas the literal moment he was drafted.

When the New York Giants’ director of college scouting, Chris Pettit, called Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas to let him know he was about to be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, one of the first things Thomas mentioned was getting to the Super Bowl.

“You ready to become a part of a championship team?” Pettit asked on the call.

“Yes sir. I’m trying to win that Super Bowl,” Thomas responded.

It was a magical moment for Thomas and his family, but it came with an instant dose of reality and a blunt introduction to how the Giants will now be run under head coach Joe Judge.

Immediately following that part of the call, Judge informed Thomas he doesn’t want to hear another word about the Super Bowl or any sort of predictions.

“When you talk to the media, I don’t want to hear anything about Super Bowls, I don’t want to hear any predictions and comparisons,” Judge said, reports ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio. “You talk about coming up here, getting to work, putting your head down and improving. That’s all you have to worry about.”

Judge’s warning wasn’t in relation to Thomas’ conversation with Pettit, but rather, an expectation of what’s to come from here on out.

There is a new captain in East Rutherford now; one who is understandably Bill Belichick-like. The normal distractions aren’t going to be allowed or tolerated. It’s team only, team always.

Luckily for Thomas, he’s a very disciplined person with a focus on the mental side of the game. He will adapt well to Judge’s style of coaching, and the Giants will be better off for it.

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Giants’ brain trust spread out across the country for 2020 NFL Draft

Those who make the calls for the New York Giants will be spread out across the country for the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s where they’ll be.

The NFL has taken some heat for proceeding with their annually draft on the original dates as planned. But like the WNBA draft this past week, it will be conducted virtually and will be fully safe.

It will be a welcome respite for starving sports fans who are clamoring for any type of news or action.

“We knew we had to go forward,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell explained. “The only way to really do that was on a totally virtual way. It means we have to adapt. The league has to adapt. Clubs have to adapt. If you’re not going to be comfortable in your facility, we knew we weren’t going to be able to do that any time in the very near future. This was the alternative. Everyone seems to be adapting really well. Once you realize this is how we’re all going to operate — and that’s another key point. It’s the equity rule, all 32 teams operating the same way.”

Goodell will be introducing the picks in the first round from his basement in Bronxville. The New York Giants will be doing the same.

Here’s where their key personnel will be for the draft:

CEO John Mara will be in his home office in Westchester. Chairman Steve Tisch will be calling in from his Los Angeles home. General manager Dave Gettleman, pro personnel director Ken Sternfeld and his assistant, Timmy McDonnell, will be working from their homes in Bergen County.

The rest of the staff is scattered all over the country: head coach Joe Judge (North Attleborough, Mass.), offensive coordinator Jason Garrett (Highland Park, Texas), defensive coordinator Patrick Graham (Miami, Florida) and senior VP Chris Mara (South Florida) will all be piped into the effort as well as the regional scouts.

Chris Pettit, the Giants’ director of college scouting, told reporters that the Giants won’t really be affected by the setup they’ve been forced into due to the social distancing rules.

“Really, everything is going to be done and treated the same way that we’ve done it our last two drafts together,” said Pettit. “Really nothing is different, just we’re not in the same room. We’ve kind of gone over some scenarios already, we’re going to be set up in different Zoom rooms and we’ll be able to have the same conversations we’ve had every year in the past just that we’re doing it from our homes, that’s the only thing different. But, everyone’s going to have the same voice that they’ve always had.

“It’s been a good process. We’ve taken some steps, especially this last week, honing it to getting it right to where we feel comfortable to make the right decision in the same way we would if we were sitting in our office in East Rutherford.”

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