New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll took the podium following a humiliating 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday and it was immediately evident he was in a foul mood.
Moments earlier, Daboll had smashed his headset into the ground as a game-winning Commanders field goal sailed through the uprights, perhaps embarrassed at himself over the irony of the moment.
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) September 15, 2024
For the second consecutive week, Daboll’s inept personnel handling played a large hand in defeat. Washington had kicked seven field goals while the Giants were unable to handle point after attempts because they had no kicker despite entering the game with just 52 players on the active roster.
A defiant Daboll defended his decision to trot out an injured Graham Gano, who was lost on the opening kickoff of the game.
“We thought Graham would be okay. He got hurt chasing down a (returner). It was a hamstring. He didn’t hurt his groin. He hurt his hamstring,” Daboll said, referencing a groin issue that landed Gano on the injury report a day earlier.
It’s entirely possible Gano hurt his hamstring by overcompensating for the groin injury. Either way, it was an easily avoidable situation with an open roster spot and kicker Jude McAtamney available on the practice squad.
“I’m not a doctor,” Daboll snapped. “I mean anybody could get injured. He was chasing the kickoff return, he pulled his hamstring. I’m not making excuses.
“We thought he was good. We thought he was good. All the decisions that are made are mine.”
That decision, coupled with the equally poor personnel decisions in Week 1, could have Daboll’s seat warming a bit. Questions about his job security have begun to arise, much to Daboll’s dismay.
An already hot Daboll steamed when Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News asked about his future. If looks could kill…
Here is Brian Daboll getting asked about his job security — he proceeded to stare the reporter down both throughout the next question, and after he walked off the podium. #Giants pic.twitter.com/FnHTBU7FL5
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) September 15, 2024
“I’ve done this for a long time, Pat. My focus is on our football team,” he said.
Daboll generally runs hot but this was a new look for him. It’s an indictment of where the Giants are and where they may be headed. Unfortunately for fans, it’s beginning to look like another long road ahead — one that potentially ends in regime change. Again.
