The frustration in the land of the New York Giants (2-10) is running high these days.
Players openly criticize coaches and each other as the team slides further toward the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Following the Giants' 30-7 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two weeks ago, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers appeared to be highly critical of the team's coaches and leadership after he was not targeted in the first half of the loss was.
“First quarter, second quarter, I can’t get the ball,” Nabers told reporters, complaining about his lack of involvement in the offensive game plans. according to the New York Post.
“At the end, start setting goals. I mean, there's nothing I can do. Start getting the ball when the score is 30-0. What should I do?”
Nabers had six catches for 64 yards on nine targets in the game, but he had one valid point. His transgression was saying it out loud to a group of reporters.
During the postgame show, Carl Banks, the linebacker and former Ring of Honor radio analyst, made the comment to co-host Amani Toomer without knowing the cameras were rolling.
“You know, what's also interesting is our guys don't value possessions,” Banks said. “Even your top pick drops one, crosses the route, has it, and then misses it. Then he's on the sideline, what probably should have been an incomplete pass, he just catches it, he's sloppy and the guy knocks the ball out of his hand. I say, 'Bro, you're trying to score.'” Cherish these possessions.'”
Banks didn't know he was on the air, but Nabers knew his comments would be documented.
That leads us to the overall health of the Giants. They never censored the players, but they limited their availability to the media. That doesn't seem to be the case these days.
Nabers should have been shielded from the media until he was ready to speak. He is a newbie whose emotions are running high and who needs to be calmed down so that he can make his statements objectively.
Things are looking bad for the organization. Being disorganized and undisciplined on the field is one thing, but off the field it is a different problem.
The brand has suffered setbacks for several years and head coach Brian Daboll only says that he keeps all conversations and discipline secret.
That's fair, but it doesn't work very well either.