Camp Quiet run in stark contrast to Gang Green
GOOD luck trying to get the Giants to talk about the Super Bowl. Not gonna happen.
At a time when optimism is usually rampant — the lazy, crazy days of training camp — the team coached by Brian Daboll is steadfast in its reluctance — no, make that refusal — to project any sort of success or glory for a franchise that turned a corner in 2022 and is looking to take the next step this season.
The Giants, of course, practice at their facility cut out of the parking lot on the outskirts of the MetLife Stadium complex, a building they share with the Jets. If you want buzz this summer, head over to Florham Park. The floodgates are turned wide open after the trade for Aaron Rodgers and the Jets have no hesitation stating that winning it all is the be-all, end-all.
“That’s kinda what happens when you get a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback like him, I feel that type of hype comes with it,’’ Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton told The Post on Monday after practice. “We’re all a very, very, very, very long way away from February.’’
The Giants might as well be hunkered down at Camp Quiet with the way Daboll keeps a lid on getting too far out in front of — anything. Today is important and tomorrow is, well, Daboll will let you know about tomorrow when tomorrow is today.
On Sunday, Sterling Shepard made his practice debut after getting activated off the physically unable to perform list. He sang the company line about heightened expectations coming off a playoff season.
“You’ve got to start from zero and we’ve got to work our way to get back to a playoff team but that’s not ultimately the goal for us,’’ Shepard said. “Our ultimate goal is to put a banner up here.’’
Is this the message Daboll spreads to his players?
“Yeah, he tells us that every day,’’ Shepard said. “Exactly what I just told you is what he tells us. That’s what our goal is. It’s not to make the playoffs, it’s to put a banner up here. Everybody knows that and that’s the reason why we play this game. It’s pretty clear.’’
Yes, it is pretty clear and also, seemingly, a pretty harmless concept. Yet it was far too forward thinking for Daboll.
“Who said that?’’ Daboll said a day later, when he was informed one of the players recounted that Daboll’s message to the team is that the goal is now to go further in the playoffs this season.
Sterling Shepard, Daboll was told.
“I’d say Shep maybe confused that with ‘Let’s go out and have a good practice,’’’ Daboll said, prompting laughter even though he barely cracked a smile.
Daboll is not a gusher about his players, almost as if he is constantly wary that anything he says could be used against him in a court of media or public opinion. Over at the Jets, Robert Saleh’s glowing quotes can fill a few paragraphs for stories about so many players on the roster. Since Rodgers arrived, there has been no video of him actually walking on water, but a viral moment with that could surface at any time.
This was Daboll on his quarterback, Daniel Jones: “Consistent. That’s probably a good word to describe him, since I’ve met him and been around him.’’
A good bit of this is natural. Rodgers is a generational player, although the Jets have not appeared in a playoff game since January of 2011. No one is quite sure what Jones is. The Giants believe he can one day lead them to a Super B … nope, can’t mention that around these parts.
“Aaron Rodgers is always going to get talked about,’’ receiver Isaiah Hodgins said. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league. That’s all credit and power to him. We just try to do our jobs and make sure we’re focusing on us and we’re ready for our season.’’
Jamison Crowder, a veteran receiver who spent three years (2019-21) with the Jets, has only been with the Giants for four months, long enough to notice the way things are done with the team in blue.
“Really good job of just taking it one day at a time,’’ Crowder said. “That’s what coach Daboll preaches every day, just one day at a time, one practice at a time, one meeting at a time. Learn what you can learn, get better and keep stacking the days.’’
Safety Jason Pinnock was a rookie with the Jets in 2021 and admits “It is hard not to’’ hear about what is happening with Rodgers and his new mates.
“You can’t win the Super Bowl right now,’’ Slayton said, “but what you can do is have a good day of practice that will help you build towards a goal like that.’’
The preceding is a Brian Dabollapproved message.