What a week it’s been for the New York Giants. After their 30-7 thrashing at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team’s disastrous season somehow found a way to hit a new low. Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, one of the few bright spots in this lost season, became the latest player to voice his frustrations with the organization.
For a team already mired in dysfunction, Nabers’ postgame comments shined a glaring light on the mounting cracks within the Giants. After being virtually invisible in the first half against Tampa Bay, Nabers was asked why he wasn’t more involved. His sharp response, “Talk to Dabs about that,” set the tone for a series of remarks that hinted at his growing discontent. Later, he added, “I started getting the ball when it’s 30-0. What do you want me to do?”
The frustration is understandable. Nabers was drafted sixth overall to be the centerpiece of a rebuilding offense, yet the Giants seem incapable of putting him in a position to succeed. His raw talent is undeniable but with an offense stuck in neutral under head coach Brian Daboll, even a player of his caliber is struggling to shine. And when your franchise cornerstone starts calling out the coaching staff 12 games into his career, it’s not just a bad sign - it’s a five-alarm fire.
Now, with the season spiraling further out of control, the question isn’t just about how the Giants fix their problems. It’s about whether they can fix them fast enough to avoid alienating a star in the making.
Brian Daboll vows to make the most obvious play-calling changes after Malik Nabers' tirade
After hearing what Nabers had to say, Daboll reached out to chat with him. He mentioned to the media that their talk went really well, saying “He’s a very competitive individual. I want to get the ball in his hands, and I've got to do a better job of getting it to him early.”
Duh. Malik Nabers should get the football - yes.
Daboll said he spoke with rookie Malik Nabers last night and again this morning. Nabers was extremely frustrated after the game. “He’s a very competitive individual. Want to get the ball in his hands and I’ve got to do a better job of getting the ball in his hands early.”
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) November 25, 2024
It's about time, Daboll. It's shocking it's taken him 12 weeks and 11 games to figure out he should be utilizing the team's most dynamic offensive weapon early and often in games. What a ridiculous statement. The fact he needed to talk to Nabers about it is nuts. Talk about a lack of confidence in your head coach.
If Brian Daboll needs outward pushback from seemingly every member of his team to wake up and start calling productive offensive plays, this team is done. This is stuff you change week over week, not when you're 2-9, out of playoff contention, with the locker room turning on you.
This situation is unbelievable. How is Daboll going to recover from this? It may appear to be a harmless comment, but it's not. Why has it taken almost three-quarters of a season to reach this conclusion? His inattention and inaction have resulted in Daniel Jones losing both his job and his position on the roster. His ineffectiveness has significantly harmed this organization, and can no longer be overlooked.
The team needs more from Daboll. Empty promises aren't going to get the job done. He's had time all season to make changes and hasn't. What's going to change now?