Tag: Dexter Lawrence

Giants go ‘soft’ days after releasing their toughest player

Days after releasing their toughest player, quarterback Daniel Jones, the New York Giants went “soft” in a humiliating defeat.

There was a mix of emotions in the New York Giants locker room on Sunday evening following a 30-7 beatdown at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Some players were somber. Others were angry.

The varying emotions aside, a similar message was shared: The team had gone “soft” in front of their hometown fans.

“We played soft, and they beat the (expletive) out of us today,” nose tackle Dexter Lawrence said. “We missed a lot of tackles, we didn’t contain Baker (Mayfield) well in the scrambles, we didn’t cover well, it’s soft to me.”

The Giants have been a lot of things in recent seasons but “soft” was never one of them. Still, you can’t argue with Lawrence’s assessment, especially when that opinion was shared by several of his teammates.

“Soft as (expletive),” rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers said.

The timing of this fold is notable. It comes just days after the Giants agreed to release quarterback Daniel Jones who, despite all of his faults, was never once described as “soft.” On the contrary, many would admit that DJ was the team’s toughest player.

Even down 30-7 in the fourth quarter, Jones was the type of guy who would turn the corner, lower his shoulder, and level an opposing defender. It was a trait that earned the respect of his teammates — something they often raved about during his tenure.

Whether or not benching and subsequently releasing Jones was the right move, it was a decision that did not sit well with many in the locker room.

Head coach Brian Daboll had hoped to counteract that by starting Tommy DeVito on Sunday, who he expected to provide a “spark.” It wasn’t for lack of effort on DeVito’s part, but the fallout from Jones’ benching and release started earlier in the week.

Multiple reports suggested the team lacked energy early in Wednesday’s practice and that obviously carried over into the game. Without their offensive captain and his grit, the Giants wilted.

“I personally don’t think everybody is giving 100 percent,” offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said, via ESPN.

The handling of Jones isn’t the sole reason the Giants played “soft” on Sunday but if you believe it had no impact on the players, you’re fooling yourself. And the result speaks for itself.

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Giants players offer candid, damning comments following ugly Week 12 loss

New York Giants players, from Dexter Lawrence to Malik Nabers, got candid after a Week 12 loss and their comments may lead to firings.

The New York Giants were pounded by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 30-7, on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium in a lackluster effort that showed that there is a heckuva lot more wrong with this team than just Daniel Jones.

Fans booed — and many even left at halftime — as the Giants dropped their sixth straight game to fall to 2-9. They are tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the worst record in the NFL and are currently in line to select second overall in next year’s NFL draft.

But the fans weren’t the only ones who panned the Giants’ effort. They know they stink right now and weren’t shy in telling reporters that after the game.

Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers said he was “tired of losing” and that the reason for losing was not the quarterback.

“I don’t know what it is,” he said. “Everybody knows better than me.”

Nabers, the team’s electric first-round pick, was not targeted in the first half. He wasn’t pleased as weren’t Giant fans. He also called the team “soft as (expletive).”

Defensive captain Dexter Lawrence also said the team played “soft” and admitted “they beat the (expletive) out of us.” Nabers also called the team “soft.”

Offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said he personally didn’t think everyone was “giving 100 percent.”

It sure seems like this team is not functioning like one at the moment. The players don’t appear to trust the coaches any longer. That is a very dangerous position to be in.

Even linebacker Brian Burns had to take a moment to calm himself before saying something negative about the coaching staff.

There is only one solution to that predicament but we’re not likely to see anyone fired until after the season, if at all.

As a person who has followed this franchise since the mid-1960s, I’ve been through some down periods but this one just might be the ugliest. The issues might just start as high as the ownership group and work its way on down.

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Dexter Lawrence leading Giants through latest transition

As the New York Giants go through more changes, nose tackle Dexter Lawrence has emerged as the team’s true leader.

New York Giants All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is the closest thing the team has to a leader. As they continue to go through changes and transition, he knows he has to keep his emotions in check.

This week, the Giants made the decision to bench (and subsequently release) starting quarterback Daniel Jones and insert local favorite Tommy DeVito into the role.

That was a tough pill to swallow for Lawrence, who has become close with Jones since the Giants selected the pair in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.

“Definitely hard, but I’ve been a part of this business,” Lawrence told reporters on Wednesday. “Just like last year when they traded my best friend (Leonard Williams) in the middle of the season. It’s part of the business and I understand that part of it. And like I said before, I feel for Daniel, works hard, great dude, relatable. It just sucks.”

As one of the longest-tenured Giants (along with Jones and wide receiver Darius Slayton), Lawrence commented on the state of the locker room, which he says is good.

“I haven’t seen a flinch, or I haven’t seen any discouragement. I haven’t seen guys fall apart — and that starts to happen first. So, I haven’t seen it,” he said.

Lawrence was asked how he felt Jones handled the situation before his release.

“He still has a smile on his face,” Lawrence said. “And I told him, ‘You’ll get another opportunity, and wherever it is, you’re going to take advantage of it.’ But I’m excited for Tommy, and it should be good.”

Lawrence is prepared to move forward with DeVito, who hasn’t played a snap in the regular season since last year.

“He showed his flashes last year, obviously. And I have trust in him, and I trust in what the team has seen from him, so I’m excited,” he said.

Lawrence leads the Giants in sacks and the 2-8 Giants lead the NFL in sacks. With seven games remaining, he is not taking his eye off the ball. He wants to finish strong.

“Prove myself, prove this defense is a great defense, and rally among the offense and encourage, and keep the confidence,” he said when asked what his approach is.

Lawrence was not in favor of Jones’ benching and his comments earlier this week may have led some to believe that he is not on the same page with the powers that be. He debunked that narrative.

“I trust what the coaches think, and they think Tommy is the best way to go. I’m going to rally along that, and I’m going to play my hardest for Tommy, just like I played my hardest for Daniel and whoever goes after that,” he said.

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Report: Finger-pointing, eroding trust have infected Giants’ locker room

Brian Daboll is reportedly blaming the defense (again) for the New York Giants’ struggles as trust continues to erode in the locker room.

Things have been getting uglier and uglier in East Rutherford since the airing of “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” this past July.

General manager Joe Schoen’s handling of running back Saquon Barkley has been widely criticized, and head coach Brian Daboll’s falling out with former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and other assistants has left a stain on this regime.

Following the benching of quarterback Daniel Jones this week, the erosion has been kicked into high gear.

Defensive captain Dexter Lawrence publicly questioned the decision, while other anonymous players offered even harsher takes.

One player called DJ’s benching “trash” and “weak as (expletive).” Meanwhile, other reports surfaced suggesting that Schoen is not well-liked in the locker room.

With Jones now subjected to humiliating roles during practice, the locker room trust continues to evaporate, reports Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.

There was no energy on the field at the start of the Giants’ practice on Wednesday.

“A little dead” is how one player described it afterwards.

The humiliating scene of Daniel Jones taking snaps as the No. 4 quarterback behind new signing Tim Boyle had everything to do with that. And it was just as much about the questions that Jones’ shutdown invited for the Giants’ players.

Wide receiver Darius Slayton joined Lawrence in speaking publicly and candidly about the ongoings in East Rutherford.

“I think ultimately anybody can respect and get behind any decision that’s made [when] you ask yourself the question, ‘Does this help us win? Yes or no?’ And the answer is yes,” Slayton said. “You can get behind any decision that is made as long as that answer is yes.

“When that answer starts being ‘I don’t know’ or ‘no,’ it doesn’t matter how you did or what you did, because at the end of the day, our job is to win. Nobody’s going out there risking their body to lose.”

Slayton stopped short of providing his own answer but the implication was obvious. He added that there were many reasons for the team’s eight losses beyond Jones.

Meanwhile, Leonard reports that a familiar theme is also playing out inside 1925 Giants Drive this year. Similar to last season, Daboll has apparently begun to place much of the blame on the defense, which is run under first-year defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.

It’s the same scenario that ultimately ran Martindale out of town.

Sources say Brian Daboll and the coaching staff, meanwhile, are ratcheting up pressure and frustration with the defense for giving up big plays — as if Daboll’s league-worst 15.6 points per game offense that just shut down its starting quarterback isn’t the root of the problem.

That blame game and discord sounds familiar to 2023, doesn’t it?

One anonymous player lamented that seven games remained this year, saying it’s like “a whole college season” left to play.

As many things change in East Rutherford, so many seem to stay the same.

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Giants injury report: Dexter Lawrence limited for second straight day

For the second straight day, New York Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence was limited in practice with a knee injury.

The New York Giants took the field on Thursday for their second of three practices ahead of a Week 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Beforehand, head coach Brian Daboll met with reporters and expressed optimism that edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux would be activated from injured reserve (IR) and play on Sunday.

“Encouraged,” Daboll said.

Even if Thibodeaux suits up on Sunday, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said that fellow edge rusher Azeez Ojulari has earned the right to play, hinting at a rotational snap share.

Meanwhile, nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, who is usually given veteran rest days, was limited in practice for the second consecutive day.

The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: None

Limited participant: WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles), NT Dexter Lawrence (knee), LB Darius Muasau (hamstring), S Tyler Nubin (back)

Full participant: WR Darius Slayton (concussion), LB Matthew Adams (knee), TE Theo Johnson (back), CB Andru Phillips (hip), LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist), OL Greg Van Roten (abdomen)

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Giants’ Brian Daboll knows not everyone supports his decisions

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is fully aware that his decisions are currently being questioned by some of his players.

Being a head coach in the NFL these days is not an easy job. In fact, it’s one where the stress level is very high and the survival rate is very low.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is learning that firsthand. In his third season on the job, Daboll’s regular-season record is 17-26-1 (2-8 this season), and his seat is beginning to get hot despite reassurances from ownership.

This week, Daboll had to finally make the decision to bench starting quarterback Daniel Jones, a move that was not a surprise given how the Giants’ season has unfolded.

Jones is basically done as a Giant and that may not sit well with some of his teammates. Jones is the longest-tenured player on the Giants roster along with wide receiver Darius Slayton and defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, who were also selected by the Giants in the 2019 NFL draft.

Lawrence said publicly that he feels Jones is the best quarterback on the team, calling Jones his ‘best friend’.

“(Daboll) just said it was a hard decision,” Lawrence said. “I’m sure it’s hard. He’s the QB1. To me, the best quarterback on the team. But they see things differently. I guess that’s all that matters.”

On Wednesday, Daboll spoke about the backlash over Jones’ benching.

“I got a lot of respect for Dex. Dex has been a teammate of Daniel’s for a while. There’s a pretty good relationship with there,” he told reporters. “Look, everybody’s not going to agree with the decision, and I understand that. We make the decision we feel is best and then we move forward and get ready to go for practice here.”

Daboll is certain there is no friction between him and Lawrence but understands why he feels the way he does.

“Dex and I have a good relationship, and I respect Dex a great deal. We were just talking a little while ago, not about that. But again, everybody’s going to have certain opinions. I got a lot of respect for all our players,” he said. “I think we’re focused, we’ll be focused, and do what we need to do to play our best against Tampa.”

Losing the locker room is a death knell for a head coach. Daboll was asked if he expects to lose the locker room if the team thinks he’s starting someone who’s ‘not as good’ as another option.

“No, I got a lot of confidence in our locker room. We got a close-knit group,” he said. “Obviously, not where we want to be with the record, but I have a lot of confidence in the players and the coaches and the chemistry that we have.”

The Giants have seven games remaining in this season. Jones is likely done even though the team hasn’t said as much. That decision will come on Friday.

Daboll is in a tough spot, though. If he continues to lose, he could be fired. If he wins too many games down the stretch, he could lessen the Giants’ chance at a top quarterback in next April’s draft.

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Giants injury report: Kayvon Thibodeaux designated to return from IR

The New York Giants have designated edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) to return from injured reserve (IR).

The New York Giants returned to the practice field on Wednesday afternoon in preparation for a Week 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Before heading out into the unseasonably warm temperatures, head coach Brian Daboll took the podium to speak with reporters.

The good news is that linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux has been designated to return from injured reserve (IR) and had his 21-day practice window open. But Daboll expects him to return long before that, even indicating that he could play this Sunday.

“We’ll open up Kayvon’s window, so he’ll start, optimistic that he’ll be ready to go,” Daboll said.

All other players were expected to practice on at least a limited basis.

The Giants’ full Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: None

Limited participant: LB Matthew Adams (knee), WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles), TE Theo Johnson (back), NT Dexter Lawrence (knee), LB Darius Muasau (hamstring), S Tyler Nubin (back), LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist), OL Greg Van Roten (abdomen)

Full participant: WR Darius Slayton (concussion)

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Jared Verse and two other superstars are the only NFL players to accomplish this in 2024

Jared Verse and two other Defensive Player of the Year candidates are the only players in the NFL who can say they’ve done this

Jared Verse isn’t going to win Defensive Player of the Year as a rookie this season, but he’s off to an unbelievable start with the Los Angeles Rams – a start that has him in the company of two legitimate contenders for the coveted award.

Through 10 games, Verse has 4.5 sacks, 42 sacks, 11 tackles for a loss and 14 quarterback hits, stuffing the stat sheet just about each and every week. Pro Football Focus has graded him highly throughout the year, ranking him as one of the better defenders in the league.

According to PFF, there are only three players in the NFL this season with grades of 80 or better as a pass rusher and run defender: Verse, T.J. Watt and Dexter Lawrence.

Verse has a pass-rush grade of 82.0 and a run-defense grade of 85.5, which rank 21st and 14th, respectively, among all defenders with at least 382 snaps.

Watt is the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and Lawrence is tied for the third-best odds at BetMGM. Verse predictably isn’t even in the conversation because he’s a rookie who hasn’t racked up enough sacks for legitimate consideration, but he’s as well-rounded a defender as there is right now.

The Rams had high expectations for Verse when they drafted him 19th overall this year, but he’s been even better than anticipated through 10 games so far.

In a couple of seasons, he could be one of the top candidates to win Defensive Player of the Year the way Aaron Donald was early in his career.

Giants player blasts ‘weak’ demotion of Daniel Jones, calls it ‘trash’

Cracks are forming and New York Giants players are talking with one claiming the demotion of QB Daniel Jones was “trash” and “weak as —-.”

Cracks are beginning to form in the New York Giants’ foundation and players are starting to get a little loud.

On Tuesday, it was reported that general manager Joe Schoen is not well-liked among some players in the Giants’ locker room, particularly after his handling of cornerback Nick McCloud’s release.

There have also been some eyebrow-raising social media interactions with certain players “liking” comments made by ex-Giants running back Saquon Barkley and a curious comment made by wide receiver Darius Slayton, which he attempted to explain away.

While those issues are subtle, defensive captain Dexter Lawrence was anything but when asked about the benching of quarterback Daniel Jones.

“A little bit of confusion,” Lawrence said, via The Athletic. “(Brian Daboll) just said it was a hard decision. I’m sure it’s hard. He’s the QB1. To me, the best quarterback on the team. But they see things differently. I guess that’s all that matters.

“Teams lose games, not just one player, and I think that should be understood.”

Lawrence is not the only person who feels that way. An anonymous offensive player spoke with NFL insider Jordan Schultz and sounded off on the demotion of Jones.

“We’re not idiots. They did it because of money. So be it. But Daniel has been all class, never complained, and is now being completely disregarded. The team record is bad. You can point fingers everywhere,” the player said. “To try to blame him is trash, and making him third string is weak as (expletive).”

Schultz added that several other players have also expressed their “disappointment” in the decision.

The ship hasn’t sunk but it’s certainly taking on water. Once players begin to gripe — especially team captains — it’s nearly impossible to reel things back in.

Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are on the verge of losing the locker room and if that happens, there’s nothing co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch will be able to do to save them — even if that would be their preference.

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Giants’ Dexter Lawrence on Daniel Jones benching: ‘It’s tough’

New York Giants NT Dexter Lawrence is confused by the demotion of QB Daniel Jones, saying it’s “tough” to see his “best friend” benched.

The New York Giants have found themselves in a situation they never wanted to be part of. Head coach Brian Daboll had some positive momentum after his first season leading Big Blue, but he and general manager Joe Schoen have done nothing but go downhill ever since then.

In their latest bid to keep their jobs, Daboll and Schoen decided to move Daniel Jones to QB3. But instead of Drew Lock taking over, as many would assume given his signing this offseason, they are giving the nod to Tommy DeVito.

Even Giants fan favorite Dexter Lawrence is confused by the decision and doesn’t necessarily agree with it, although he says he will respect the team’s decision.

“You’ve got to respect it as a player even though you don’t like it,” Lawrence said, via The Athletic. “That’s my best friend. It’s tough for that to happen. I can’t control it. They made the decision based off their evaluations and their thoughts and feelings. … That’s my boy. As a player, you got to keep playing. As a human and as a brother, I feel for him.”

Sure, as a player, you have to respect the decision. You don’t really have a say in it anyway. Daboll and Schoen are your bosses in a sense and players don’t have much of a say in anything. And it likely is hard to watch someone you care about take the brunt of all criticism.

But Lawrence also said it was confusing; that no one really understood what happened.

“A little bit of confusion,” he added. “(Brian Daboll) just said it was a hard decision. I’m sure it’s hard. He’s the QB1. To me, the best quarterback on the team. But they see things differently. I guess that’s all that matters.

“Teams lose games, not just one player, and I think that should be understood.”

The lack of transparency from the administration to the players in this situation is just another indication of how far estranged the regime has become from the locker room.

Despite co-owner John Mara publicly standing behind Schoen and Daboll, it’s about time they got ahead of this problem and began distancing themselves from this regime. It’s not working, and the sooner ownership realizes it, the sooner this organization can move forward.

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