There is an eerie feeling in New York City this week. An almost “Hey, we’ve been here” sort of déjà vu. We’ve only seen one playoff win, but there’s a real 2007 Giants feel to this 2022 Giants squad, and the commonalities are bizarre.
Take the QBs, for one. Eli Manning was not always Mr. Clutch or a beloved athlete in New York. In fact, his first few seasons were often met with frustration from fans. His nadir came in a Minnesota game on Thanksgiving weekend in ’07 against a Vikings team that trotted into Giants Stadium and throttled the Giants. In that Week 12 game, Manning was intercepted four times, sacked three times and was met with boos by the home crowd in a 41-17 loss. A few weeks later, he’d fall to Washington backup Todd Collins.
But then Eli went on his run. Did it again a few years later. And now he’s a spokesperson for everything under the sun, held in the same esteem as Derek Jeter or Jorge Posada and is a king in the Tri-State area.
Daniel Jones had a rougher first few years than Eli, was booed more than Manning, and had all but been written off by the local fans and media.
After four seasons of multiple coaches, offensive coordinators, bloopers and skepticism, Jones might now be the most appreciated and respected athlete in all of New York City (besides Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge). His toughness is what the Big Apple eats up, and his quiet confidence is the stuff that the entire fan base appreciates. He, like Eli, took a licking, never complained, and he is now a better leader and player for it.
How much credit does Daniel Jones deserve?
Mark Schlereth and Chris Broussard discuss Daniel Jones’ contributions this season after Giants teammate Saquon Barkley said, “I know we have an elite quarterback.”
Another strange oddity? That team was a sixth seed, went on the road three times in the NFC bracket of the playoffs and then went on to win a Super Bowl in Glendale … on FOX. I know it’s too early to do all this … but really, after a six-year playoff drought, is it?
Denver’s new brass
I can’t help but be more and more impressed with Denver‘s new ownership group as they start to reveal themselves over the last month, and I know I’m not alone.
Back in September, when Nathaniel Hackett realized he needed additional help in the game-management side of coaching, he pondered over what to do. With a 25-person coaching staff, it seemed like a lot to ask new owners for another person added to the org chart. But when it got to their desk, they didn’t waver, and Jerry Rosburg, a longtime special-teams and game management ace in Baltimore, was added to the payroll. No questions asked.
In Week 18, with the team long since eliminated from playoff contention, the new ownership group poured $400,000 into the playing surface to make sure it was up to snuff for that one week. I’ve heard from sources that the head coach interview process there has been outstanding, as well, with a variety of new voices in the building mixed with some holdovers.
According to my sources, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is part of the new ownership group, is playing a significant and vocal role in the coaching search.
I’ll say this without knowing how this turns out. If the Broncos don’t get their top choice this year it will be because of reasons other than money (that seems to be there) or competence (everyone I’ve spoken to seems incredibly impressed). It will be fascinating to see who the next person on those sidelines is. Whoever it is, I expect no lack of resources from the folks up top.
The Waffle House trip
I always liked Trevor Lawrence. I’ve met him briefly once before, loved how he stepped up in the summer of 2020 and spoke his mind on social issues and think he kept his head above water during a difficult situation in his rookie year. But visiting a Waffle House after coming back from 27 points down makes me think he’s a gentleman and a true bon vivant. That’s the ultimate flex.
His order was revealed, and I think it was spectacular: one Texas bacon cheesesteak, hash browns (smothered) and a pecan waffle. Delicious.
I don’t think Lawrence is beating Patrick Mahomes this weekend, but that’s OK. He’s already a winner in my book.
Mike McCarthy’s legacy
We had a fun conversation on “Good Morning Football” on Wednesday revolving around which head coach’s legacy would be most impacted by a Super Bowl win. I originally thought it was Kyle Shanahan’s, as he’s come so close so many times, only to come up short. Doug Pederson was next, due to what two Super Bowl rings with two different teams would mean in the grand scheme of NFL history.
Then, I thought of the big man in Dallas. What if Mike McCarthy pulls this thing off? Can you imagine?
The guy was asked about his job security during the team’s first open media session this summer at training camp. The ups and downs all season have been met with great highs and deep lows. To this day, despite what Jerry Jones has said, pointing to the discussion being a non-starter, there are many around the league who assume a blowout loss to San Francisco Sunday could put McCarthy on the hot seat.
I don’t think it does. Honestly. I don’t see Jerry Jones moving on from McCarthy.
Now, if he and the Cowboys go all the way? How about winning two Super Bowls, with two of the NFL’s most stories franchises, and doing so 13 years apart? That would be special.
McCarthy would add to his legacy with a win over the 49ers on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). A Super Bowl? That would be completely game-changing.
Monti Ossenfort, the Cardinals‘ new leader
You learn something new every day. I’d been hearing new Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort’s name for years. I didn’t know about one particular nugget: After failed attempts to land a football job, Ossenfort sat at a bookstore in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, reading up on what it would take to become an FBI agent.
At the time, he was living in his parents’ basement with two undergraduate degrees and two graduate degrees. “I’m sure (my parents) were thrilled with all the money they spent on that great education. … I was sitting there, I had the book in my hand and my cellphone rang,” Ossenfort said. “It was Scott Pioli at the Patriots and he offered me a chance to come out and interview. It was a phone call that changed my life. I would’ve been a bad FBI agent.”
I love stuff like that. Who knew?
Peter Schrager is an NFL writer for FOX Sports and a host of “Good Morning Football” on NFL Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @PSchrags.
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