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Sports
The Giants’ firing of OC Garrett isn’t a solution to the team’s deep problems
By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor
The 3-7 Giants fired offensive coordinator Jason Garrett on Tuesday coming off of Monday’s 30-10 defeat to the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. It was another chapter in the team’s march toward another season failing to make the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
“We made a decision to move on from Jason Garrett as the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants,” said head coach Joe Judge. “Look, I have a lot of respect for Jason as a person, as a coach. He’s been a tremendous asset for me as a young head coach. He’s helped our development here.
“He’s built very strong relationships in the building with the players,” Judge went on, “along with other support staff members. He’s done a good job putting the team first. I have a lot of respect and appreciation for everything he’s done for us.”
Garrett is fundamentally a scapegoat for an offense that has been poor this season and one of the most unproductive in the NFL over the last five. The unit is currently ranked 25th out of the league’s 32 teams in total yards and is putting up just 18.9 points per game ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the 5-6 Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium.
The Giants’ ranks in the previous four seasons were 21st in 2017, 17th in 2018, 23rd in 2019 and 25th last season. So the issues predate Garrett, the former Dallas Cowboys head coach from 20112019 and interim head coach for eight games in the 2010 season. Irrespective of how the franchise’s ownership of John Mara and Steve Tisch, general manager Dave Gettleman and Judge choose to spin it, Garrett is the fall guy.
But they are just as culpable for the Giants’ offensive deficiencies, as decisions on front office and scouting department hirings, drafting, free-agent signings and player development are all significant factors. Running back Saquon Barkley (2018) and tight end Evan Engram (2020) are the Giants’ only two skill position players to be named to the
Pro Bowl since 2018. The 55-year-old Garrett, a backup quarterback for the Giants from 2000-2003, who was hired as the team’s offensive coordinator in January of 2020 when Judge was named the new head coach, replacing the terminated Pat Shurmur, had been intensely criticized by fans and media for what has been deemed a lack of creativity and dubious play calling. The subjective assessment is justified but only part of the factual narrative as to why the Giants’ offense has been impotent. Consistently below average play by third-year quarterback Daniel Jones, numerous games lost to injuries to vital players such as Barkley, wide receiver Kenny Golladay and left tackle Andrew Thomas, an unsteady offensive line, and indefensible underperformance by too many players at every position has been more deleteCurrently in his third season as the Giants’ rious than any of Garrett’s arguable starting quarterback, Daniel Jones has not shortcomings. generated hope in the Giants’ fan base that he is In August, over a month before the long-term answer at the position the start of this regular season, Mara put forth to the media, “We’re all on the hot seat, with our fans in particular.” Indeed the fans won’t be satisfied with just Garrett’s inescapable dismissal.
(Bill Moore photo)
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The Jets’ division losses keeps them at the bottom of the AFC East
By VINCENT DAVIS
Special to the AmNews
With eight weeks left in the NFL season, beginning today with the annual three-game Thanksgiving schedule, then 17 regular season games, the AFC East division is far from settled. But it’s no surprise the 2-8 Jets are in last place.
This is another of their rebuilding years. They began the season with a rookie quarterback, a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and a new defensive coordinator. Each of the coaches are working in their positions for the first time in the NFL.
The Jets’ 24-17 loss this past Sunday to the Miami Dolphins at MetLife was their third loss in a row, following defeats to the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills, and their fifth in the last six games. The 4-7 Dolphins have now won three straight after dropping seven straight.
The 6-4 Bills, preseason favorites to be AFC East champions, are in a tight race with the New England Patriots, who have become a strong playoff contender this season after a When Jets head coach Robert Saleh named veteran quarterback Joe Flacco the starter over Mike White for the matchup versus the Dolphins, it was an unpopular decision among the fanbase. White had given the team a spark after replacing Zach Wilson, whose first season has been a struggle. White helped the Jets take down the Cincinnati Bengals 34-31 in Week 8, throwing for 405 yards and three touchdowns. Wilson sustained a sprained PCL in a 54-13 loss to the Patriots on Oct. 24. He is expected back as the starter this Sunday when the Jets play the Houston Texans on the road this Sunday. Flacco completed 24 of 39 of his passes for 291 yards and two
AMNEWS touchdowns in facing a solid Dol11/04/21 phins defense. One TD was to receiver Jamison Crowder and the other to 0 74470 22784 7 rookie receiver Elijah Moore, who had a breakout game in finishing with eight catches for 141 yards. “We did some good things,” said Flacco. “But we made too many mistakes to win the football game.” The Jets were in contention for most of the afternoon but couldn’t overcome the errors. The score was tied 14-14 in the fourth quarter when Jets defensive end John Franklin-Myers was called for a roughing the passer penalty on Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on an incomplete pass on third down, keeping the drive alive and ultimately leading to a Miami touchdown. “Ninety percent of the games in this league are lost, not won,” said Jets head coach Robert Saleh. “And this one was lost.”
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(Bill Moore photo)
