Brian Daboll on Dexter Lawrence's comments about Daniel Jones' benching:

[MightyGiants]

https://x.com/SNYGiants/status/1859289350044811549

[Gmo11]

If the Giants get a real QB next year and they start winning games for a change, Dexter is gonna be juuuuuuust fine with the decision.

[MightyGiants]

If the Giants get a real QB next year and they start winning games for a change, Dexter is gonna be juuuuuuust fine with the decision.

If Daboll loses that locker room, it may not matter to Daboll if Dexter is happy or unhappy next season.

The locker room was likely challenged by the decision to release a solid contributor at a position of need in DB McCloud.   Now the team sees the HC not only bench the popular (in the locker room) starter, but skip straight to the 3rd stringer.


Dabell is putting it all on the line.  If DeVito recaptures last year's magic, I suspect the locker room and Daboll will be fine.  If DeVito crashes and burns, I think the locker room will be tested.

[Gmo11]

I don't think you give them enough credit to understand what is happening here.  But if they have an real issue or question it's Daboll's job to explain to the team this season is over and most of you guys are playing out this string in an effort to secure your position on the team next year.  Including Devito.  Jones isn't going to be here. He's a great fella, works hard, tries hard, but he stinks.  You guys can see it as well as I can.  If this team is going to get where it needs to go, and you guys want to be a part of it when it does, this move needed to be made and it needs to be made right now.

[MightyGiants]

I don't think you give them enough credit to understand what is happening here.  But if they have an real issue or question it's Daboll's job to explain to the team this season is over and most of you guys are playing out this string in an effort to secure your position on the team next year.  Including Devito.  Jones isn't going to be here. He's a great fella, works hard, tries hard, but he stinks.  You guys can see it as well as I can.  If this team is going to get where it needs to go, and you guys want to be a part of it when it does, this move needed to be made and it needs to be made right now.

In reality, none of us here at the forum has been a part of an NFL locker room.  My comments are based on what I have heard over the decades from former players, coaches, and front-office people.

[PSUBeirut]

I'd say the locker room probably has a healthy skepticism about Joe Schoen in particular, which could be even more harmful in regards to bringing FAs here that want to play for the Giants.  It was certainly rumored that some of that souring already happened when Schoen decided to pay DJ the big contract and not Barkley.  Players notice stuff like that. 

[Messiah717]

Great, another year of guys just playing out the string for jobs.

[T200]

Dexter has a point in that Jones is the best QB on the roster. I'm hoping he also understands that the best QB on the roster isn't getting the job done and the more they trot him out there is futile and subjects him to injury.

But why should he care about possibly triggering the injury clause? Because that's money that can otherwise be used to bring in better players.

[MightyGiants]

Great, another year of guys just playing out the string for jobs.

Your comments reminded me of something Lawerence said to Pat Traina:


"I think the mood is good, honestly," he said. "Obviously, it is not good that we are losing, but good as in we still care about each other and no one is pointing fingers. We're not having any of that.

"We're laughing together, playing cards, still hanging out... And you know, just being normal, even though the record isn't what it's not supposed to be. So, I think it's positive and strong, and that's kudos to some of the leaders on the team."

While I appreciate the point Dex was making that the locker room is united, I can't help, as a fan, to feel a bit unsettled over how they are "laughing together, playing cards, and still hanging out."

I kind of wanted to hear how pissed off the players are and how they are singularly focused on eliminating the mistakes that have cost the team so many wins.


https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/big-blue-plus/giants-idl-dexter-lawrence-ii-on-daniel-jones-s-benching-state-of-team-and-more-01jd3fan4rfw

[MightyGiants]

Dexter has a point in that Jones is the best QB on the roster. I'm hoping he also understands that the best QB on the roster isn't getting the job done and the more they trot him out there is futile and subjects him to injury.

But why should he care about possibly triggering the injury clause? Because that's money that can otherwise be used to bring in better players.

Tim,

While there have been notable exceptions, the sense I get is that the unwritten player code is you don't begrudge your teammate's salary.  In other words, let them get theirs.  When I thought about it, that sort of made sense because at some point (at least if their career enjoys some success) they will be in a position of asking for as much money from the team as they can get.

So, while your point about less available money is hurting the team's success for all the players, I think inherently, most players don't view it that way.

[H-Town G-Fan]

Tim,

While there have been notable exceptions, the sense I get is that the unwritten player code is you don't begrudge your teammate's salary.  In other words, let them get theirs.  When I thought about it, that sort of made sense because at some point (at least if their career enjoys some success) they will be in a position of asking for as much money from the team as they can get.

So, while your point about less available money is hurting the team's success for all the players, I think inherently, most players don't view it that way.

Easier for Dex not to care when he already got paid himself.

[MightyGiants]

Easier for Dex not to care when he already got paid himself.

That is true.  Although, I can't help but feel like Dex is being shortchanged.  The man is having an incredible season and one that should be thrusting him into the national spotlight as a generation pass-rushing NT talent.  Instead, his incredible performance has gone largely unnoticed by virtue of playing for the swamp of a team known as the NY Giants.

[T200]

Tim,

While there have been notable exceptions, the sense I get is that the unwritten player code is you don't begrudge your teammate's salary.  In other words, let them get theirs.  When I thought about it, that sort of made sense because at some point (at least if their career enjoys some success) they will be in a position of asking for as much money from the team as they can get.

So, while your point about less available money is hurting the team's success for all the players, I think inherently, most players don't view it that way.

I get your sentiment but this isn't that type of situation. This isn't a contract negotiation. Dex, to my knowledge, hasn't commented on the injury clause. My point was that he should understand the long-term ramifications. My guess is that he does but he's still publicly supporting his friend.

And to the point about him laughing with his teammates, that tells me they aren't really upset that Jones has been benched. Public comments say it but their locker room demeanor says they understand and they're OK with it.

[MightyGiants]

I get your sentiment but this isn't that type of situation. This isn't a contract negotiation. Dex, to my knowledge, hasn't commented on the injury clause. My point was that he should understand the long-term ramifications. My guess is that he does but he's still publicly supporting his friend.

And to the point about him laughing with his teammates, that tells me they aren't really upset that Jones has been benched. Public comments say it but their locker room demeanor says they understand and they're OK with it.

Tim,

I can't imagine players getting so upset with DJ's firing that they are going to stop enjoying life.  My point is that in light of so many procedural errors and mental mistakes (which have cost this team multiple games), I would feel a lot better if they were spending less time entertaining themselves and more time focused on eliminating their mistakes.   I remember a relatively recent comment from Tom Brady.  I don't remember the exact words, but basically, his argument was playing football and being a football player isn't supposed to be fun; the fun comes with winning, especially winning it all.

I listen to a lot of player interviews during the season. Often, it's hard to make out what the player is saying with all the hooting and hollering and the sound of ping-pong and other games.  If the team was enjoying success (or at least not shooting themselves in the foot with stupid mistakes), I wouldn't care. Since that is not the case... 

[MightyGiants]

I think this is a positive indictor in terms of the locker room being supportive of their new QB

https://x.com/MadelynBurke/status/1859325542979260781