Judge won’t discuss his future
Giants coach claims team making progress despite 4-9 mark, ugly loss to L.A .
Joe Judge has no intention of talking about his future as coach of the New York Giants with a second straight losing season guaranteed.
When he took over less than two years ago, the former Patriots’ special teams coordinator said he was going to build the Giants the right way.
There would be no quick fixes. There would be bad players in the building. It would be a process that would put the Giants on the path to long-term success.
New York’s 6-10 record and good finish last season in Judge’s rookie year was a sign of hope and progress.
Right now, long-term success seems light years away.
The Giants (4-9) were terrible on Sunday in a 37-21 loss to the Chargers. Los Angeles led 37-7 early in the fourth quarter and New York just made it closer in garbage time.
The loss ensured a fifth consecutive losing season overall, and fans are getting fed up. The four-time Super Bowl champions have made the playoffs once (2016) since winning the Lombardi Trophy in February 2012.
After Sunday’s ugly game, Judge reiterated he continued to see the team making progress. On Monday, he spelled out the progress after being asked to expound on it.
Judge sees good, young players developing at key positions. He said the team has the right type of players on the roster, ones who are willing to put the team first, represent the organization in a positive light and play and practice hard.
“When I took this job, I made it very, very clear that I was only going to do this if we were all committed to doing this the right way and that’s been something that’s been very clear from ownership on down,” Judge said, adding co-owner John Mara and Steve Tisch have been very supportive.
When asked if those same owners had told him he would be back for a third season, the tone of Judge’s voice changed. He seemed bothered by the question.
“Let me make this really perfectly clear, my or anybody else’s hypothetical future, I’m never going to comment (on),” he said.
It remains to be seen how Mara and Tisch feel about the issue.
Injury report
Defensive lineman Leonard Williams left the game with an elbow injury in the first half and his status for the Cowboys is unknown. Quarterback Daniel Jones (neck) and cornerback Adoree Jackson (quad) have been out the past two games, and wide receiver Kadarius Toney (oblique) three straight. Jones has not been cleared for contact. He was in the New York City metropolitan-area on Monday getting more tests on his neck, Judge said.
More Giants: Rookie receiver Kadarius Toney was one of 37 positive COVID-19 tests in the NFL on Monday, a league record for a single day, sources confirmed.
Bills: QB Josh Allen has a sprained foot but hasn’t been ruled out Sunday against Carolina.
Jets: Zac Stacy, the ex-running back who was arrested in November after allegedly attacking his girlfriend in front of their infant son, reportedly told police the incident was staged.
Washington: The team placed starting defensive tackle and sack leader Jonathan Allen, defensive end William Bradley-king, linebacker/special-teamer David Mayo and practice squad tight end Temarrick Hemingway on the reserve/covid-19 list, which now totals nine.
Dolphins: Miami now has four players on the COVID-19 list after adding safety Jevon Holland and running back Phillip Lindsay.
Chargers: Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater tested positive for COVID-19 and entered league protocols.
Booster mandate: The NFL is requiring players, coaches and other team personnel to receive a COVID-19 booster by Dec. 27.