For a Giants fan, the worst thing that could happen yesterday... well, it happened.
The Giants fumbled, bumbled and stumbled into a victory over Dallas - both teams playing rancidly - then watched Philadelphia surgically tank against Washington, making them future draft day chumps.
For posterity, the tab covers can tell it.
I know that a) this is a Yankee blog, b) I discussed this yesterday, and c) the Giants are the Giants, and we should chuckle at their mediocrity. But last year, by beating Washington in a stupid final game, they lost the chance to draft Chase Young, perhaps the best NFL defensive player in a generation, and yesterday, they booted away the chance to draft ahead of Philly and Dallas this spring. Why? Because the opposing teams tanked.
Most notably, it was the Eagles, who pulled their starting quarterback in the fourth quarter, thereby stunting the offense in a winnable game. The NBC announcers, Al Michael and Chris Collingsworth, expressed embarrassment over the move, at one point Collingsworth flatly stating, "I could not do this." But in fact, the Eagles were doing the smart thing. They were playing for 2021.
Here's the future NFL draft order from tankathon.com:
Wait... you think NFL teams don't really tank, and that these final standings just happen? I direct your attention to the STREAK column.
Of the 12 losing-est losers, the Giants yesterday were the only team to win. Everybody else knew the deal. It might as well have been pro wrestling. Push the other team, but not hard enough to win.
Thus, the Giants - and their fans - will pay the price this spring.
One of the more ludicrous arguments for winning late-season games goes this way: It builds "momentum" for 2021. Seriously. They say it: Nine months from now, when the teams are suiting up - by then, rosters will have changed incredibly - that yesterday's win over Dallas will provide momentum. What a joke.
What matters is that the Giants will draft behind Philadelphia and Dallas in each of the six rounds... because they didn't tank.
Pro sports in America faces a growing cancer, which is becoming impossible to ignore: It's the craven, successful strategy of tanking- the willingness of teams to spit on their fans -so the owners can spend less and bank bigger profits.
Someday, judgement is coming.
Posts
10 comments:
Maybe it is time that the NFL implements a weighted draft lottery system as the NHL and NBA has. It would cut down on some of this tank stuff...
I hate reading about NFL games on a baseball blog. And by the way judgment is spelled J-U-D-G-M-E-N-T.
Actually, Unknown, you can spell it both ways, though "judgement" is indeed considered archaic. I prefer it that way, if only in tribute to our mighty, little-seen right fielder.
And the issue of tanking is very relevant to sports, per se.
Duque called it: this is turning all sports into professional wrestling. And it's asinine.
The big brains who do commentary for SNY were scoffing last night about how Doug Pederson "doesn't owe the Giants anything." Of course not. But he owes fans like us who tune in to a featured, Sunday night game EVERYTHING.
I'm not even a Giants fan. But I watch football, and baseball, and basketball, and yes, occasionally—well, all right, once-in-a-blue-moon—hockey, for the entertainment value.
The Giants' win yesterday, besides serving the inestimable goal of knocking Dallas out of the playoffs, set up a fun, whacky, entertaining situation.
Which Philly played along with—and then didn't. This was even worse than outright tanking from the get-go. It gave us 3/4 of a game, then yanked away the ending like, well, Lucy with the football, ensuring that everything we'd watched was a TOTAL waste of time.
And in the interest of...what? Going from the No. 5 pick instead of falling to No. 10.
Because we know, right, that the 10th best college player in the land can't possibly measure up to the 5th best. No way there's any comparison whatsoever, no way their GM can come up with a good pick at No. 10.
This is a joke. And I repeat: if the Giants or any other NYC team had done this, there would have been finger wagging, somber talk of fines and penalties, etc. It would have been a war crime.
A few thoughts on the Giants because it was a good year and I was OK with yesterday...
1) I'm glad we didn't make the playoffs.
Except for Philly's obvious tank which is stain on the sport, I was glad WTF won.
While there is not that much drop off in draft talent from 8 to 11 (it becomes a matter of need and evaluation) there is a drop from 8 to 19 or, worse if the Giants won their home playoff game before getting destroyed by Green Bay, drafting 25th.
It's not just a first round thing. Every round will give the Giants roughly 10 better drafting spots than if they made the playoffs. So now WTF will draft in that lesser position.
2) We beat the NFC East and will continue to do so.
Finally beat Philly (1-1) Did not choke.
Finally beat the Cowboys (1-1) Did not choke. Close! But the for the butt recovery. This is a game we have been losing for YEARS.
Swept WTF.
Admit that felt good.
3) Culture Club
While there will be personnel changes (but not the Head Coach or hopefully the Defensive Coach.) the Giants are buying in as a team and seeing results.
This year felt different, mostly because we didn't choke games away.
There is such a thing as a winning culture. This will help free agents who might come here if they see the team on an upswing. Maybe not the players who want to join proven winners but, much as we see with the Knicks no one wants to go to a loser (or pay me double and I'll do it.)
It's a big step forward for them.
5) We needed to see Daniel Jones play solidly and he did.
The pick off was 100% on Engram (and he probably has to go. He's kind of Gary Sanchez now, sure he can hit a home run but too many screw ups in big moments.)
The fumble on the hand off is different than Jones not protecting the ball. Jones get's another year and we get to use the draft pick that would have gone to another QB on an EDGE player or a Wide Receiver.
and Last...
5) We watched until the last seconds of the last game.
Doug K.
A few thoughts on the Giants because it was a good year and I was OK with yesterday...
1) I'm glad we didn't make the playoffs.
Except for Philly's obvious tank which is stain on the sport, I was glad WTF won.
While there is not that much drop off in draft talent from 8 to 11 (it becomes a matter of need and evaluation) there is a drop from 8 to 19 or, worse if the Giants won their home playoff game before getting destroyed by Green Bay, drafting 25th.
It's not just a first round thing. Every round will give the Giants roughly 10 better drafting spots than if they made the playoffs. So now WTF will draft in that lesser position.
2) We beat the NFC East and will continue to do so.
Finally beat Philly (1-1) Did not choke.
Finally beat the Cowboys (1-1) Did not choke. Close! But the for the butt recovery. This is a game we have been losing for YEARS.
Swept WTF.
Admit that felt good.
3) Culture Club
While there will be personnel changes (but not the Head Coach or hopefully the Defensive Coach.) the Giants are buying in as a team and seeing results.
This year felt different, mostly because we didn't choke games away.
There is such a thing as a winning culture. This will help free agents who might come here if they see the team on an upswing. Maybe not the players who want to join proven winners but, much as we see with the Knicks no one wants to go to a loser (or pay me double and I'll do it.)
It's a big step forward for them.
5) We needed to see Daniel Jones play solidly and he did.
The pick off was 100% on Engram (and he probably has to go. He's kind of Gary Sanchez now, sure he can hit a home run but too many screw ups in big moments.)
The fumble on the hand off is different than Jones not protecting the ball. Jones get's another year and we get to use the draft pick that would have gone to another QB on an EDGE player or a Wide Receiver.
and Last...
5) We watched until the last seconds of the last game.
Doug K.
I think Washington's new name should be the Bisterds. Because Motherfuckers is too long.
And the fucking Eagles remain the fucking Eagles, but even more so.
Daniel Jones will be just fine. If he's healthy.
After watching the Giants this year, I can't understand why people claim Joe Judge "a special teams genius". They were horrible this year. Way to many penalties on top of poor coverage and missed tackles. Their punt return unit is one of the worst in the NFL They need to get rid of Riley Dixon who rarely gets the ball inside the 10 yard line.
Gettleman must be fired immediately. No one wants to play for him unless they get paid more because he's a lying sack of shit. Players hate him. And despite a few good signings on D this year his record is abysmal. And he never gets value for the players he gets rid of.
Engram has to go unless the Giants force him to see a sports shrink. He gets open but drops half the targets. It's become psychological. Like Mackey Sasser throwing the ball back to the pitcher....or Steve Sax/Chuck Knoblauch double or triple clutching when throwing to first. Its a shame because he's got a lot of talent and is a good blocker,
Cut Nate Solder....what a waste. And get rid of Will Hernandez as well (another early round OL bust).Trade him and get some decent value.
I really want the world to know about this great man who brought back happiness into my life again after my husband left me and the kids 3 years ago for another women online when i contacted Dr Believe he cast a love spell for me within 48 hours my ex husband start calling me and begging for forgiveness for everything that have happened between us. I was so happy to have my family back together with love again here is the email of Dr Believe via believelovespelltemple@gmail.com a man with the great powers you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348156148821
God bless you
I am very grateful for your help in my marriage.
LOTTO, lottery,jackpot.
Hello all my viewers, I am very happy for sharing this great testimonies,The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how I win the lottery euro million mega jackpot. I am a Woman who believe that one day I will win the lottery. finally my dreams came through when I email believelovespelltemple@gmail.com and tell him I need the lottery numbers. I have spend so much money on ticket just to make sure I win. But I never know that winning was so easy until the day I meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, . so I decide to give it a try.I contacted this great Dr Believe and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out I was among winners. I win 30,000 million Dollar. Dr Believe truly you are the best, all thanks to you forever
Post a Comment